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#836022 12/27/24 09:13 PM
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I wish to enter on a BB chord chart a passing chord that is usually designated a G#m6#5 (I know odd...), but my notation software is just fine with this and agrees with the name. BB doesn't let me enter this. I suspect BB cannot handle all unusual chords. Thoughts? Image:

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Last edited by Moonbeam9067; 12/27/24 09:15 PM.
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The Chord List from the BIAB Help shows this chord support.
(There appears to be a minor 6th or a sharpened 5th (see bold items), but not both at the same time)
Quote
Chord List
Commonly used chords are displayed here in bold type. These chords are displayed in a list in the Chord Builder dialog, accessible from the Window menu or by right-clicking on the Chord Sheet.

[Tip: See the list of shortcut chords at the bottom.]

Major Chords

C, Cmaj, C6, Cmaj7, Cmaj9, Cmaj13, C69, Cmaj7#5, C5b, Caug, C+, Cmaj9#11, Cmaj13#11

Minor Chords

Cm, Cm6, Cm7, Cm9, Cm11, Cm13, Cmaug, Cm#5, CmMaj7

Half diminished

Cm7b5,

Diminished

Cdim, Cdim5, Cdim7 (Note: see setting in Display Options for Cdim treatment.)

Dominant 7th Chords

C7, 7+, C9+, C13+, C13, C7b13, C7#11, C13#11, C7#11b13, C9,

C9b13, C9#11, C13#11, C9#11b13, C7b9, C13b9, C7b9b13, C7b9#11,

C13b9#11, C7b9#11b13, C7#9, C13#9, C7#9b13, C9#11, C13#9#11, C7#9#11b13

C7b5, C13b5, C7b5b13, C9b5, C9b5b13, C7b5b9, C13b5b9, C7b5b9b13,

C7b5#9, C13b5#9, C7b5#9b13, C7#5, C13#5, C7#5#11, C13#5#11, C9#5,

C9#5#11, C7#5b9, C13#5b9, C7#5b9#11, C13#5b9#11, C7#5#9, C13#5#9#11,

C7#5#9#11, C13#5#9#11

Suspended 4 Chords

Csus, C7sus, C9sus,

C13sus, C7susb13, C7sus#11, C13sus#11, C7sus#11b13, C9susb13, C9sus#11, C13sus#11, C9sus#11b13, C7susb9, C13susb9, C7susb9b13, C7susb9#11,

C13susb9#11, C7susb9#11b13, C7sus#9, C13sus#9, C7sus#9b13, C9sus#11, C13sus#9#11, C7sus#9#11b13,

C7susb5, C13susb5, C7susb5b13, C9susb5, C9susb5b13, C7susb5b9,

C13susb5b9, C7susb5b9b13, C7susb5#9, C13susb5#9, C7susb5#9b13,

C7sus#5, C13sus#5, C7sus#5#11, C13sus#5#11, C9sus#5, C9sus#5#11, C7sus#5b9, C13sus#5b9, C7sus#5b9#11, C13sus#5b9#11, C7sus#5#9, C13sus#5#9#11, C7sus#5#9#11, C13sus#5#9#11,

Add 2 Chords

Cadd2, Cmadd2

Notes:

- It is not necessary to type upper or lower case. For example type c6 to get the C6 chord. You should never have to use the Shift key, as Band-in-a-Box will sort this out for you.

- Any chord may be entered with an alternate root ("Slash Chord") e.g.: C7/E = C7 with E bass.

- Separate chords with commas to enter 2 chords in a 2 beat cell, e.g., Dm, G7.

- Use the letter B for a flat; e.g., Bb7

- Use # or 3 for a sharp; e.g., F#7. The pound sign (#) is the uppercase symbol of 3, so you can actually type f37 to get F#7. Band-in-a-Box will sort out the case, saving you the effort of using Shift+3 to type the # symbol.

- Use "=" for "+"; the program automatically converts "=" to "+" so that chords like C+7 can be entered without using the shift key.

- You can type C-7 for Cm7 (i.e. use the minus sign) or C7-9 for C7b9.

Tricky Chords:

C5b This is "C flat 5." It is spelled this way to avoid confusion.

C2, C5, C4, C69, C7alt, Cm7#5

Shortcut Chords:

If you enter a lot of songs, you'll appreciate these shortcut keys.

J = Maj7

H = m7b5 (H stands for Half diminished)

D = dim

S = Sus

Example: To type CMaj7, just type cj (it will be entered as CMaj7).

Add your own chord shortcuts.

Have you found a chord that Band-in-a-Box doesn't recognize? If so, add it to the chord shortcuts file, and Band-in-a-Box will allow you to type in that chord in the future. This also lets you define chord "shortcuts," one-letter abbreviations for longer chord names ("J" for "Maj7" etc.). If you find a chord that Band-in-a-Box won't accept like Csus2, when it expects C2 instead you can enter this on a single line (without the quotes) "Csus2@C2." Then Band-in-a-Box will enter the chord C2 if you type in Csus 2.

The text file C:\bb\Data\Shortcut.txt allows you to add new chord shortcuts. Note that this file doesn't ship with Band-in-a-Box (or it would overwrite your file!). The file C:\bbData\pgshortc.txt for shortcuts is supplied by PG Music. You can add your own shortcuts in a text file you make yourself and name C:\bb\Data\shortcut.txt.


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Hi Moonbeam.

The closest BIAB can get you to this chord is G#m#5 (G#-B-D## where D## is the enharmonic equivalent of E) or G#m6 (G#-B-D#-F). One of these two should do the job. While not being the full extension of the chord, they both incorporate aspects of the chord.

When I look at this from the perspective of the E major key, it's and E major chord with a flattened 9th on a G# bass. With this in mind, another chords that are worth trying are E/G# and Fdim5/Ab (since Ab is the enharmonic equivalent of G#).

Once you've created the chord, depending on the Realtracks you have chosen, you may well be able to modify the notes using Playable Realtracks. The video below explain about Playable Realtracks.


--Noel


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If you want all of those notes in the chord the only way I know to get them is to use E/F. That would be an E chord with an F in the base. It would not match your notation but it might work.
Good luck.


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A #5 could be voiced one register up as a b13, which is supported.


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Thank you Mario, Matt, Noel, Audio Track!!!!!

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All good suggestions in this thread - I just wanted to add a link to the full chordlist for BB: https://www.pgmusic.com/tutorial_chordlist.htm


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Thanks Simon - very helpful.

Originally Posted by Simon - PG Music
All good suggestions in this thread - I just wanted to add a link to the full chordlist for BB: https://www.pgmusic.com/tutorial_chordlist.htm

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Happy to help!


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