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Has anybody ever considered that you may be in a place where you are so comfortable with a certain genre that you tend to write only in that genre?
I ask because I thought I was getting into that place, and I decided that in 2018 I was going to write in as many different genres as possible. In fact I want to write 10 songs with different flavors for a CD, Thus far in 2018 I have done:
Big Band (As Long As You're Gone)
Jazz instrumental (Groundhog Day)
Industrial/Trance (Titles)
Country rock (Livin' On Wheels)
Country ballad (How To Forget)
Straight on rocker (3 Wives - currently in the oven)
A folk song a la Pete Seeger (I Hope Somebody Cries - currently in the oven)
Disco (not yet completed or published)
Yet to come is a ska tune, a la Mighty Mighty Bosstones. Thinking on that one now.
A symphonic piece, complete with movements (think about how MacArthur Park is done). That is going to take some time as it will be written in many chunks and then seamed together later. I have to do it that way because of meter and tempo changes, and some parts will be free form with no rhythm at all.
This software is SO versatile I have found everything I needed inside it!!
It's been a good mind-expanding exercise. And Rog has captured the feel I wanted in EVERY song as he has been playing George Martin to my John Lennon. Apparently there is some magic "mixing dust" in England that we can't get here because I send him coal and he sends back diamonds.
Last edited by eddie1261; 06/01/18 04:33 PM.
I am using the new 1040XTRAEZ form this year. It has just 2 lines.
1. How much did you make in 2023?
2. Send it to us.
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Songwriting
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Joined: Jun 2017
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PG Music Staff
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PG Music Staff
Joined: Jun 2017
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I think that dabbling in writing for other genres is a good way to flex some unused muscled you didn't know you necessarily had. If nothing else, experimenting with genres you don't normally dabble in can just be plain ol' fun, I imagine!  Great food for thought.
Cheers,
Ember
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Indeed.
I love country of all sorts....
But I like to stretch myself out and on occasion it's relaxing to play and write some rock. In addition, having a go with some jazz is nothing but sheer fun. And of course, there's bluegrass.... always like a breath of fresh air every now and then.
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.
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I definitely do this as well. It is so easy to play within your comfort zone, so I force myself outside of that by working on other types of music I wouldn't otherwise. Good to know I'm not alone!
Cheers,
Deryk
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I grew up in the north, in Cleveland. In my musically formative years there wasn't a lot of country music. We had mostly R&B, Motown and rock music here. It was in my post war stateside Army assignment in Oklahoma where I had my first exposure to country music. Now that was the early 70s so today's "new country" artists were either not born yet or just babies, so I am talking Hank Senior, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, etc... I really got to like it. One bar just outside the gate had live local band type music on weekends and most weekends I was there. (Lawton OK was too small for major acts to play.) I took tot he lyrics mainly. When I got back here and looked to get back to my music, I mainly looked for rock bands. I got a call from some guys who lost the use of their guitar player while he, um, went to work for the state for 6 months (DUI). They said it would be an easy gig, playing rhythm guitar and singing harmony, and lead here and there if I felt comfortable singing anything. I rehearsed with them,once, in a "we need you now so we will throw a lot at you" situation. I got tapes and made charts, so we rehearsed just twice and I played a gig. During the next week they offered to come to my house to rehearse to make it equitable as far as doing all that rehearsal driving. When they got to my house and saw all the keyboards and the sax, they said "You play all this stuff too?" and I kind of looked at them weird, like "You guys called ME. Didn't you know what you were getting?" and at that rehearsal I played some piano, some strings, etc.... They immediately moved me from "fill in until Mike is out of the joint" to "When Mike gets out of the joint we are expanding to 5 pieces" status. I played with them for about a whole year so I got a good exposure to country from that band. Then the bass player moved away, the guitar player quit, etc. I moved on to a rock band, then after a few years of that to a Motown band. After 20 years off, I started writing, thanks to PG software, and now almost everything came out country until I forced myself to NOT write county this year. And even at that, 2 of the new ones are country songs. Some with my toe near but not on the country line, but only 2 country songs. Which spawned this post..... That and the experiment that J3 did using Joanne's lyrics. There were what, 10 songs written with those lyrics, all very different, from my country to one I would call somewhat industrial, to David Snyder's hilarious rendition as done by The King. J3 and I disagree a lot but that was a good exercise. (And I think I won the writing "contest"... LOL!)
Last edited by eddie1261; 06/04/18 06:20 AM.
I am using the new 1040XTRAEZ form this year. It has just 2 lines.
