How Do I Add Bass Notes To A Bar?

Andy Sandoval · Post by **Andy Sandoval** » 30 Jan 2011 12:24 am

I've composed a song in the key of C and after the lead in, the first bar is a held C chord. In the second measure I want to add a walk up bass pattern to the third bar. I cheated and actually added chords and muted all but the bass to get what I wanted but there has to be a better way to do it.

David Collins · Post by **David Collins** » 30 Jan 2011 5:37 am

Andy,

I've done that using the "Solo" function. I'm sure that there is a better way, but I don't know it. Maybe someone else will chime in.

Robert Tripp · Post by **Robert Tripp** » 30 Jan 2011 6:22 am

Andy, I do all that in Real Band. That way you can do either midi, or live from a keyboard controller, or play bass live thru an interface.

Rob

Andy Sandoval · Post by **Andy Sandoval** » 30 Jan 2011 9:45 am

Ok, I have no keyboard or midi controller, is there a way to input the notes with the computer keyboard?

Robert Tripp · Post by **Robert Tripp** » 30 Jan 2011 2:29 pm

Andy,

I haven't tried it, but IN BIAB, I think there is a way to input notes into a lead sheet or notation sheet using the on screen piano keyboard. May in a tutorial somewhere. Wish I knew more about that.

Rob

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 30 Jan 2011 4:45 pm

When I want a bass walkup in BIAB I enter the notes in the notation screen as Melody, then transpose them down two octaves and choose a Bass voice to play them. Works great. And you can adjust the volume of the bass walkup.

Andy Sandoval · Post by **Andy Sandoval** » 30 Jan 2011 9:09 pm

Doug, can you save your changes so it plays when you open the song again? I've figured out how to add notes using the notation window but can't get it to save.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 30 Jan 2011 11:21 pm

Andy, when you enter the notes in the notation screen make sure the M box is activated. That's the Melody track. The Melody will SAVE with the song, unlike the bass, guitar, and other voices that you may try to modify and save (unless you save the song as a different style, but that's a bit more involved).

After you click on M, enter the notes for the walkup, and at the top of the screen click on Melody/Edit Melody Track/Transpose Melody Only... and then type -12 (or -24) into the box and click on OK. That will transpose the notes you entered down to the bass range. Then choose one of the Bass voices for the Melody. Then Save that. The "bass" walkup will be saved on the melody track.

Andy Sandoval · Post by **Andy Sandoval** » 31 Jan 2011 12:13 am

Hey, I think I got it Doug. There has to be a way to save changes to the bass part but I can't figure it out, your way worked so good enough for now. Thanks guys for all your suggestions.

Andy Sandoval · Post by **Andy Sandoval** » 31 Jan 2011 11:14 am

One more thing, it only works if I save as an MGU file.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 31 Jan 2011 1:07 pm

Yes, MGU file because it now has melody (the new "bass" part is actually read as melody by BIAB). My BIAB program saves files as MGU by default when I add melody. In other words, I don't have to specify MGU file. The program knows... it Always Knows!

Edward Efira · Post by **Edward Efira** » 1 Feb 2011 10:26 am

Looks like there is a simple and standard way using right-click Chord Builder, I just tried and it works for your very purpose Andy, add 4 bass notes to a bar in 4/4.
Ed

Andy Sandoval · Post by **Andy Sandoval** » 1 Feb 2011 12:52 pm

Hi Edward, I don't see a way to enter just bass notes with the chord builder.

Edward Efira · Post by **Edward Efira** » 2 Feb 2011 11:19 am

Andy,

Select a Chord (top left). alterations (in the middle), Bass Note (bottom Left)
Bar and Beat top right, push enter chord bottom right, and repeat for every beat where you want a specific bass note.
You can also do it by entering manually Chord/Bass, Chord/Bass by Half Bar
like C/D,C/E (last C half bar to go from C to F)
Hope that helps, works really good for me.
If not, shoot me an email and we'll go from there
Ed