Hi
Can anyone suggest a start point Style or an RT combo that might be the starting point for an SGU for the 1950's Platters classic "Only You"?
The chords are no problem - I've already created an SGU with the core of them in - its just that I cant find a Style that gets to that unique 1950s ballad style. Maybe its being a Brit that doesnt help me identify by "description" what is already there! lol!
Any help greatly appreciated.
Ian

=SWBA_TB.STY. Soul Ballad w/ Trombone (85 RT)
Real and MIDI. Quintet. *** with Soloist ***
RD: POP128^1-a:SideStick, HiHat , b:Snare, Ride :Craig Scott
M36: Fretless Elec. Bass
M1: Acoustic Piano
M26: Acoustic Guitar
RT492: Trombone, Jazz Ballad Sw 085 , Ian McDougall

for a starting point.


I'll share my method for finding styles and forgive me if you are already aware of this. I use this method a lot as a starting point to learn new covers with good success. I imported an original Platters performance version from youtube and ran it through the acw to create a chord chart and temp map. It came up with chord progression in Eb key at average tempo of 82bpm. Based on these parameters, the above style matches closely with very little editing needed. As Pat Marr Says, your mileage may vary.

Using Band in a Box rather than RB works better for me in most cases. Editing the chord chart and tempo seems easier to work with in BB. Begin by hitting play before you generate your style and only the imported .wav will play and you can easily listen and edit your chart and tempo to the existing song because BiaB requires you to choose a style before it will generate the tracks even if you have a chosen style listed. When I've finished with my chart, I open the style picker and the choose either the existing style again or search for another more appropriate style. I then vary between including the audio file playing or not according to what's needed to tweak my chart. Hope this helps and I've been clear and complete enough for you to follow.

Charlie

Thanks Charlie.Away from base gigging tonight.Will check it out when back home Sunday.Tks Ian

I have done that song using an arpeggio style. Filter the style picker by arpeggio and you will find a number of arpeggio styles.

Old Pop style, but I do have some real tracks involved also, Hey if you like I can send you the file I use. Just shoot me an email address to send ot to.

Later,

If you use BB or RB to try to cover a song from a specific artist, you can get close, and perhaps even surprisingly close but you will never get it exact. Not without live musicians who are "good enough" to cover the tune exactly.

In the same way, if you go to see that band, assuming they are still around in some form and touring, the music from the stage will likely not be exact to the recording from yesteryear.

I do, on occasion, work on cover tunes for myself and for other musicians. My goal is to get as close to the vibe I want in the music. Sometimes it's not even close to the original on purpose, and other times the goal is to mirror it as exactly as possible.

With 3000+ styles, it can be a bit intimidating to search but, if you think about the genre of the music and use the "preview style" function.... which I find absolutely essential when hunting for a style..... the task is not as monumental as it might first seem to be.

The Platters were basically soul.... so starting from there eliminates country and rock and jazz styles right off the bat.

Anyway... just my 2 cents.... good luck hunting for the style that makes the song magic for you.

Hi Guys
thanks for all that info. I hadnt really thought of it as Soul - I was getting blinded by Pop/Rock.
Charlie - that is an ace suggestion - working on it already!!
MArio - neat idea. an Arpegio piano/ guitar would be a good fill.
Dannyc - I'll finish filling in the chords and try that one too. Many thanks.
Hi Herb - to cover a tune EXACTLY I really need Live musicians, a synth maybe etc BUT this is turning out pretty good and quite close to what I was aiming at. Amazing piece of kit. Sometimes I go off the wall on guitar arrangements but of course cant post them on our Showcase but it is a superb tool for trying different ideas around a theme.
Ian

Ian,

You have an email coming your way.

Later,

Hey Ian,

That's a standard 12/8.



Try this Real Style:


_POPPNOS.STY Pop Piano 12-8 Ballad


Regards,

Bob

Hi

This was really useful. Is there a general area where people put style suggestions / real track suggestions for covers? Is there a copyright problem with putting up suggestions or examples of covers? That's what I'm using BIAB for and it's time consuming though very rewarding. I'm creating live backing tracks for my solo gigs where I play guitar and sing. Real tracks are great for a bit of live feel over midi. I also love SampleTank for quality midi sounds. Mixing and matching but generally abandoning midi tracks for BIAB versions. Any advice welcome.

Ta muchly

Ian,

For a lot of slow 12/8 50s ballads, I have used an old all-MIDI style called SAM_COOK.STY. The most important part of that style is the classic 12/8 "triplet" figure played by the acoustic piano on the string part and the bass line played by the finger electric bass on the bass part. You may want to eliminate (mute or replace) the rather cheesy electric piano playing on the piano part. There may be some decent RealTracks that would fit in well with the MIDI piano and bass tracks to fill out the sound a bit. These could be put on the piano and/or guitar parts.

Andy

AFAIK there isn't a specific area for this which is why my question was posted here. These guys never fail to amaze with their knowledge and helpfulness.
Whilst there would be no problem with folks offering advise on appropriate styles, a "sample" would infringe copyright. That is why we can't post "covers" on Showcase, only originals or music with specific permission of copyright holder.
So put your Ask on here and see what you get.
Ian

Hi Bob and Andy
Apologies for missing your posts. These are really useful ideas and I'll run them by my SGU file.
Many thanks
Ian

There is a Yahoo Group with BIAB files.

Mostly Jazz, but some Rock & Pop.


Here it is:

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Band-in-a-Box-Files/info


Regards,

Bob