Customary Procedures
This page outlines the customary methods BBCG members have developed for preparing and sharing big-band charts and related reference audio. The guidance grew from years and evolved through years of practical experience across hundreds of members.
The Starting Point
For the examples on this page, imagine that you have written an original big-band chart and want to share it with the group. Because it is your own original work, the example avoids questions about whether someone else controls the chart’s copyright.
Standard Scoring
A conventional full big-band chart is commonly scored 5444: five saxophones (AATTB), four trumpets, four trombones, and four rhythm parts—piano, guitar, bass, and drums.
Some charts use 5334, 5544, 5554, or another variation. That is perfectly acceptable and depends on the writer. Charts for substantially fewer instruments are usually described as combo charts; identify the instrumentation clearly so members know what the material contains.
Create PDFs of the Score and Parts
The cleanest method is normally to export or print directly to PDF from the notation program. Printed or manuscript parts can instead be scanned and assembled as PDFs.
Migration note: Links and recommendations for current PDF creation, scanning, and scan-cleaning tools must be reviewed and updated before this section is approved. The new site should favor free or inexpensive tools and instructions suitable for nontechnical musicians.
Combine the Material into One PDF
Do not place a collection of separate part PDFs inside a ZIP file when one organized PDF will serve the purpose. Separate files create unnecessary filing, extraction, and printing work for recipients.
Instead, combine the score and parts into one PDF and arrange the pages in a consistent order: score first; then saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and rhythm parts. Place a vocal part before the saxophones and auxiliary percussion at the end.
Name the File Clearly
A useful filename lets another musician find the chart and understand what it contains without opening it. BBCG’s customary essential elements are:
- Tune title first. Avoid prefixes such as “Pages from” or “3rd Trombone part to.” Move insignificant opening words such as “A” or “The” when doing so improves alphabetical sorting.
- Instrumentation. Use at least four numbers for saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and rhythm. For example, 5444 identifies conventional full-big-band scoring.
- Arranger. Include the arranger so musicians can distinguish multiple arrangements of the same tune. Composer, featured artist, style, vocal key, or other useful identifiers may also be added.
- File extension. A PDF filename ends in
.pdf.
Optional details are welcome when they genuinely help identify the material, but extremely long filenames become difficult to manage.
Useful examples
- Angel Eyes 5444 Barduhn.pdf
- Brian's Song (Engel) 5443 (-D).pdf
- C'Est Si Bon - Osser - C5334 - 37pages.pdf
- Day In Day Out 5444 Nestico Count Basie.pdf
- Fly Me To The Moon - arr. J. LaBarbera (1st Tenor Part).pdf
Examples needing improvement
- Flashdance_WhatAFeeling.pdf
- #677 A Fine Romance 8 X 11.pdf
- Tenpenny(Parts).pdf
- Lazy Sunday (Fenno).pdf
Reference Audio Files
The legacy guidance asked members to send MP3 files because they were widely playable and much smaller than uncompressed WAV files. It recommended 44.1 kHz audio with a bitrate of at least 128 kbps, preferably 160 kbps.
Migration note: This section needs substantive editorial review. We must decide whether BBCG still distributes audio files, whether links to authorized streaming recordings are preferable, and which current formats and quality settings should be recommended.
Copyright and Recordings
BBCG’s official position is that members must observe applicable copyright law and that the group does not encourage or condone infringement.
This website does not provide legal advice. Copyright rules for written music, audio recordings, video, distribution, performance, and synchronization involve different rights. Members should consult qualified legal counsel before relying upon general information when a decision carries legal consequences.
Migration note: The detailed legacy discussion—including statements about compulsory licensing, informal sharing, YouTube, and when an infringement becomes actionable—must receive careful source-based review before publication. No absence from a commercial-source search should be treated as proof that a chart or recording is lawful to distribute.
MusicXML
The legacy page’s navigation referenced MusicXML, but the archived page contains no corresponding article text. This section needs member input and current research before it can be developed.
Member Review Requested
Which of these procedures still reflect how BBCG members prepare and organize charts today? Please identify anything that has changed, any useful current tools, and any customary practices the legacy page missed.