Hi, I updated to the new version from a about 10 years old version recently (couldn't use it during this time). I am German, using the German version.
I have problems with the not really understandable (German) expressions and must say that the (outdated) German manual isn't really helpful. For example it's not explained what is meant with "Strophe" (verse) in a AABA structure. The whole structure or just one A part? Anyways, I'm trying to program a simple structure for hours now, but whatever I try BiaB does something completely different.
Intro: 8 bars A1: 8 bars (bar 8 = house 1) A2: 8 bars (after bar 7 to house 2 / bar 9) B: 8 bars A3: like A1
Repeat the AABA structure 4 times.
Yes, I am a musician and I never had any issues with music software like MuseScore, Logic … but this is really not self explaining (and the manual doesn't help either).
So after about 3 hours trying to do just this easy thing I'm quite annoyed.
I might be reading your post wrongly but it sounds like you are trying to create an AABA format song by using repeats and first and second endings.
If this is the case, please keep reading.
I find that the best way to use BIAB is to ignore the repeats and endings and just enter the song as a single event from start to end. The reason I do this is because repeats, etc., are for notation devices. While BIAB is capable of this, BIAB is not primarily notation software. It's performance software and I prefer to think of it the same as playing an orchestra score.
Here is the chord chart for one of my AABA-format songs...
Intro: bars 1 - 4 First A-section: Bars 5 - 13 Second A-section: Bars 14 - 22 B-section (bridge): Bars 23 - 31 Third A-section: Bars 32 - 40
That's the layout of the song. Once I have the chords for one of my A-sections in place, I just copy them to the other A-sections. There are minor differences in the A-sections and so I manually adjusted the chords for these differences.
When an AABA song is performed, it's most common to... (1) play it all the way through. (2) play an instrumental solo for one of the A-sections (3) repeat the B and third A-section (4) tack on an ending
I followed that format in this song.
Solo on using A-section chords: Bars 41 - 48 Repeat B section: Bars 49 - 57 Repeat third A-section: 58 - 65 Ending: 66 - 71
Note: BIAB's automatic ending is included and starts at bar 70.
Also.... this might help.... Here's a PG Music video clip on creating a song.
It does sound like you're trying to use the musical repeats and such to create your song.
I'd recommend that you toss all that out when working in BB and go into the Edit >songform > expand to one chorus and work in the linear form.
No repeats, no DC al codas.... etc.... simply a start to finish one time through. In the linear form... ( one chorus as BB calls it) you don't deal with any of the musical signposts.
I was classically trained and tried to work in this manner using the signposts but it was simply too confusing. In ONE CHORUS mode, you set things up manually.... verses are generally Blue and Choruses are Green... using the part markers and default colors.
This allows you to put two verses, a chorus, and a finishing verse in the proper order and see it clearly. IN addition, you can add intros, outtros, bridges, solos, and anything else easily, in a simple, easy to edit format. And the best part... when you need to start at the 3rd verse, or anywhere else in the song.... you can easily do it. If you get distracted for a minute and lose your place, there's absolutely no guessing as to where you are at in the song at any given time.
Once I "discovered" this, I have never used the default repeat since.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.com Add 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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