|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
|
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,563
Expert
|
OP
Expert
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,563 |
Learned from the Hymn Book The premise is the hymns are written for the voices of the congregation; that is to say, no special training required. The range of most melodies stays within one note above or below the octave. For example,the notes of the popular "Just a Closer Walk with Thee" in CMaj fall on or between the e notes. ( "clo-ser" is lower a-e. "dai-ly walk-ing" is higher e-e-e-e) To sing that tune requires the use of one octave plus or minus one note. Does that come as a surprise to anyone? It did to me. Even the dreaded "Silent Night" can be sung by a vocalist whose range is limited to three notes above the octave. My score in eb has a range from eb to ab. Even the best are not beyond reaching for it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOylzf9_EBUThough most of the hymns I work with were written in the 18th and 19th centuries, I suspect the idea was to include at least one low note and one high, to give expression to both bass and soprano voices. Just guessing. The range of "Old Rugged Cross" is e to e. Normally, we can hear the men strain to hit that high e for "sin-ners" while the men often carry the pickup, "On a." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrXH3xe4mHY
Last edited by edshaw; 12/29/18 12:38 PM.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
|
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,129
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,129 |
Ed,
Thanks for sharing that. It's one of those things that kind of seems obvious in hindsight as it makes sense.
Did you find that tidbit in a how to use the hymn book guideline?
Jim Fogle - 2024 BiaB (1111) RB (5) Ultra+ PAK DAWs: Cakewalk by BandLab (CbB) - Standalone: Zoom MRS-8 Laptop: i3 Win 10, 8GB ram 500GB HDD Desktop: i7 Win 11, 12GB ram 256GB SSD, 4 TB HDD Music at: https://fogle622.wix.com/fogle622-audio-home
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
|
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,563
Expert
|
|
OP
Expert
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,563 |
I can't provide a resource, Jim. It is something I discovered while fighting with "God be with You 'til We Meet Again." That hymn has a range from G to B in the key of Gmaj and from C to E in Cmaj. While two notes above the octave might not sound like much, it is. A soprano, of course, could raise the octave and still harmonize.
In Cmaj, I reasoned, well, what if I dropped the key three notes to Gmaj, wouldn't that be enough to lower the top notes into my range? So I thought. I mean, after all, isn't that what singers are always on about, "their" key? As you might have guessed, it did not work. The issue is not the notes, it is the spread, the range. I set about experimenting using a Snark tuner.
That led to having a look at the song book. My lead sheets are a lot easier to scan than full scores. That's when I noticed a pattern: ranges of an octave plus minus one, two, maybe three notes.
In conjunction, watching church leaders, it suddenly occurred that the leaders were expecting the congregations to automatically sing in 12 keys. No wonder people have a time of it.
(As always, open to further learning.)
Last edited by edshaw; 12/29/18 03:56 PM.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
|
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,944
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,944 |
For songwriters, Biab makes easy to see & set the range of their created melodies,
allowing them to experiment & adjust the melody until an acceptable range is found.
Oftentimes its fun trying to create a melody with an extreme short range of notes.
Jim
†=☮&♥
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
|
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,129
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,129 |
That's thoughtful and observant Ed. I wonder if present songwriters think about crafting songs that untrained voices can sing? I find that while many Contemporary Christian songs do have limited note range, many more are recorded in uncommon meters that highlight the performance while minimizing sing along capability. If you think about how many hymns have likely been created over time the fact that most Protestant hymnals contain only 300 - 400 hymns means they are likely the cream of the crop; especially when you look across all different denominations and realize all those hymnals share many of the same hymns.
Jim, BiaB has so many excellent songwriting tools it's easy to forget how adaptable the Melodist is. Perhaps since the Melodist was enhanced in 2019 and can use RealStyles to generate chords and melodies more users will make an opportunity to use the feature. I've got to admit, I haven't played with it yet but it is high on my to-do list of features to learn in Band-in-a-Box. Creating unique melodies have always been an obstacle for me.
Jim Fogle - 2024 BiaB (1111) RB (5) Ultra+ PAK DAWs: Cakewalk by BandLab (CbB) - Standalone: Zoom MRS-8 Laptop: i3 Win 10, 8GB ram 500GB HDD Desktop: i7 Win 11, 12GB ram 256GB SSD, 4 TB HDD Music at: https://fogle622.wix.com/fogle622-audio-home
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
|
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,563
Expert
|
|
OP
Expert
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,563 |
Jim (Texas) : Thanks for that. Your mention of Melodist is one to those many features of Band-in-a-Box that I have been wanting to get into. Being used to Crescendo, and currently fascinated by Real Tracks and DAW technology...hopefully, one day.
Jim Fogle : Jah, Man, good observations. We like to take things apart to see how they work, do we not? I mean, the cultural trait. It follows that the hymn book is no exception. Amazing Grace in Cmaj has a range of G to G. May I call that one octave? The first note is a 1/4 note g, which happens to be as low as it goes in this song. Further along, there is a high g, which is as high as it goes. That's how I conclude the range is g to g. (Bearing in mind, the g is the #5 of the C scale. In this song, there is nothing lower.)
I've not had voice lessons, but it stands to reason, using an audible tuner, I can identify the lowest and highest notes of my comfort zone, or range. This assumes the idea is not neither strain nor shift. Also, we know from observation, the hymns tend to stay within two, rarely three, notes, plus or minus, of the notes of the key.
I tried this, and found that I could comfortably hit the low g. Not much lower. F if I pushed it.
So, my hypothesis says, go a note up from the lowest comfortable. In this case, it is an a. The A-note is the #5 of the D-scale. In the D-scale, then, the song starts off with the A. That is a transposition from the key of Cmaj, where the first note was a g.
If I try the song in the key of Dmaj, should be able to handle the range, with a one note cushion. Crazy, or what?
All in the spirit of analysis.
Last edited by edshaw; 12/31/18 08:22 AM.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
|
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,944
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,944 |
I've not had voice lessons, but it stands to reason, using an audible tuner, I can identify the lowest and highest notes of my comfort zone, or range. Instead of an "audible tuner", why not let Biab help you out. Notate the diatonic scale notes in C major over a 2 octave range and then sing along with the melody to discover what range of notes is suitable for your voice (your comfort zone). Two caveats... First, in a live performance, you will probably surprise yourself by being able to sing higher or lower than you think you can. Secondly, in a live performance, you may not be able to hear the pitch of your lowest notes through the PA monitors with all of the stage noise that is also crowding into your ears. However, once you know your range, you can notate any hymn you choose into the melody track of Biab and then transpose the song into a key that fits the range of your voice. Hope this is helpful...
Jim
†=☮&♥
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
|
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,563
Expert
|
|
OP
Expert
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,563 |
Thanks, Jim. I'm going to have to get into those melody features in BiaB.
So little time.
Thing about the Snark, you talk into it and it shows you right away, in big bold letters, the pitch of your note -- flat, sharp, or right on. There are certain points, above and below the roots, where the going starts to get tough, and it shows.
Funny you mention live performance. It is a different world altogether. For one thing, once the energy kicks in, as it will, fear of failure vanishes, we no longer anticipate with dread that high or low note coming up in the next bar.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums66
Topics81,624
Posts735,212
Members38,521
| |
Most Online2,537
Jan 19th, 2020
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean