Jim Bottorff's TIPS ON CHANGING TEMPO, KEYS, AND MAKING LEAD SHEETS
Return to Songs CHANGING TEMPO AND KEY WITH A MIDI PLAYER - The following "midi player" (free download) allows for changing the tempo and key of the songs on this web site. Included are some other nice features as well such as turning off tracks and instruments. Click on the link below:
http://www.vanbasco.com USING "BAND-IN-A-BOX" FOR TEMPO/KEY CHANGE AND LEAD SHEETS - The midi files from this website can be loaded into the music program "Band-In-A-Box" (BIAB) using the "open midi file" or "import chords from midi file" commands depending on the version of BIAB. After the midi file has been loaded into the BIAB program you should be able to see the chords and change the song tempo and key as needed. Tip: Sometimes the "open entire midi file to melody" must be checked in the import window options for the melody to be heard.
- To save a midi file from this site to your computer, right click on the "Song Name" on the home page or "Play" on any chord page and select "save target as...".
- Following is a sample lead-sheet for "Camptown Races" made by importing my webpage midi file into Band-In-A-Box. Some editing is necessary to activate the chord recognition feature and for page formatting.
Click here for the lead-sheet to "Camptown Races" (12k tif file)
USING MUSIC WRITING PROGRAMS - Music writing software programs can be used to change tempo and keys as well as make lead-sheets. Midi files can be imported into programs such as Encore, Music Time, Finale, Music Write, Music Ease, Midinotate, and many others. Midinotate contains a chord recognition feature that is very helpful. After the midi file has been imported into the music writing program, the tempo and key can be easily changed, and the lead-sheet can be printed out.
- Here's an example of a lead-sheet for "Camptown Races" made by importing my webpage midi file into Midinotate. Some editing is necessary to activate the chord recognition feature and to remove all the tracks except for the melody.
Click here for the lead-sheet to "Camptown Races" (12k tif file) SLOWING DOWN THE SOUND CLIPS (mp3 files) - In Windows XP, the default "Windows Media Player" will slow down the sound clip about 50% so you can hear things a little better. In the Windows Media Player click on "play", "play speed", and "slow". The key of the song remains about the same.
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