18. How do I change from 3/4 to 4/4 time in the middle of my song?

You need to set the overall style of your song to a 4/4 style, since Band-in-a-Box® finds it easier to drop a beat than to create one that doesn't exist. Using the F5 key (Edit settings for current bar), you can switch between 3/4 and 4/4 at any point in your song. Ideally, you would be able to start your song in 3/4 by using F5 at bar 1, however changing styles at bar 1 will cause Band-in-a-Box® to set your overall style to the 3/4 style. If you need your song to start out in 3/4, try the following work-around:

  1. Set your overall style to the 4/4 style.
  2. Using F5 at bar 3, change the style to the 3/4 style.
  3. Rest bars 1 and 2 by typing in any chord in bar 1 followed by a period (for example, Cmaj.). Your song will now begin on bar 3 in the 3/4 style.
  4. If you want a count-in, you can enter this into bars 1 and 2. In the Notation window, switch to the Soloist track (you could use the Melody track instead) and toggle into editable notation mode. Enter the note Db3 on beats one and three in bar 1, and all four beats in bar 2. Right click on all six notes and change the channel of each of them to channel 10 (the drum channel). Db3 is the side stick on the drum channel.
  5. Go to Soloist | Track Type, and select 'Multi-channel'.
  6. Go to Opt. | Preferences | Count-in/Met. and disable the audible lead-in.

Now when you play your song, you will hear a count-in in bars 1 and 2, before your song starts on bar 3.


Alyssa - PG Music