So, I am trying to write a chord which has a D in the bass and then in the right hand has a D major triad in second inversion. Slash chords won't work because I still want the D in the bass?
It should be possible using MIDI. It may also be possible using Playable RealTracks. Are those options?
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So, I am trying to write a chord which has a D in the bass and then in the right hand has a D major triad in second inversion. Slash chords won't work because I still want the D in the bass?
Second, Dan is correct that you cannot specify chord voicing in BIAB. Having said that:
BIAB supports slash roots but not when the root (the bass note after the slash) is the same as the root of the triad. But you don’t need a slash root here anyway because your bass D is the same as the name of the triad’s root.
While you can’t control what the live musicians recorded, you can do partial regeneration on measures in the hope that one of the variations gives you the inversion you want.
You should also look into Pedal Bass in BIAB.
So what’s the melody like over this chord? There might be other ways to write it depending on the melody note, the genre, and how important it is to have the sound of the second inversion.
Finally, there is no rule that the chord must contain the melody note; it can just support it.
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So what’s the melody like over this chord? There might be other ways to write it depending on the melody note, the genre, and how important it is to have the sound of the second inversion.
Finally, there is no rule that the chord must contain the melody note; it can just support it.
Thank you I shall look into that. At the moment I am studying Carole King piano styles. She's simple but SO effective. I ma always going back to simplcity.
This bit is a turnaround.
Chords are: D in Bass, RH 2nd inv D in right C# in Bass. RH A root triad (slash chord) B in Bass. F# A D - a form of B minor (looks like 1st inv D) A in Bass. A major in 2nd inv.
Here is a good video on the style:
I am aware that I do not have to have strictly identical chords, but I would like to be close on this occasion. I want to take it around the cycles.
Z, there are only two ways to get BiaB to play the chords exactly the way you want them to sound: 1-MIDI with a good sound source. With MIDI you can easily move chord notes around to get the inversion you want. 2-The polyphonic version of Melodyne (or equivalent). You can easily move RT notes in Melodyne.
Neither of these may be a good option for you but my experience indicates that they are the only options. Note that I have used Melodyne with RTs with no artifacts.
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Thank you all. that's all I need here. Really these chords are being used ot take turnarounds around cycles that is all. I rally only use BIAB for quick impro exercises, not for elaborate work. It is excellent for this purpose, if you keep out of the weeds .
The weeds are where the real fun lurks. But some ticks, too.
It's amazing what you can learn here. Now, did you try this? Click to load a new style and type Carole King on the far right where it says Type in a Familiar Song Title. I got 13 rows. Perhaps some of the players who recorded these played in the same style as the video.
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Z, there are only two ways to get BiaB to play the chords exactly the way you want them to sound: 1-MIDI with a good sound source. With MIDI you can easily move chord notes around to get the inversion you want. 2-The polyphonic version of Melodyne (or equivalent). You can easily move RT notes in Melodyne.
Neither of these may be a good option for you but my experience indicates that they are the only options. Note that I have used Melodyne with RTs with no artifacts.
3-Playable RealTracks. Uses midi for note entry and uses audio samples from RealTrack instruments.
Z, there are only two ways to get BiaB to play the chords exactly the way you want them to sound: 1-MIDI with a good sound source. With MIDI you can easily move chord notes around to get the inversion you want. 2-The polyphonic version of Melodyne (or equivalent). You can easily move RT notes in Melodyne.
Neither of these may be a good option for you but my experience indicates that they are the only options. Note that I have used Melodyne with RTs with no artifacts.
3-Playable RealTracks. Uses midi for note entry and uses audio samples from RealTrack instruments.
Thanx Jim for adding that. I forgot about Playabe RealTracks.
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So, I am trying to write a chord which has a D in the bass and then in the right hand has a D major triad in second inversion. Slash chords won't work because I still want the D in the bass?
Is this possible please?
Z
Slash chords are ONLY about the bass. The slash specifies a note that is NOT a root. How you arrange the voices on top have nothing to do with slash chords. This is merely the 'voicing' of a chord.
Yes, as I mentioned above, BIAB does not support using a slash root that is the same note as the root of the triad. Of course by definition that shouldn’t be needed, although there are times when you might want to force a specific bass line by using slash roots instead of leaving to chance whether the bass plays the root or something else. However, BIAB seems to recognize an ascending or descending bass line in context.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
From all appearances, Zero is working with a Piano instrument. If that's the case, all of the issues listed are overcome by using a SuperMidi Piano instrument.
SuperMidi instruments are created and function like RealTracks and have editable notation and sound nearly as good as a RealTrack particularly pianos and organs. It's fairly easy to match SuperMidi with the artist and instrument used to create the SuperMidi instrument.
It sounds like you have found a solution to your question, but does Bm7/D bring about an option to solve your question, or does it not produce a D major triad in the right hand?
Tom Marvan.
Tom Marvan Dunbar7376 San Diego, CA
Band in A Box Audiophile 2025
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It's one reason why I use MIDI instead of real tracks.
BiaB picks the chord inversion, which might be fine, but not what I want. If I export the MIDI song, I can go to a sequencer or DAW, and make what I think is the very good output of BiaB and turn it into something that is ready for prime time, excellent.
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202 New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2026!
With Band-in-a-Box® 2026, we've released 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 468-488) in a variety of genres—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Funk & World (Sets 468-475):
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Rock & Pop (Sets 476–482):
Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.
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