Is there a way to have the Band-in-a-Box Melodist generate chords and melodies that match a modal scale?
I've been wanting to learn more about modes by producing music using them and having Band-in-a-Box create starting points. I can't find anything that directly references scales other than major and minor.
One idea I had -- a rather oblique one -- was, as an example: - Have Melodist generate chords in Dm to establish a tonal centre. - Fix up the chords manually to match a Dorian mode. - In Melodist again, tell it to produce a melody only in C over the new chords.
Have I missed a feature completely? How far off base have I strayed?
My understanding is this is not possible in BIAB. Of course you could still construct backing chords which emphasize the modal charateristic notes, but these extensions and voicings will likely not be followed by BIAB which builds solos based on key (major/minor) and not chords. Look to Scaler2.
So here is 8 bars of my G-Dorian Backing in Scaler. And then I took the Scaler Midi track and opened it is BIAB. You can see what happens in BIAB since is just can't handle the extensions. It got the Key right (F) but I have no aspirations that if will stick to the my G Dorian Scale directives. On the other hand Scaler does what it is told. Every chord is optimized, voiced and extended (well to the level of knowlege I have) to emphsize G-Dorian. Scaler will write the perfomance tracks with G-Dorian in mind.
So here is 8 bars of my G-Dorian Backing in Scaler. And then I took the Scaler Midi track and opened it is BIAB. You can see what happens in BIAB since is just can't handle the extensions. It got the Key right (F) but I have no aspirations that if will stick to the my G Dorian Scale directives. On the other hand Scaler does what it is told. Every chord is optimized, voiced and extended (well to the level of knowlege I have) to emphsize G-Dorian. Scaler will write the perfomance tracks with G-Dorian in mind.
One great feature of Studio One Pro is that you can take a BiaB input and force them to conform to your chords. Thus you take Scaler chords either type them in or put the sequence in Studio One Pro and extract the chords from them and then you can force all tracks to follow those chords. I do that with Scaler, Toontrack's stuff, and other programs. Those programs, BiaB, and Studio One Pro make great combinations.
Me, it's not about how many times you fail, it's about how many times you get back up. Cop, that's not how field sobriety tests work.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
Is there a way to have the Band-in-a-Box Melodist generate chords and melodies that match a modal scale?
I've been wanting to learn more about modes by producing music using them and having Band-in-a-Box create starting points. I can't find anything that directly references scales other than major and minor.
One idea I had -- a rather oblique one -- was, as an example: - Have Melodist generate chords in Dm to establish a tonal centre. - Fix up the chords manually to match a Dorian mode. - In Melodist again, tell it to produce a melody only in C over the new chords.
Have I missed a feature completely? How far off base have I strayed?
Could be.
I'm not at it right now, but here's something you could try that might lead you right. Every mode of major has a major scale (a relative major scale?) that shares all the same notes. C Dorian and Bb major, for example. Between your chord choices and "slashing" the modal root you might get melodist to cooperate better. Worth a try.
I think all you really have to do is learn or reference the chords for the key and mode you want to use.
For example D Dorian is from C Major scale. So in D Dorian your tonic i chord is D minor. From there you just climb the C major scale for your chords. So your dominant fifth chord is v A minor and your seventh chord is VII C major. All the chords don't necessarily work well in each mode. For example your sixth chord is now vi B diminished in D Dorian. But there are conventions of substituting parallel chords or foregoing the use of a particular chord depending upon which mode you are using.
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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!
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."
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