Originally Posted by Bob Corry
Think chord feel in songs like Bell Bottom Blues just before it goes back into the verse or punches in Born to Run. I’m new to BIAB. It seems that BIAB measures are limited to 2 Bars.
Using 8/8 and 100 bpm as a reference point, I would like to achieve a four-chord walk-down in BIAB, where the first chord is on beat 1 (F), the second chord is on beat 4 (C/E), and the third chord is on beat 7 (F/D), and it lands on the next measure on beat 1 (C). I can’t find any info to learn how to input the chords with those specific beat placements within a measure. Anyone have any links to help?

Indeed.... first of all, Welcome.

I've been quoted as saying that the only limitation you have using Band in A Box is your understanding of the program and your ability to think out of the box as needed. As others have mentioned..... Microchords allow you to add 16 different chords into ONE measure of 4 beats. Essentially 16th note chords. How that would work out or sound, is another topic totally. It is however, extremely useful to get unique rhythm patterns and accents as well as pushes exactly where you want them.

This is an old blues song which you might recognize. The iconic riff in this was accomplished with the use of microchords so the BB instruments would follow it. The guitars are played live but I really wanted the band to follow the riff.
When The Levee Breaks
The microchords are used in a few other places as well.... where the drums are intense and building and the ending. They are also used to get the bass to play specific notes. The key to working with microchords is to time it out so you know exactly which beats you want to use.

Combine this with the fact that you can also change the tempo of a given bar, as well as the number of beats in a given bar, there are a lot of options open to you. Stepping down using chords or simply bass notes under a chord.... using quarter note chords, is super simple..... |A,G F,E| or bass notes differing from the chord root.... |A/G, A/F G/F,G/E| for example. The first being a chord run....the second being the A chord with G & F bass notes followed by G chord with F and E bass notes respectively.

I know its a bit frustrating but realize the power and capability of this program. This program is really deep. I only use about 10% of what it's capable of doing. It's simply a matter of taking the time to learn what it's capable of, figuring out what you need it to do, learning how it does that, and don't worry about the rest. Use the support videos on the website and utilize the many highly experienced people in the forums. If you hear something in a song that you think is really cool and want to know how it was done, just ask.

Those songs you referenced are in 4/4. Don't overcomplicate things. BB likes to work in 4/4 or 3/4. I think it's capable of a few other time sigs but those are not common. You can do 97% of all songs in these 2 time sigs.

You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
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