? About Practicing With Tracks

Paul King · From: Gainesville, Texas, USA

I realize this topic has been discussed before but I need some advice. I have been practicing with some tracks and just having a terrible time. To me it is much easier playing with a live band. Are there any helpful tips I could get to help me get the feel for using tracks. Earlier this year we had a minister come to our church and he played guitar with tracks. I sit down with him but I never could get the feel nor the sound for playing with tracks. He even mentioned to me you have to learn to play with tracks with I found to be a unique statement. Is it just me or do a lot of you guys encounter the same problem? Any advice sure would be appreciated.

Hal Higgins · From: Denham Springs, LA

Paul....I play with tracks a pretty good bit, I've found that you really have to sit and listen to the arrangement of the tracks and get the feel for them....It don't come over night at all....Practice is the best thing (over and over and over again). Hope this helps.HAL

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Be Blessed........HAL
'85 Emmons LeGrande D-10,(8 & 5) Hilton Vol. Pedal, BJS Birthstone bar, Rack w/Evans Pre-amp, Lexicon MPX500; (2)1501-4 BW's in custom built cabs by T.A. Gibson, & Sound Tech PL802 Digital Power Amp.

Jim Florence · From: wilburton, Ok. US * R.I.P.

Paul, Depends on which ones you get. Some go just fine, others want to throw cords and things of their own style in, I hate that. Stick with Jeff Newman, John Hughey, Joe Wright, etc, and you'll have no trouble. There are some I can't play well with, and I've been playing 60 yrs. It's not you, It's them.
Jim

Rich Jackson · From: Cleveland, Tennessee, USA

Hey Paul..Interesting post of yours. I agree with you about the live band thing. I like it much better and I seem to be more creative in my playing. But practicing with a soung track helps me first of all with my timing and with learning new licks. Once learned then I can transfer them over to the live setting. I have found that practicing with a CD track I can hit pause and or hit repeat until I get it right. Or what seems to be right.

Like anything in life, you will find in time what works best for you. Whatever the case, don't give up. Rich Guy

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Emmons LeGrande III 2005
And a GFI, Nashville 1000,
Dan Electro effects

In the group "By the Cross"

Michael Barone · From: Downingtown, Pennsylvania

Paul, to go along with what Hal said, you need to identify more specifically the things you hear that you don't like.

Perhaps - too much clutter | unrealistic MIDI instruments | Drums/Bass lack authentic punch | poor, unbalanced mix. It could be many things. Sometimes turning up the low end helps.

To simulate a live band, I would use only 3 instruments in a recording. Guitar, Bass, Drums | or Piano, Bass, Drums using MIDI.

Hope this helps a little, but again, in order to get some useful suggestions, you should try to listen carefully and try to identify more specifically what you don't like about the recording. Then you will know the answer.

Hope this helps.

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Mike Barone
Sho-Bud Pro-1 5&4 with RHL | Nashville 112
Assorted Guitars & Keyboards

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

MP3 practice track below..

Agreed..many of the tracks offered in my opinion are cluttered..with no room to actually stretch or move off the melody line...no room to experiment...step out so to speak...

they are identicle or very close to original recordings.

This is NOT a bad thing but the intended purpose may be different than what a player is looking for.

I personally think many of them just have way too many instruments on them.

Not that I am a genious or anything close..( just ask my wife ) but what I personally do, especially on the tunes I really need to wood shed on is generate my own tracks..( same keys / meter as our band by the way )

Basic drum track..very basic...zero or no fills

basic Bass line,no fills,no lead Bass lines..

Basic rhythm track..no James Taylor things going on..no additional fill chords..

Lead line only on intro's and possibly a Lead solo..No LEAD Guitar throught the track..

arrangement..

Intro

3 verses for Steel
Chorus for Steel
Lead Guitar solo
3 verses for Steel
Chorus for Steel
ending for Steel...

no clutter

lots of room for repeat playing of identicle phrases..lots of rooom to play the entire song...all parts..lots of room to stretch..just lots of STEEL room...without playing over any another Instrument or melodic phrase on the track. The track is basically empty.

There are some tunes I have done this for which I sit and practice with a few times everyday..and have been for well over 6 months..the same stuff over and over again...

It is clear that the stuff I am playing today over the same tracks is totally different than 6 months ago..but the tracks have not changed.

You do not need to be a great player to create these types of tracks..you can do it with BIAB if so desired..just keep them very simple, leave out all the clutter and extend the arrangements to suit your practice session.Give yourself room and TIME to actually practice...

here is a medium METER ( 85 or 90 bpm) track to a very popular Merle tune..
Intro...3 Steel solo's..lead solo..3 Steel solo's..end...key of G

use it or..NOT...

Music Track

[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 18 October 2005 at 04:01 PM.]

Darrell Schmidt · From: Charles City, Iowa, USA

Hey there Paul:
I bought a band in a box a while back form a formite and sorry i do not remeber his name,but the point is I got a lot of tracks with it and you can find about any song you want on it the cd he sent with it.I have a lot to pick from.i could also do my own tracks if I new how.I just love it. I also have several cd.s form others and they are all good but I belive using BIB help me with the others.
Just my opinon.
Darrell
Iowa

Terry Wood · From: Lebanon, MO

It is not always easy to practice with tracks but they will hold your feet to the fire. You will have to establish consistency and I think it is good self-discipline.

