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Hi PG developers,
As a saxophone player, I very much enjoy BiaB’s ability to transpose the notation for my instruments. Most of the time transposition in BiaB works great, as long as the song stays in one key. But, you can see some strange results when harmonies start to wander outside the key. Often, the resulting chords would not be found in any major or minor keys because they would need double sharps or double flats to be spelled correctly with the chord roots that BiaB chooses. There are also some problems when the new key is Gb major or certain minor keys.
For the past few weeks, I have been analyzing how BiaB transposes, and then analyzing what chords occur on sharps or flats in every major and minor key, and finally coming up with some suggestions to fix the problems that I have seen.
I will post each of my ideas separately within this discussion thread, and I hope that you will consider each one of them.
Thanks,
Jim
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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OP
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F5 Key Change option that works for transposition
Songs often modulate, whether it just two measures of a ii – V – I in another key, or an eight-bar bridge, or a final chorus that is higher than the rest. If you are only working in concert pitch in BiaB then you will be able to type in the chords that are correct for each of the modulations, and you also have the option of changing the key signature at any measure (except the first). The problem comes when you try to transpose the song. BiaB will base the chord roots for the whole piece on the key the song starts in. For instance, say you have a song that modulates up a half step, and you transpose the song or the notation so that it begins on Bb. The second section should now be in the key of B, but because the first key in the song was a flat key, all the chords that ought to start on sharps in B will start on flats instead.
I would like a way to keep the chords diatonic to the new key. I.e., In B major: B C#min, D#min, E, F#7, G#min, A#minb5. And I also want the notes in the new key to be written in the new key signature, not as enharmonics.
My proposal is for you to replace the “Key Signature Change To” feature in the F5 menu with a revised version that will work for transposing. Here are my suggestions for the proposed feature to replace it.
1. Call it “Key change to”, and, to make it more useful for brief “key of the moment” modulations, have a check box for “Change key signature”, which should be checked by default. Unchecking it should not affect the way chords and notes are chosen compared to keeping it checked, but would only affect whether accidentals are needed in the notation.
2. The key changes marked by using this feature would be transposed when the song is transposed.
3. Chord roots, starting at this point, should be named based on scale tones of the new key.
4. Notes, starting at this point, should be named based on the new key. If the new key contains an E#, it should be written as such, and not as an F.
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Jan 2011
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#7 in minor.
When the root of a chord is the raised seventh degree of a minor key, and it is a “black key” it should always be displayed as a sharp, not a flat.
This currently works correctly in BiaB in some circumstances, but not in others. Where it works:
- When it is the third of a V chord, such as D7/F# in the key of G minor.
- On i chords with a major seventh in the bass (with one exception), such as A/G#
- In concert key notation it also works most of the time for diminished seventh chords such as G#dim in the key of A minor (also with one exception).
Here are the circumstances where the raised seventh of a minor key is not displayed correctly:
- When transposing to the key of G minor the F# roots are incorrectly displayed as Gb, as in Gbdim and Gmin/Gb. These should be F#dim and Gmin/F#.
- When transposing the notation for non-concert pitch instruments, the roots of diminished seventh chords are incorrectly displayed as flats -- Dbdim, Ebdim, Gbdim, Abdim, Bbdim – they should be C#dim, D#dim, F#dim, G#dim, A#dim.
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Keys with 6 sharps or flats.
When transposing to the major key of Gb/F#, please use F# major instead of Gb.
The first reason for this request has to do the BiaB feature which simplifies chord roots starting on Cb, E#, double sharps, or double flats to their enharmonic equivalents starting on naturals. In either Gb major or in F# there are some trade-offs because these keys have 6 flats or 6 sharps while there are only 5 “black keys”. BiaB won’t write chords starting on Cb or E#, but simplifies them to B and F. Since the extra flat in Gb major occurs on the very important IV degree of the scale, Cb, which BiaB will always writes as a B (a sharp chord in the middle of a flat key) that is a major disadvantage for Gb major.
The trade-off with F# is that the extra sharp in F# major is E#, which BiaB will always write as an F. However, since the chord on this scale degree the vii of the key, and since vii chords are much less common than IV chords are, it would be much better to use F# major than to use Gb major when transposing to this key.
The second reason to use F# major instead of Gb major has to do with a major audience for the transposing feature. While any musician or composer may transpose songs occasionally, players of transposing instruments are constantly transposing the notation of songs to compensate for the pitch of their instruments. Most transposing instruments are in flat keys, and to compensate for our instruments in Bb and Eb we are always removing two or three flats from flat keys, and adding two or three flats to sharp keys. Consequently, this makes us much less used to playing in keys with many flats, and much more familiar with playing in keys with many sharps.
Please continue to use the key of Eb minor instead of D# minor for six flats or sharps because more of the notes and chords can be spelled correctly in Eb minor when you consider the raised seventh.
- In D# minor the #7 is C##, which will get simplified to D in BiaB. The D is spelled correctly in Eb minor as the root of the Ddim chord and as the third of the V chord, Bb7.
- In D# minor the ii is E#, which will get simplified to F in BiaB. The F is spelled correctly as the root of the important ii chord in Eb minor.
- In Eb minor, the note that BiaB will simplify is Cb, the bVI chord, which is less important than the ii, V, and vii, so the key of Eb minor wins out over D# minor.
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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OP
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Diminished chords starting on #, not b
Diminished chords and half diminished seventh chord starts should not be built on flat roots. Use sharp roots instead.
- Diminished and half diminished chords never occur on flat roots in any major or minor key.
- Also, spelling any diminished chord as a stack of thirds without enharmonics results in chord tones with double flats, Cb, and Fb, whereas if you start on sharp roots those same tones are naturals.
