Hi Folks.

Can somebody tell me what is this chord: Bb1+8 and also this one:F1+5 ? and how do I write these to BIAB chord grid?

Thank you!

Misha.

Hi Misha,

I have never in my life seen that type of chord notation before.

All I can think of is that the notation is relating to intervals (or scale number). With this in mind...

(1) Bb1+8 could mean two Bb notes that are an octave apart played together

Editing a BIAB midi track would allow the user to create a chord where octaves play together. I don't know of a simple chord notation that can be entered into BIAB that will do this.


(2) F1+5 could mean F (the 1, tonic note) played with C (the note a perfect 5th above -- which is also the 5th note of the scale)

If this is the case, in BIAB F1+5 would be entered into BIAB as F5 (a power chord that only consists of the tonic and fifth without the third; i.e. F5 = F-C and no A).

Where did you see this notation? I'd like to read some background about how it came into being.

If my above theory is correct, then it's possible that it is a modern form of figured bass. In the days of Bach and Vivaldi, figured bass notation consisted of the written bass note being used as "1" and then the notes to be played above it were written as numerals that indicated the distance between the #1 note and the other notes. For example if 46 (vertically aligned) was placed under a C it would mean to play C+4+6 = C-F-A.

Here's an article on figured bass...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Figured_bass

Regards,
Noel

^
Rustyspoon#

to repeat Noel's question :

I am interested also. I have been reading notation a long time and I have never seen this. I searched the Internet and came up with nothing also.

I thought I’d seen any kind of music notation there is.

How about a picture of the music?

I've seen Bb-8va or F5+8va (usually with the + or - as superscript) meaning play an octave lower or higher, but never in the format you've presented.

Yes, a screen capture would br great.

I know these two types of chords above.
You may find them in the hardware arrangers. These chords are recognized by the H/W arrangers to get 2 single notes with an octave gap for the X1+8, and the tonic and the fifth note for the second one, matching the standard X5 power chord.

It is part of vArranger script for chords. Noel was right from start and John-Luke is correct. about arrangers. It was not in the manual, so I was a little bit confused. I have asked about this, and got an answer on another forum after it confused Noel

1+8 means octave only, for example notes C4 + C5
1+5 means quint only, (chord without third) for example C4 + G4

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_chord

So with the knowledge above, I assume it is not possible to have real tracks play these in BIAB?

Misha.

BIAB can play power chords.

It cannot, to my knowledge, be told to play unison octaves unless you do that in the melody or soloist tracks.

Misha,

Thanks for the added information. As Matt mentions above, and what I mentioned in my first reply, the power chord can be played in BIAB. Just enter X5 (where X is the chord).

Regards,
Noel

BIAB can't play octaves in the chord grid, because by definition, it's not a chord...it's a note (well the same note an octave apart).

I'm so old that I was taught that a chord consists of three or more different notes! Two notes was harmony. So how in heck can a so called "power chord" consist of only the tonic and fifth of the scale?

Indeed, 'Power Chord' is a colloquial and excessive term, because we get only two notes so it is not a chord according to the standard definition of a music chord.
But now, it has entered in the usual language, so....

Re the 'X1+8 chord', sometines noted X8 : this 'chord' is often used in etheral movie music for examples.
Not yet available as RealTracks, but you can get it easy with MIDI : writing the full parts (2 notes) or playing with MIDI harmonies in the Melody or Soloist tracks.

For those of us who have had formal music lessons, Mario is correct.

One note = a note
Two notes = and interval
Three notes = a chord

What some guitarists call a power chord is nothing but a root/fifth interval and IMHO should not be called a chord.

And what makes a fifth interval so powerful anyway? Are two notes more powerful than 3?

There is a precise language of music, which is learned when you take theory classes. When you erode the language you weaken the communication.

Insights, incites and a minor rant by Notes

... or unless you create a style via the StyleMaker with just unison octaves, which should be an easy exercise.

Hi all
Yes I agree we could argue all day over what we call these things but:
I soon learnt when I first started to tinkle on a piano that you could get a pleasant sound simply by playing every other note if working in C of course I know now that I was just adding a 3rd . I also found that I could thicken up the sound a bit by playing the octave.
If you play the C maj chord in the 1st position and add the octave 8 it seems to enforce the root. Also I am sure that many of you will have reinforced the root by playing it again an octave or 2 lower, say Cmaj chord around C5 reinforced by a C3or 4 maybe.
In a band situation this would be the job of say the bass player. But if you have only got a piano then it’s down to you.
So is a Cmaj +8 a power chord ??
While I am at it, as octave numbering can be a bit of a nightmare you may like to have a read of my article from my web site So that when I talk about note C5 you now which C I mean.

http://mikesmusic.byethost16.com/my_technical_articles2.html#octaves


Mike

I am a guitarist, so I can add some explanations.

When we refer to a power chord, it don't make any reference to the construction of the chord (the fifth interval) but to the physical reference of the sound, that is the loudness of the chord.
Indeed, power chords are always played on a guitar with many effects pedals - mainly distorsion pedals, fuzz pedals, overdrive pedals, etc...
So you get a very powerful sound. We use that in hard-rock music, metal music, even in pop-rock music ...
We are here very far from classic definition of the chords, we are also very far from the standard instruments (brass, woodwinds, harp, piano, etc): we are in the guitar world...

Chord or interval...They are all useful
I am glad mystery is solved, and thank you all for contributing!

Misha.