I just got my BiaB upgrade and I'm playing around with a backing track I did in an older edition for a cover of a song I love (which owing to forum limitations I will not name here). Looking at my chord chart it seemed like a repetition of a core eight bars six times with an ending section of about twelve bars. (I don't know if these are the exact figures since I don't have it in front of me. The middle two sections in the original had a different emphasis than the rest.

for one thing, it was louder. That should be replicable. But the other is whether the key actually changed for this central set of verses.

Perhaps the sheet music may help, but since I'm mainly working by my not-trained-up ear I can't really tell. If it does, it's subtle.

if it is a key change, I want to charge the key for only that one section and leave the rest intact. I know the vocal line of the song quite well, but again I can't tell whether I change the key or just the emphasis.

What do I look (or listen) for to determine what's different and what I need to do with that middle section?

The SGU will play the chords on the chart.
Say you start in key C, you'll see C Am F G for example.
IF there was a key change to say D, the chords would continue through as D Bm G A.

But if the entire SGU is in C and you want say 8 bars in D, then use transpose to do that.
You should be able to hear the difference.
Ian

Firstly, welcome.

You can insert a key change by selecting the required bar where this should occur, and then press Function Key <F5>

In the Bar Settings dialog, you can change the key signature of the song. You can select all choruses, or only specific chorus.

Repeat at a different bar to change the key again if required.

Welcome,

First you can name a cover song title on these forums. You can not post cover songs here. If you want us to hear a cover song post it on Youtube and put a message in PGMusic's Youtube forum.

If you are not sure about the chords in a song do what I do. That is google/bing song title chords. You will find a number of sites that have that information. Punch those chords in BiaB and use the above information for key changes. If the entire song is out of your singing range just change the key in BiaB using the change key window.

It's normal** for a song to change key in the bridge (chorus). I don't change a key signature for just a few bars, but eight or more I'll consider it, especially if the key is quite a different feel from the original key.

VideoTrack showed how, above. Don't forget to set it back at the appropriate bar.

** in jazz, I'm starting to see more songs that have such varied key centers, the whole thing is just written in C.

I would like to thank all of you for helping me with this!

I'm trying to figure out a way to make an exchange using the actual BIAB file so folks can tell me what I'm doing wrong. YT wouldn't work for that, and I don't think there's a forum-rules-friendly thing that will. Sigh...

However, I was able to export an accompaniment file in WMA. But I have another program to figure out -- the free version of Cakewalk that was released I believe last year. If the BIAB plugin works with it, it would make things a lot easier. However, I have no way to tell.

Even easier, perhaps: you could just attach the song file to a post here. Do you see the words "File Manager" in the Post Options box below where you would write your message? That's actually a (rather well-hidden) link.

I'll be happy to give you an opinion on the key signature(s) needed for your song. Of course, my opinion is worth exactly what you will be paying me for it... The good news is that there are many fine musicians here who also are well-versed in music theory.

If you know the chords, you could type them out in a post in this thread, for the main section(s) and the section you're questioning. It,s possible, but not guaranteed, that any key change might be discerned just from the progression. The more chords in that section, the easier it MIGHT be to suggest what key it is in and whether or not this is an actual key change.

For biab purposes, unless you are wanting to create an accurate notation, you can just leave everything in the original key. Biab will play the chords regardless of the key signature set, though some RTs and styles may work better when the key info is accurate.

The only thing I can think of to listen for are repeats of instrumental or vocal melody phrases in that section from the main sections and figuring if the notes are different...Maybe a half-step or two higher??