Therefore, this rule should take precedence over BiaB’s preference to build chords on scale tones.
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Chords built on non-scale tones - Quality of chord
The quality of the chord should be a factor in how BiaB chooses whether the root should be a sharp or a flat. This suggestion applies when:
- When the root of a chord is not a scale tone of the selected key,
- and it falls on one of the black keys on the key you are transposing to.
I based the following suggestions on analysis of all the chords diatonic to the major keys with up to 5 flats and 6 sharps, as well as the V7 of each minor key. As you change the quality of chords from diminished, to minor, to dominant seventh, to major, and finally to Augmented, more and more roots start on flats instead of sharps.
I already requested that if the chord is diminished or half diminished, the root should be sharp, regardless of whether the root is a scale tone in the key
If the chord is Augmented, use flats for the roots.
For minor, dominant seventh, and major chords, use the following for chord roots that are not scale tones:
If the root in the new key is F#/Gb, use F#.
If the root in the new key is C#/Db then
if the quality is minor or dominant seventh, then use C#
else, use Db (for major chords)
If the root in the new key is G#/Ab,
if it is a dominant seventh and it is preceded by D#minb5 then use G# (it is the V of C#min)
if it is minor, use G#
else, use Ab (for major and dominant seventh chords)
If the root in the new key is D#/Eb then
if it is a dominant seventh and it is preceded by A#minb5 then use D# (it is the V of G#min)
else, use Eb (for minor, major and dominant seventh chords)
If the root is Bb/A#, use Bb.
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
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Update Your PowerTracks Pro Audio 2024 Today!
The Newest RealBand 2024 Update is Here!
The newest RealBand 2024 Build 5 update is now available!
Download and install this to your RealBand 2024 for updated print options, streamlined loading and saving of .SGU & MGU (BB) files, and to add a number of program adjustments that address user-reported bugs and concerns.
This free update is available to all RealBand 2024 users. To learn more about this update and download it, head to www.pgmusic.com/support.realband.htm#20245
The Band-in-a-Box® Flash Drive Backup Option
Today (April 5) is National Flash Drive Day!
Did you know... not only can you download your Band-in-a-Box® Pro, MegaPAK, or PlusPAK purchase - you can also choose to add a flash drive backup copy with the installation files for only $15? It even comes with a Band-in-a-Box® keychain!
For the larger Band-in-a-Box® packages (UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition), the hard drive backup copy is available for only $25. This will include a preinstalled and ready to use program, along with your installation files.
Backup copies are offered during the checkout process on our website.
Already purchased your e-delivery version, and now you wish you had a backup copy? It's not too late! If your purchase was for the current version of Band-in-a-Box®, you can still reach out to our team directly to place your backup copy order!
Note: the Band-in-a-Box® keychain is only included with flash drive backup copies, and cannot be purchased separately.
Handy flash drive tip: Always try plugging in a USB device the wrong way first? If your flash drive (or other USB plug) doesn't have a symbol to indicate which way is up, look for the side with a seam on the metal connector (it only has a line across one side) - that's the side that either faces down or to the left, depending on your port placement.
Update your Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows® Today!
Update your Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows for free with build 1111!
With this update, there's more control when saving images from the Print Preview window, we've added defaults to the MultiPicker for sorting and font size, updated printing options, updated RealTracks and other content, and addressed user-reported issues with the StylePicker, MIDI Soloists, key signature changes, and more!
Learn more about this free update for Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows at www.pgmusic.com/support_windowsupdates.htm#1111
Band-in-a-Box® 2024 Review: 4.75 out of 5 Stars!
If you're looking for a in-depth review of the newest Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows version, you'll definitely find it with Sound-Guy's latest review, Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows Review: Incredible new capabilities to experiment, compose, arrange and mix songs.
A few excerpts:
"The Tracks view is possibly the single most powerful addition in 2024 and opens up a new way to edit and generate accompaniments. Combined with the new MultiPicker Library Window, it makes BIAB nearly perfect as an 'intelligent' composer/arranger program."
"MIDI SuperTracks partial generation showing six variations – each time the section is generated it can be instantly auditioned, re-generated or backed out to a previous generation – and you can do this with any track type. This is MAJOR! This takes musical experimentation and honing an arrangement to a new level, and faster than ever."
"Band in a Box continues to be an expansive musical tool-set for both novice and experienced musicians to experiment, compose, arrange and mix songs, as well as an extensive educational resource. It is huge, with hundreds of functions, more than any one person is likely to ever use. Yet, so is any DAW that I have used. BIAB can do some things that no DAW does, and this year BIAB has more DAW-like functions than ever."
Convenient Ways to Listen to Band-in-a-Box® Songs Created by Program Users!
The User Showcase Forum is an excellent place to share your Band-in-a-Box® songs and listen to songs other program users are creating!
There are other places you can listen to these songs too! Visit our User Showcase page to sort by genre, artist (forum name), song title, and date - each listing will direct you to the forum post for that song.
If you'd rather listen to these songs in one place, head to our Band-in-a-Box® Radio, where you'll have the option to select the genre playlist for your listening pleasure. This page has SoundCloud built in, so it won't redirect you. We've also added the link to the Artists SoundCloud page here, and a link to their forum post.
We hope you find some inspiration from this amazing collection of User Showcase Songs!
Congratulations to the 2023 User Showcase Award Winners!
We've just announced the 2023 User Showcase Award Winners!
There are 45 winners, each receiving a Band-in-a-Box 2024 UltraPAK! Read the official announcement to see if you've won.
Our User Showcase Forum receives more than 50 posts per day, with people sharing their Band-in-a-Box songs and providing feedback for other songs posted.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed!
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