I don't know if such a feature has been requested before (or if it's already possible and I just haven't discovered it yet): I would like to have a simple function that would allow me to generate a melody line over the chords of a song from guide tones - i.e. only alternating the 3 and the 7 of a chord - adapted to the beat and chord change respectively as half notes for whole bar chord changes or as quarter notes for half bar chord changes. This would certainly help many users learn to improvise over jazz standards.
Last edited by Brille; 08/06/2204:18 AM.
Biab/RB latest build, German Language Pak, Win 10/64 Pro, 1 TB SSD, 32 GB RAM. Notation SW Finale, StaffPad, SmartsScore – Playing Double Bass, Guitar, Piano
Sometimes I do this manually on complex jazz big band charts when I’m a guest soloist. It helps me hit the ‘right’ or ‘essential’ note when I don’t really know the chord progression by memory yet. I just did this in a concert last week. It’s a useful technique that I could see would be helpful in BIAB.
+1
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
What is the expectation for guides tones to work with a song having four chords per bar? Are guide tones useful for songs in 3/4 time? Are guide tones just a "jazz thing" or are they useful when practicing music from other genres?
+++ THIS +++ website suggests 10 guide tone patterns. So would having just the single pattern suggested by Brille be enough?
Note, I'm not for or against at this stage. I haven't heard of guide tones so I need to know more.
Yes, that link shows what I think is being requested here. The link gives simpler examples.
I realize this won’t apply to many here, but if you work with contemporary big band jazz charts, some current composers / arrangers seem to have adopted a bad habit of over-writing the chord progression. I play the jazz trumpet chair and see this a lot. I look at the chart, say to myself ‘What were they thinking’, and analyze and rewrite the chord progression to leave only what’s important. You don’t want to blow over three different chords per measure in an uptempo jazz waltz - that’s just stupid. Then I identify any ‘must hit’ note and write it in. This might be a #9 or a b9 or the 13th or 11th, for example.
Of course, everyone composes songs differently and the more usual way is to start with a melody and harmonize that. However, I often write a chord progression first and then improvise a bit to find the ‘right’ melody notes, and construct the full melody from that. So this Wishlist request makes good sense.
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
Jim, Basically it is correct, there are different guide/target tone concepts, but the 3-7 concept (possibly extended by #/b option tones) is sufficient for playing solos. With the third and the seventh, the core notes of each chord are described as targets - this gives a good basis to build up your own solos with then some complementary notes. In addition, chord extensions (like #9) are often relevant, because they are usually also significant tones of the original composed melody of the song. I could think that it might be possible to create a custom Soloist file in Soloist Maker that does just that - but I'm not familiar with it - and I don't see any relevant options in the Soloist Editor input screen either. In addition, although many parameters can be set in Soloist maker, the result is rather random. The controls are also rather tricky to use. A simple button would be nice: "Generate 3-7-Lines on Soloist track" – may be with an option "Use #/b chord extensions".
Biab/RB latest build, German Language Pak, Win 10/64 Pro, 1 TB SSD, 32 GB RAM. Notation SW Finale, StaffPad, SmartsScore – Playing Double Bass, Guitar, Piano
Since there can be multiple guide tone patterns what do you think of the idea to having "build custom Guide Tone pattern on Soloist track" and "load custom Guide Tone pattern on Soloist track" selections in the Soloist menu located at the top of the screen?
As I envision it, invoking the "build custom Guide Tone pattern on Soloist track" selection would open a two bar piano roll window. The two bar piano roll window would be used to (1) enter a two bar guide tone pattern and (2) select a MIDI patch to be used during playback.
Invoking "load custom Guide Tones pattern on Soloist track" allows the user to load a previously saved Guide Tone pattern onto the Soloist track.
+ 1 on this feature. We need guide tones / chord tones generator.
+1 Certainly gets one thinking. Guide tones are a great idea Also could see a having the arpeggios - root, inversions, pivot, on a set of changes as a useful shedding tool.
Perhaps evolve to an improvisational bootcamp with additional capabilities. Chromatic enclosures, Diatonic lead ins. Approach from above/below, etc Might be getting ahead of things.
User Video: Next-Level AI Music Editing with ACE Studio and Band-in-a-Box®
The Bob Doyle Media YouTube channel is known for demonstrating how you can creatively incorporate AI into your projects - from your song projects to avatar building to face swapping, and more!
His latest video, Next-Level AI Music Editing with ACE Studio and Band-in-a-Box, he explains in detail how you can use the Melodist feature in Band-in-a-Box with ACE Studio. Follow along as he goes from "nothing" to "something" with his Band-in-a-Box MIDI Melodist track, using ACE Studio to turn it into a vocal track (or tracks, you'll see) by adding lyrics for those notes that will trigger some amazing AI vocals!
Wir waren fleißig und haben über 50 neue Funktionen und eine erstaunliche Sammlung neuer Inhalte hinzugefügt, darunter 222 RealTracks, neue RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, "Songs with Vocals" Artist Performance Sets, abspielbare RealTracks Set 3, abspielbare RealDrums Set 2, zwei neue Sets von "RealDrums Stems", XPro Styles PAK 6, Xtra Styles PAK 17 und mehr!
Add updated printing options, enhanced tracks settings, smoother use of MGU and SGU (BB files) within PowerTracks, and more with the latest PowerTracks Pro Audio 2024 update!
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.
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!
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."
One of our representatives will be happy to help you over the phone. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday, and 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST Saturday. We are closed Sunday. You can also send us your questions via email.
One of our representatives will be happy to help you on our Live Chat or by email. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday; 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST (GMT -8) Saturday; Closed Sunday.