|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 2,204
Veteran
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 2,204 |
This instrumental (of which there's soon to be a vocal version) was finished in early July, but I didn't post it anywhere - or another new instrumental, "Painted Sky", which followed the latter - as I was still finishing off all of my old material's channel-swaps and remixes which I urgently wanted to get done. Once it was complete it was 'suddenly' September and I had to post a 3rd new instrumental first, "Rachael' Theme", the tribute to my old friend whose birth and passing away day 6 years ago were both in that month. This how is "Venus Twinkles" came about: I'd earlier been researching the Andean charango and I was surprised to find this re the tuning: "The basic charango has five pairs (or courses) of strings, typically tuned GCEAE. This tuning, disregarding octaves, is similar to the typical C-tuning of the ukulele or the Venezuelan cuatro, with the addition of a second E-course. Unlike most other stringed instruments, all ten strings are tuned inside one octave. The five courses are pitched as follows (from 5th to 1st course): G4 G4 - C5 C5 - E5 E4 - A4 A4 -E5 E5." Wikipedia. I was particularly intrigued by the latter 5th to 1st course sequence and as I've never ever used 4ths or 5ths chords in any song or instrumental I've ever written I decided to experiment. I really liked what I came up with, but the sequences I had lacked a chorus section. In my research I also read about perfect 5ths and an example given was in the very old lullaby (worth reading about in Wikipedia) "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" and as the chord structure I already had was like an upbeat lullaby I decided to add the latter chords as a chorus. It worked, but it still lacked something, so I did more research on pubic domain lullabies and experimenting with a few I finally decided to add 2 'verses' of "Hush, Little Baby" to 2 of the "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" choruses. Once I had this complete "Venus Twinkles" instrumental it was inevitable that I write my own lyrics for the lullaby sections and it's the song version I'm currently working on with Lucy of two of the "Flowing Lady Deya" song versions. BiaB samples used: Piano: Pop Ballad Acoustic Piano ~ John Jarvis Bass: 3 Guitar Country Rock ~ Tobin Frank Drums: Country Rock Guitar Solo Pop Ba ~ Brian Fullen Guitar: Country Rock Guitar Solo Pop Ba ~ Darin Favorite Acoustic Guitar: Country Rock Guitar Solo Pop Ba ~ Tony King Cello: Sobbing Cello & Nylon Guitar ~ Matt Nelson Violin: Viola & Violin Ballad ~ Avery Bright Viola: Viola & Violin Ballad ~ Avery Bright Harps 1 & 2: Heaven Blissful Celtic Harp Pop ~ Sharlene Wallace Fiddle: Fidget Bluesy Pop with Fiddle ~ Andy Leftwich Koto: New Age Bossa w/ Koto Synth: Miles Black Guitar Solo: Bricks Indie Rock w Guitar Solo ~ Mike Durham I had to do a bit of faffing with the Fidget Fiddle and Bricks Guitar solos, plus even more with the koto sections which are mostly hybrids, but I've too many notes to add here. Key C ~ 120bpm ~ 160 bars ~ 5:28
Some favourite Waoist Adages:
#1: Play on the Way.
#13: Ask not for whom the flower blooms, it blooms for you.
#58: Bring consciousness to it.
#63: On the road to effortlessness, effort must be made.
#92: Be Love Now, the rest will come on its own.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,885
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,885 |
Chay,
Nice piano and bass. Fiddle sounds good,
Good mix....
fj
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 8,879
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 8,879 |
Chay,
That's a beautiful sound. Excellent blend of instruments and a great production.
So well done...
Bob
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2024
Posts: 805
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Aug 2024
Posts: 805 |
Hi Chay, my eyes are playing tricks...I thought your title at first glance said, Venus Twinkies.  This is lovely...loved the harp, the movement of it. It reminds me greatly of The Music Box which is a song that I loved to listen to as a kid as I fell asleep. Not sure I liked the electric guitars here, but to each his/her own.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,592
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,592 |
Chay, nice build and development on another pretty, wide ranging tune. Very cool when the cello comes in and the rest of the band morphs to follow. The plucked instrument (koto?) on the outro added a nice whimsical feel and made a nice section to end on. Like the mix on this one a lot, too. Nice one (again)!
DC Ron
BiaB Audiophile
Presonus Studio One
ASUS I9-12900K DAW, 32 GB RAM
Presonus Faderport 16
Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 2,204
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 2,204 |
Chay,
Nice piano and bass. Fiddle sounds good,
Good mix....
fj Thanks, Floyd! Appreciated.
Some favourite Waoist Adages:
#1: Play on the Way.
#13: Ask not for whom the flower blooms, it blooms for you.
#58: Bring consciousness to it.
#63: On the road to effortlessness, effort must be made.
