Backing Tracks Backing tracks - good or bad?

[thomsax]

To use backing tracks seems to be some kind of watershed among saxophonists? I like and use backing tracks:

• Good if you can't play with other musicians.
• Less boring. I do basic exercises (tone, breath control, scales ...) but I just want to have fun as well.

Backing tracks can be a vinyl that you play along to or more advanced backing tracks which can be mixed.

I used to learn songs by listen to recordings (vinyl or compact cassette) back then. Today I use audacity or custom backing tracks. I still learn the same things:

• learn the key
• learn the "meter" (versmått on swedish)
• learn the length
• learn the format
• learn the harmonic form
• learn the melody (no short-cuts)
• learn the lyrics/words and the meaning of the lyrics.

I think modern custom backing tracks are good because I can mix so I just got the basic rhythm so I can hear the chord changes, rhythm changes, lyrics .... better. I get a better feeling for the song when strings, synth's, heavy horn sections, distorted guitars, vocals .... are removed.

Backing tracks can be used when you want to learn/practice:

• Horn arrangements (individually or section)
• Fillings
• Back ground horn/sax
• Solo(s)

Here is a sample: "Högklackat/High Heel Sneaker" (Tommy Tucker). The horn section learned to play the arrangement. The guitar solo was removed so a horn player could play a solo. If anyone would like to sing , sorry Tucker or who sang, it was just to remove the vocals and try yourself. We/I were just playing so we could play blues, rock& roll .... at jam or at the local pub/kafé.

I used to have a RockSax player who came over from USA to play and lead workshops. He had done many RockSax masterclasses with play alongs. Of course the question if backing tracks are good or bad came up. " .... if you can't play with a backing track it's unlikely that you can play with a real rhythm section ... " Backing tracks can never replace real musicians/play mates. It's just a substitute.

Keep On Honking' !

View: https://youtu.be/xomasbTUdAg?si=x9-rbcNceAu8VPuD

 

[dexdex]

Why would the personal use of backing tracks be bad ? No better way to learn to play in tune, hearing real time how one sounds over the “rest of the band”. The same can be said about timing.

I’d say that performing with backing tracks could be a debatable trend. I’m doing it on specific occasions, like a graduation ceremony this month. A band for 3 x 3 minutes would have been an overkill, and a no go.
We also see musicians busking down town, using backing tracks. Fair enough.

 

[John Laughter]

I have been playing with a 4 piece party band for over 20 years using "midi files". Top 40 party music. Love it and so do the dancers or they would not hire us. We have stayed busy with wedding receptions, college and high school reunions, company parties and private parties. We have two keyboards, guitar, drums and two strong vocalists on top of the midi files. We can play anything that has been arranged by super musicians out of Australia, UK, US and other areas. I adjust each new midi on a workstation to fit our band. The tempos are adjusted and readjusted to what seems to be the best beat for the dancers and save it so it is consistant. We have strings, 6 styles of bass and keys, voices and strong horn sections, all of which can be adjusted, added to or deleted. All of the newer midis track the original song with a few changes.

I also "sit in" with many live bands as well so it all works out.