Backing Tracks Backing tracks for classic modern pop sax?

[ZeroZero]

Hi, I have traditionally used Aebersold and Band in a Box, but now I want to learn more contempory "pop" (ish) based stuff. This series, below on utube will give you a flavour of the material I am talking of. Does anyone know a source for the backing tracks he is using, they sound good? Both backinbg track and notation would be good but I want to avoid beginner simplified stuff. I am on tenor

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7abgFKonl-8

 

[Targa]

After a few pints they’re ‘armless and legless

And that leads to:
'A pint? That's nearly an armful.'

 

[ZeroZero]

What I am looking for are backing tracks of pop sax. Accuracy is important, not the simplified stuff. Sometimes the notation is initially very useful for getting orientated. I memorise quickly these days. I prefer that the actual soloist is not present, most of the time. I need to branch out from Jazz Real Book etc.

 

[eb424]

What I am looking for are backing tracks of pop sax. Accuracy is important, not the simplified stuff. Sometimes the notation is initially very useful for getting orientated. I memorise quickly these days. I prefer that the actual soloist is not present, most of the time. I need to branch out from Jazz Real Book etc.

I think karaoke version is the place to head..have a look

 

[Wade Cornell]

There is a section on this site:
Wikiloops Backing Tracks
No sheet music and all original templates for improvised practice. There are three hundred tracks with all sorts there including around 45 pop tracks. There's an example with sax and then without. The basic key is also given, but no lead sheet or chord chart. It's a playing by ear exercise. Many of the tracks have pretty standard changes, so aren't difficult. Some are calling for backing while others are for playing lead. It's a lot more like "real world" playing rather than continually playing "standards" to an audience of just other sax players.

 

[Pete Effamy]

What I am looking for are backing tracks of pop sax. Accuracy is important, not the simplified stuff.

I’m not sure that this wholly exists. It’s pretty niche. Not sure if they still exist and are up to date on songs but there were two sets of publications that were along the lines of what you say and were well done imo, with good backing tracks:

Take The Lead

…. By Special Arrangement.

Both had several versions and available in Bb and Eb / instrument (range) specific. Were £10 for 10 tracks or so about 15 years ago.

 

[Pete Effamy]

… no, not updated/added to. Look quite dated now. I think Eddie is correct with the Karaoke stuff. It’s a massive market and they keep up to date with songs. You’ll just have to adapt the vocal to sax or use it as a shortcut to learning the original.

 

[thomsax]

Classic modern sax pop? Music like Hall & Oats, Supertramp, Men at Work, Sting, Del Shannon, Ramones, Katarina and the Waves ...... Pop songs with sax parts or you play the singing lines/lyrics. You want the songs close to the original and you want sheet music?

- Use the the original recording and get the sheet music.
- Buy a backingtrack and use good sheet music.
- If the a official sheet music (lead sheet or guitar, piano and vocal) is too simple and you want more accorate stuff you can hire a musician to transpribed everything as it is on the recording? Maybe you can have a band to record the song wo vocals and horns so you get a real backing track just for you. It's not cheap .... .

 

[atwl77]

Maybe you can have a band to record the song wo vocals and horns so you get a real backing track just for you. It's not cheap .... .

This reminds me, there are a lot of people on Fiverr offering such transcribing services and prices range from cheap to expensive. Though I have never tried engaging their services, so I have no idea about the quality (or reliability) of their work. But it's an option... 🤔

 

[Nick Wyver]

Classic modern sax pop? Music like Hall & Oats, Supertramp, Men at Work, Sting, Del Shannon, Ramones, Katarina and the Waves .

An interesting take on the word "modern". 😀

 

[Targa]

An interesting take on the word "modern". 😀

Pretty much like 'modern art'.

 

[Pete Effamy]

Classic modern sax pop? Music like Hall & Oats, Supertramp, Men at Work, Sting, Del Shannon, Ramones, Katarina and the Waves ...... Pop songs with sax parts or you play the singing lines/lyrics. You want the songs close to the original and you want sheet music?

He said modern - that stuff is 40 years old

 

[mizmar]

Pretty much like 'modern art'.

Modern art is getting on for 100 years old.
Not as old as Avant garde, mind you.

But Contemporary never grows old.

 

[thomsax]

He said modern - that stuff is 40 years old

I know. So give some modern classic pop sax songs. Not more than 5 years old. Famous .... so they have become classic.

 

[Pete Effamy]

I know. So give some modern classic pop sax songs. Not more than 5 years old. Famous .... so they have become classic.

Is that what he means? Tunes associated with the sax , or just pop songs? If the former, there aren’t many are there - apart from the sax solos in the 80’s. 🤷🏻‍♂️

 

[thomsax]

Is that what he means? Tunes associated with the sax , or just pop songs? If the former, there aren’t many are there - apart from the sax solos in the 80’s. 🤷🏻‍♂️

I don't know what he means. I'm just guessing!

Backing tracks can be useful and fun. I use my ears more than my eyes when I'm learning a song.

I like to keep it simple. I hope we can have more songs like "Punk Blues" . But I miss the sax because it's a perfekt song for a sax. Tenor or bari ...

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4ZyYysAYgw

 

[eb424]

… no, not updated/added to. Look quite dated now. I think Eddie is correct with the Karaoke stuff. It’s a massive market and they keep up to date with songs. You’ll just have to adapt the vocal to sax or use it as a shortcut to learning the original.

Ive not been playing long enough to be good by ear and am at an age where playings imprtant..I buy the sheetmusic from music notes it works out about £5 per song. Thy are usually a good match..

 

[Pete Thomas]

Ive not been playing long enough to be good by ear and am

I don’t see it as being related to how long you’ve been playing. It’s more about actually learning to play by ear. The longer you take not learning it the longer it takes to do if.

 

[thomsax]

How to learn to play by ear it's important. I think there are lot of things to consider ..... . To learn to read music it's easier and it's a shortcut if you want to play with others. It's like cocking by reading instructions from a recipe.

@eb424 I think you could learn by ears and play from your memory. You kow what you want to do. Try to play along with some songs you like and are "within reach". Forget keys (just learn the fingerings) and dots. Play along the melody, hornparts, solos ..... . Write down ,in words, key words that you think are important .... . I think there are more things to consider.

 

[Pete Thomas]

NB: a few posts have been lost form this thread in the database, I will restore them later today, don't panic