#92: Be Love Now, the rest will come on its own.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 2,204
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 2,204 |
Chay,
That's a beautiful sound. Excellent blend of instruments and a great production.
So well done...
Bob Thanks, Bob! I really liked using the 4ths and 5ths chords in this - though there are more 5ths than 4ths - as they create a softer sound which was perfect for this. I don't know if the solos play a start C where I use a C5 (etc), but I felt there was a smoother sound throughout.
Some favourite Waoist Adages:
#1: Play on the Way.
#13: Ask not for whom the flower blooms, it blooms for you.
#58: Bring consciousness to it.
#63: On the road to effortlessness, effort must be made.
#92: Be Love Now, the rest will come on its own.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 2,204
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 2,204 |
Hi Chay, my eyes are playing tricks...I thought your title at first glance said, Venus Twinkies. This is lovely...loved the harp, the movement of it. It reminds me greatly of The Music Box which is a song that I loved to listen to as a kid as I fell asleep. Not sure I liked the electric guitars here, but to each his/her own. Thanks, Beth! I'd not heard "The Music Box" before so I looked it up on YT and played different versions. I do like that lullaby vibe. I really like the final solo being the electric guitar in this, but as you say, so much comes down to personal taste. If you ever get to visit Venus you'll find that she offers munchable delights better than Twinkies, plus as probably many can't imagine, Venus also tinkles!
Some favourite Waoist Adages:
#1: Play on the Way.
#13: Ask not for whom the flower blooms, it blooms for you.
#58: Bring consciousness to it.
#63: On the road to effortlessness, effort must be made.
#92: Be Love Now, the rest will come on its own.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 2,204
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 2,204 |
Chay, nice build and development on another pretty, wide ranging tune. Very cool when the cello comes in and the rest of the band morphs to follow. The plucked instrument (koto?) on the outro added a nice whimsical feel and made a nice section to end on. Like the mix on this one a lot, too. Nice one (again)! Thanks, Ron. Yes, the cello, et al, entering after the first "Twinkle" 'chorus' is one of my favourite parts of the tune, plus also the synth koto (which doesn't sound like a synth!) worked perfect in the later parts. I'm already working on the vocal version, which will just have my variations on the lullaby lyrics sung by Lucy. She's had all the details for a couple of weeks, but needs a demo with my vocals so she knows what treatment to give it all, but I'm now behind schedule with that due to where I live. I've only tried one recording, but having external noises start up just at the wrong time I could neither get into the zone, nor hit the right key, which is really annoying as I've sung my lyrics to it when listening on a few occasions and have always been on key. But it's a different ballgame once I'm singing into a mike. I think the song demands a female vocalist, but it could end up part duet if I can get the recording sorted.
Some favourite Waoist Adages:
#1: Play on the Way.
#13: Ask not for whom the flower blooms, it blooms for you.
#58: Bring consciousness to it.
#63: On the road to effortlessness, effort must be made.
#92: Be Love Now, the rest will come on its own.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,817
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,817 |
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,079
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,079 |
Each featured instrument is great. BiaB in talented hands is remarkable.
The discussion related to the charango was very interesting and new to us.
DC Ron's review articulately touched on several points much better than we could express.
Especially his arrangement comments. After reading his remarks we listened again.
Very well produced ... all around.
J&B
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 2,204
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 2,204 |
Some favourite Waoist Adages:
#1: Play on the Way.
#13: Ask not for whom the flower blooms, it blooms for you.
#58: Bring consciousness to it.
#63: On the road to effortlessness, effort must be made.
#92: Be Love Now, the rest will come on its own.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 2,204
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 2,204 |
Each featured instrument is great. BiaB in talented hands is remarkable.
The discussion related to the charango was very interesting and new to us.
DC Ron's review articulately touched on several points much better than we could express.
Especially his arrangement comments. After reading his remarks we listened again.
Very well produced ... all around.
J&B Much appreciated J&B! Your feedback is as ice cream to me ~ ice cream with no bit in it, unlike B&J's! 
Some favourite Waoist Adages:
#1: Play on the Way.
#13: Ask not for whom the flower blooms, it blooms for you.
#58: Bring consciousness to it.
#63: On the road to effortlessness, effort must be made.
#92: Be Love Now, the rest will come on its own.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,160
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,160 |
Nice job, Chay. I'm not sure what instrument I was listening to, but I especially like the one with what I'd call a percolating sound. It might've been the harps. So many RTs, so much going on. Yet you crafted it into a pleasant musical journey. Good work.
