Backing Tracks Advice on trying to follow piano ballads (backing track)

[atwl77]

There's one song I have trouble with - The Best of Me by Richard Marx.

I'm used to listening to percussion in a backing track for timing; sometimes the bass also works, or if there's a rhythm guitar then that can help too. But usually, a backing track has several elements so metronome/timing is usually not an issue.

But piano ballads like The Best of Me... I can't follow. There's no clear, consistent beat that I can latch on to. I can't keep a separate click/metronome in my ear also, because the timing of this song isn't consistent (if I try to line it up in a DAW, it doesn't fit into any fixed BPM and always varies by a few BPM here and there).

I can play along with the vocals... but turn it off (i.e. I have a backing track without it) and I easily get out of time.

Any advice on how to stay in time with these type of piano ballads? Or perhaps they're simply too advanced for me and I should play simpler things first?

 

[eb424]

Im like that with if my friends could see me now..some songs just take longer to learn..the linked song has lyrics..just keep playing to that for now..it will come.

 

[Woodpad]

Listening is the most important part of making music. The syncopation and arpegiothingys in this song make it difficult to hear the first beat of the measure. Make it an exercise to count the whole backing track without playing. At a certain time you can hear that the first beat is mainly played in the bass. Try this also for songs with broken measures and rythm changes

 

[skeller047]

Do you have the track extracted from this performance? Or is it a different track? I ask because many DAWs can follow tempo changes and create a tempo map from an audio file. I use Logic, and it has this ability. Then you can turn on the metronome when you record.

I agree the tempo in this performance fluctuates quite a bit, what with ritards and rubato sections. If you can play along with this track as it is (with the vocal), just do that a bunch of times until you have it down cold. I would have to play it through maybe 4 or 5 times a day for a week to really get it down, and maybe listen to it without playing a few times a day too. Performances like this you just have to live with for a while.

 

[atwl77]

Do you have the track extracted from this performance? Or is it a different track? I ask because many DAWs can follow tempo changes and create a tempo map from an audio file. I use Logic, and it has this ability. Then you can turn on the metronome when you record.

It's a different track, but it also contains tempo fluctuations -- I suppose the people making the backing track also wanted to preserve the same feel as the song. I did not try to compare to see if the tempo fluctuations are exactly the same and at the same spot though.

I use Reaper. I just did a quick search on Google and it looks like there are some discussions and tutorials for tempo mapping in Reaper, so I'll have to look into that.

I agree the tempo in this performance fluctuates quite a bit, what with ritards and rubato sections. If you can play along with this track as it is (with the vocal), just do that a bunch of times until you have it down cold. I would have to play it through maybe 4 or 5 times a day for a week to really get it down, and maybe listen to it without playing a few times a day too. Performances like this you just have to live with for a while.

In some parts, I can hear Richard Marx draw his breath before he starts to sing and I can use that as a cue. But I suppose that's not the right way to go about things, so I'll have to do more listening and more practice to get things down.

 

[Colin the Bear]

The recording posted is the pianist accompanying and following the singer. Much rehearsed by accomplished musicians. Singer. Is leading.

It's not a dance track with a fixed tempo and would probably lose something if played that way.

Google Rubato, Ritenuto, rallentendo.

Not everything is suitable for beginners to play. Some things are advanced and come with experience.

Exposing yourself to more and varied music will help. It all takes time. No rush.

 

[Ghr9204]

But piano ballads like The Best of Me... I can't follow. There's no clear, consistent beat that I can latch on to. I can't keep a separate click/metronome in my ear also, because the timing of this song isn't consistent (if I try to line it up in a DAW, it doesn't fit into any fixed BPM and always varies by a few BPM here and there).

I can play along with the vocals... but turn it off (i.e. I have a backing track without it) and I easily get out of time.

Any advice on how to stay in time with these type of piano ballads? Or perhaps they're simply too advanced for me and I should play simpler things first?

This is one of the reasons that just about any band has a percussionist, to keep time. Also the bass player is a significant part of the rythm section.

In a solist pianist background, to add colour to the performance, they oft will play "rubato", which involves changing the tempo during phrasing, say speeding up when entering and slowing down toward phrase ending.

In a backing situation on say a stage, the piano player would follow the lead. However, in extracting the backing track, you no longer have a lead and are instead trying to follow the piano.

What you are encountering is normal, even experienced players run into the same problem. For an example, I would have to search for it, but I watched on YouTube a very talented female alto singer, whose husband is the only band playing an electric string bass whilst she is singing, "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas".

The bass definitely adds feeling, but along with helping keep the singer stay in tempo, he also senses and follows her. Both working together, it was a very effective piece, very pleasant to listen to. Apparently it was before a party, perhaps in a large mansion.

So, if it were me, I would not focus on attempting to play better with a harder to follow piano part sans rythm section. Instead, just find those backing tracks that have drums or bass. Focus on the other nuances of playing.

Over time, you'll get better at following along; meanwhile, have fun at playing along your backing tracks.

And @Colin the Bear , I didn't see your comment whilst typing my message, my apologies.