1. How much did you make in 2023?
2. Send it to us.
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Songwriting
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,265
Expert
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Joined: Jan 2013
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Has anybody ever considered that you may be in a place where you are so comfortable with a certain genre that you tend to write only in that genre? I just asked myself that question but didn't come up with any concise answer to myself. TBH....I have no idea what 'genre' I write in. I've never written anything with a particular 'genre' in mind. Whatever pops out of my pea brain just evolves as I put things together. I'd guess I'm light rock (meaning all lyrics can be understood clearly), maybe a few tunes bordering on a slight jazz influence....but, that assessment is for other listeners to determine. I tend to think my lyrics are subject specific and genre neutral but I've been wrong in the past. I have already co-wrote and completed (2) concept (to your symphony related comment) projects. One in 1985 of (6) tunes and one in 1994 with (10) songs. I have another that is unfinished musically....lyrics of all (6) tunes are done. Ultimately, I'm comfortable with what I write and have no interest in writing in other genres many of which are unappealing to me for one reason or another.....subjectivity rearing its head here. 'A man has to know his limitations' (movie quote....:)) With good knowledge of BIAB program depth, some music knowledge and personal musicianship skills I think one can get about any genre they want out of this program. One's only limitation is one's imagination. Good luck on your quest by the way. You got a bump anyway.....carry on.
Last edited by chulaivet1966; 06/04/18 09:28 AM.
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'A man has to know his limitations' (movie quote....:))
Magnum Force!!!
I am using the new 1040XTRAEZ form this year. It has just 2 lines.
1. How much did you make in 2023?
2. Send it to us.
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Songwriting
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,265
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'A man has to know his limitations' (movie quote....:))Magnum Force!!! The mind of a steel trap. Love those old Clint movies. Back to topic.....
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Songwriting
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What a great, and needed post. I've always found it strange that as creative and artistic as many of us think we are; how much we stay in a our own little limited boxes. The creativity and willingness on this forum has been pretty amazing; especially as of late. I'm not saying that we always need to be doing something entirely different; but breaking out now and then is so useful. I feel the challenge for many established bands is walking that line between "it sounds like all of their other stuff" and "they have changed. I don't like their new stuff." With us, we have so many freedoms to just be us. I call that a Snyderism to live by. That and the experiment that J3 did using Joanne's lyrics. There were what, 10 songs written with those lyrics, all very different, from my country to one I would call somewhat industrial, to David Snyder's hilarious rendition as done by The King. J3 and I disagree a lot but that was a good exercise. (And I think I won the writing "contest"... LOL!) I've actually found this a bit comical. Here's my take...you won. If you are NOT looking for a prize; then that experiment was actually my idea. However, if you ARE looking for a prize; it was J3's, JC's or whoever is willing to give you a prize. lol I would love to have another one of these this summer. I found that so much fun. I sort of wished PG music would have bunched those together to show someone new the flexibility of what can be made. I love all of the entries. I think you got the people you disagree with a lot mixed up.  Well, back to writing some Afro-Cuban Country Jazz Metal. Now, if I could just find "me" bagpipes...
Last edited by HearToLearn; 06/06/18 05:09 AM.
Chad (Hope that makes it easier)
TEMPO TANTRUM: What a lead singer has when they can't stay in time.
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I sort of wished PG music would have bunched those together to show someone new the flexibility of what can be made. Steve kind of did that but I don't recall if he kept that alive for every rendition ornot. Well, back to writing some Afro-Cuban Country Jazz Metal. Now, if I could just find "me" bagpipes... I am more looking into doing some punk polka myself.... I DO have an ongoing project doing 60s and 70s songs in completely different styles. 4 done. 1 in progress. Then 5 to go.
I am using the new 1040XTRAEZ form this year. It has just 2 lines.
1. How much did you make in 2023?
2. Send it to us.
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Steve kind of did that but I don't recall if he kept that alive for every rendition ornot.
Yes. I thought maybe PGM could pin it in the showcase for newbies checking out the program. Right now, they would have to know to look for Steve's post. That was WAY cool of Steve to do that btw. It made it MUCH easier and organized IMO. I am more looking into doing some punk polka myself....
I DO have an ongoing project doing 60s and 70s songs in completely different styles. 4 done. 1 in progress. Then 5 to go. Being you are from Cleveland, the polka thing does not surprise me. lol Wisconsin represents polka to a large degree as well. Excited to hear your new songs. Congrats on stepping out.
Chad (Hope that makes it easier)
TEMPO TANTRUM: What a lead singer has when they can't stay in time.
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Being you are from Cleveland, the polka thing does not surprise me. lol Wisconsin represents polka to a large degree as well. Oofda oofda....
I am using the new 1040XTRAEZ form this year. It has just 2 lines.
1. How much did you make in 2023?
2. Send it to us.
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Before you steal my song Eddie, there's only one question you have to ask: Do you feel lucky, punk? Well, do ya?? 
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Before you steal my song Eddie, there's only one question you have to ask:
Do you feel lucky, punk? Well, do ya??
Being that this this is a 44 bpm song, the most powerful temp in the world....
I am using the new 1040XTRAEZ form this year. It has just 2 lines.
1. How much did you make in 2023?
2. Send it to us.
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Did you hear six choruses, Eddie or only 5?
Go ahead, Eddie. Make my day.
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I sort of wished PG music would have bunched those together to show someone new the flexibility of what can be made. Steve kind of did that but I don't recall if he kept that alive for every rendition or not. Is this what you are referring to? Paradox of You - Song List
 Steve BIAB/RB 2022, Pro Tools 2020, Korg N5, JBL LSR 4328 Powered Monitors, AKG/Shure Mics.
PC: Win11 PRO, 4 TB M2 SSD, 2 TB HD, 128 GB Memory
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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.
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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
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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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