Windows 11, Intel Core I5 10400, 16 gig ram, Scarlett 2i2, Sony Acid Music Studio 10, BIAB 2020 UltraPlus Pak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 2,204
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 2,204 |
Nice job, Chay. I'm not sure what instrument I was listening to, but I especially like the one with what I'd call a percolating sound. It might've been the harps. So many RTs, so much going on. Yet you crafted it into a pleasant musical journey. Good work. Thanks, Rob! Yep, the 'percolating' sound is definitely the harps. I've been using them a lot of late.
Some favourite Waoist Adages:
#1: Play on the Way.
#13: Ask not for whom the flower blooms, it blooms for you.
#58: Bring consciousness to it.
#63: On the road to effortlessness, effort must be made.
#92: Be Love Now, the rest will come on its own.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 5,009
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 5,009 |
Your instrumentals are always fun to listen to, Chay. Of course I'm likeing the vocal version you're making, and they have as much entertainment value, but with the instrumentals your talent for crafting the best group of players shines through even louder. I love the subtle things you add. Beautifully done!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 2,204
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 2,204 |
Your instrumentals are always fun to listen to, Chay. Of course I'm likeing the vocal version you're making, and they have as much entertainment value, but with the instrumentals your talent for crafting the best group of players shines through even louder. I love the subtle things you add. Beautifully done! Very much appreciated, Marty. Lucy now has the demo with my vocals, the lyrics and backing track so Great Spirit willing I'll be posting the song verion in a few weeks.
Some favourite Waoist Adages:
#1: Play on the Way.
#13: Ask not for whom the flower blooms, it blooms for you.
#58: Bring consciousness to it.
#63: On the road to effortlessness, effort must be made.
#92: Be Love Now, the rest will come on its own.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 8,298
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 8,298 |
Very cool song Chay. Love your instrumentation and production choices.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 2,204
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 2,204 |
Very cool song Chay. Love your instrumentation and production choices. Thanks for listening and responding, Scott! Always appreciated.
Some favourite Waoist Adages:
#1: Play on the Way.
#13: Ask not for whom the flower blooms, it blooms for you.
#58: Bring consciousness to it.
#63: On the road to effortlessness, effort must be made.
#92: Be Love Now, the rest will come on its own.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,573
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,573 |
Chay this is fantastic. Love those string leads. Super piano, koto, and fiddle. The guitar lead fit like a glove. Loved the groove on this one. IMHO this is your best to date.
Loved it
Back in my day the only time we started panic buying was when the bartender shouted "last call"!
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Update to Build 10 of RealBand® 2026 for Windows®!
If you're already using RealBand 2026 for Windows, download build 10 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® users: Build 904 now available!
If you're already using Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, make sure to grab the latest update! Build 904 is now available for download and includes the newest additions and enhancements from our team.
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® users: Build 1237 is now available!
Already a Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows user? Stay up to date and download the build 1237 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.
PowerTracks Pro 2026 for Windows is Here!
PowerTracks 2026 is here—bringing powerful new enhancements designed to make your production workflow faster, smoother, and more intuitive than ever.
The enhanced Mixer now shows Track Type and Instrument icons for instant track recognition, while a new grid option simplifies editing views. Non-floating windows adopt a modern title bar style, replacing the legacy blue bar.
The Master Volume is now applied at the end of the audio chain for consistent levels and full-signal master effects.
Tablature now includes a “Save bends when saving XML” option for improved compatibility with PG Music tools. Plus, you can instantly match all track heights with a simple Ctrl-release after resizing, and Add2 chords from MGU/SGU files are now fully supported... and more!
Get started today—first-time packages start at just $49.
Already using PowerTracks Pro Audio? Upgrade for as little as $29 and enjoy the latest improvements!
Order now!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows Special Offers End Tomorrow (January 15th, 2026) at 11:59 PM PST!
Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PST on Thursday, January 15, 2026!
We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
Version 2026 introduces a modernized GUI redesign across the program, with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, and a new Dark Mode option. There’s also a new side toolbar for quicker access to commonly used windows, and the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, making it easier to customize your workspace.
Another exciting new addition is the new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. You can view the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to process an entire track or focus on specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
Upgrade your Band-in-a-Box for Windows to save up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade packages!
Plus, when you order your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade during our special, you'll receive a Free Bonus PAK of exciting new add-ons.
If you need any help deciding which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We are here to help!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® Special Offers Extended Until January 15, 2026!
Good news! You still have time to upgrade to the latest version of Band-in-a-Box® for Windows® and save. Our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® special now runs through January 15, 2025!
We've packed Band-in-a-Box® 2026 with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can process an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PST on January 15th, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® today! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all the purchase options available.
Happy New Year!
Thank you for being part of the Band-in-a-Box® community.
Wishing you and yours a very happy 2026—Happy New Year from all of us at PG Music!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums57
Topics86,092
Posts800,122
Members40,033
| |
Most Online44,367
Mar 4th, 2026
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean