Scroll down and you'll find our Guitar Chord Dictionary & Piano Chord Dictionary programs. Each Chord Dictionary allows you to choose a root note to select the chord you want to learn, and it will be displayed on-screen with either the piano keyboard or the guitar fretboard!
In the Guitar Chord Dictionary & Piano Chord Dictionary you can change the sounds within the Settings window, whether it be the Root note or the Chord, and it doesn't even have to be a guitar or piano! Looking through the options, there's various piano choices, guitar choices, organ, etc. - but you can also choose more unique sounds like the tuba, saxophone, trumpet, clarinet, and more!
I purchased both the guitar and piano chord dictionaries and use at least one or the other almost every day.
My favorite feature of both programs is what I call reverse chord look-up. By that I mean I tell a program the fingering of a chord and the program displays the name, or names, of the chord.
One benefit is once I know the name one of these dictionaries labels a chord then I know that name will be accepted by Band-in-a-Box.
Another benefit is that I can use the programs even while the computer is offline from the internet.
I purchased both the guitar and piano chord dictionaries and use at least one or the other almost every day.
My favorite feature of both programs is what I call reverse chord look-up. By that I mean I tell a program the fingering of a chord and the program displays the name, or names, of the chord.
One benefit is once I know the name one of these dictionaries labels a chord then I know that name will be accepted by Band-in-a-Box.
Another benefit is that I can use the programs even while the computer is offline from the internet.
I have found that many people (not saying you, Jim) do not know about the existing tool in the Windows version of BIAB. Windows menu, MIDI Chord Detection is one of my favorite things about BIAB. Not only does it give you up to four alternatives for the chord you finger on a MIDI keyboard, but with a keystroke it enters that chord into your song.
It occurs to me I should check to see if the Mac version, with 2021 just released today, has this yet, before Icelander mentions it.
BIAB 2024 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 6.5 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6; Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus Studio 192, Presonus Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors
It occurs to me I should check to see if the Mac version, with 2021 just released today, has this yet, before Icelander mentions it.
The Mac 2021 does have MIDI chord recognition. But it does not have the dialog that pops up like in the Windows version. It's explained on page 65 of the 2021 Mac manual, under "Chord Entry". To use this feature, select the Options | MIDI Patch Maps | Insert current MIDI chord menu command. command+return is the keystroke combination for this function.
If these questions have been asked and answered somewhere else in the forums or in some other part of the site in the past, I apologize for dredging up a bunch of zombies.
What file format are the Chord Dictionaries?
Are the dictionaries stand alone programs or BiaB add-ons?
Can sample pages be viewed anywhere and, if so, where?
Do the chord charts/pages include fingering chart for each chord?
Is there a video tutorial about how to use the dictionaries with and without BiaB?
Inquiring minds (at least this one) want to know.
Everyone has talent. Talent is useless unless developed into skill.
I'll try to answer each of your questions. Here goes:
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What file format are the Chord Dictionaries?
Both files are executable files. The file for the Guitar Chord Dictionary is "GuitarChordDictionary.exe" and the file for the Piano Chord Dictionary is "ChordDictionary.exe".
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Are the dictionaries stand alone programs or BiaB add-ons?
Each is a standalone program.
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Can sample pages be viewed anywhere and, if so, where?
See the screen shots below.
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Do the chord charts/pages include fingering chart for each chord?
Yes for both programs.
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Is there a video tutorial about how to use the dictionaries with and without BiaB?
Not that I'm aware of however both programs have Help buttons that open a help file. +++ HERE +++ is a link to a webpage that provides more details of the Guitar Chord Dictionary while +++ HERE +++ is a link to a webpage with more details about the Piano Chord Dictionary.
Are these demo'ed anywhere? Not that it is needed, but I may like to pick both of these up as a resouce and viewing a youtube demo is common these day.
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!
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.
Video: Enhanced Melodists in Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows®!
We've enhanced the Melodists feature included in Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows!
Access the Melodist feature by pressing F7 in the program to open the new MultiPicker Library and locate the [Melodist] tab.
You can now generate a melody on any track in the program - very handy! Plus, you select how much of the melody you want generated - specify a range, or apply it to the whole track.
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One of our representatives will be happy to help you on our Live Chat or by email. Our hours of operation are from
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