Sure playing with a live band is better but this will keep you playing, and it's better than nothing or just playing by yourself. I used to sit and play along with Lloyd Green, Jimmy Day, Julian Tharpe, Buddy Emmons, Curly Chalker, Reece Anderson recordings etc. This taught me alot. In fact there were no sound tracks in those dinosaur days.

Just my two centavos! Good luck and GOD bless!

Woody

LARRY COLE · From: LANCASTER, OHIO, USA

Playing with tracks is different than playing with a live band. The band can follow you but you have to follow the track. Playing with tracks is like playing with a tight well rehersed band. They play it the same everytime. You can count on them to be there. Practice with a metronome, it will make you a better player. I have had much better musicians than me that could not lay down a rythum track with a metronome because they hadn't done it, but could do it once a drum track was added. Don't give up, it will make a better player out of you. Record yourself and study your playing, I will let you know what you really sound like. You can't tune in to what you are doing as well while you are playing. Having a home studio really improved my playing.

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Playing For JESUS,LC. WILLIAMS U12,SHO-BUD PRO1,CARVIN TL60,GIBSON LES PAUL CUSTOM,YAMAHA L-10A ACOUSTIC,ROLAND JW-50 KEYBOARD,G&L AND BC RICH BASS'S

Nic du Toit · From: Milnerton, Cape, South Africa

Paul,
I think some of the guys miss the point.
Besides trying to memorise the arrangement of the backtrack, the main problem is with the steeler (us).
Playing with a live band is so much easier. They will try to follow you, and if you scale a bar, or drag a turnaround too long, they won't just stick to the correct chords and timing, but will try their best to follow you. Some players are so busy concentrating on their playing that they are (most of the time) not even aware of what is happening behind them (with the band). Of course, with the backtrack there is no such chance. Thus, for self-discipline and the subsequent reward, I strongly suggest you stick with the backtracks and make it work for you. Next time you work with the band you will notice an improvement in your overall playing. Trust me, it works.
If you can just listen to a recording of the 'beginners' night at the PSG convention.
The band should get a medal for their efforts. I'm not saying this to belittle anyone, as all had lots of fun etc., but to stress a point.
Regards,
Nic

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Nic du Toit
1970 Rosewood P/P Emmons D10 Fatback 8x4
Peavey Session 500 unmodfied
My CD "Nightmare on Emmons Steel"
Veruschka's CD "Don't Dream it's Over"
Click here to E-mail us.

Howard Tate · From: Leesville, Louisiana, USA, R.I.P.

Tony, thanks for the track. I play with biab quite a bit, I think it helps if you play the tracks thru a good amp or stereo at a volume that gives a decent fullness with the steel, not loud enough to bother any one. Tracks will never have the ambiance of real musicians, but they're sure better then nothing.

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Howard, 'Les Paul Recording, Zum SD12U, Carter D10 8/8, Vegas 400, Boss ME-5, Boss DM-3, DD-3, Fender Steel King, Understanding wife. http://www.Charmedmusic.com

Buck Grantham R.I.P. · From: Denham Springs, LA. USA

A lot of musicians rush and drag and they don't realise it . If that is the case they can't play with tracks. The tracks will teach them to relax and try to stay on the beat. A real band drags and rushes with them so they feel more confortable with the real band. The better you know the song you're playing ,the less you drag and rush. Practice ,practice.

Les Anderson · From: The Great White North

By following backup tracks and playing along with the music on my satellites, classic country, channel, I learned how to do my own licks and a little stretching without getting lost or losing the timing.

I have also learned how to move away from the country music style of long bar slides in chord progressions and just pick my way up or down teh neck to the next chord. It takes a bit of practise but it does come around if the player preservers.

Another thing I have found that will give begrudged credit to canned back up, if you get lost with this canned stuff, rather than stopping and restarting, you can learn how to get back into the rhythm on the go without having to stop and start over.

By the way, if you do get lost find your way back in without the slightest hint that you got lost or missed a chord.

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(I am not right all of the time but I sure like to think I am!)

thurlon hopper · From: Elizabethtown Pa. USA

I have four (4) of Joe Turner's rhythm tracks and practice with them almost every day. Joe is a fine steeler himself and makes these tracks exactly the way i like them. You owe it to youtrself to try them if you haven't already. Got ot find outr if he has any new ones too. TJH

James Cann · From: Phoenix, AZ

By and large, I'd enjoy a live band around me more than sitting by myself in my room with my tracks, but frankly, I see no difference musically. If anything, the backup and tempo tend to be smoother and, yes, to a particular arrangement, but so what?

I do admit to a certain difficulty encountered with tracks, especially the first time out with one, I've felt the samt thing when I get up to sing with one?

Could it have something to do with our preconceived notions of a song getting in the way?

Paul King · From: Gainesville, Texas, USA

Thanks guys for the response. I was beginning to think I was losing it, my mind that is. I always wondered how Emmons,Newman and some of the others could play with tracks and sound great. I guess I will keep on practicing. I do know I play much better with a live band that with tracks. Hopefully I can conquer this and play like I should be playing.

Brett Day · From: Pickens, SC

Paul, I play along with tracks myself. The best thing to do before playing along with tracks is to listen to the song closely before you learn to play it. Brett, Emmons S-10, Morrell lapsteel, GFI Ultra D-10

Willis Vanderberg · From: Petoskey Mi

There are some very good tracks out there that were recorded with a live band. I like the sets of two. One with the steel and one without. John Hughey has some great tracks as does Bryan Adams.Joe wright I believe also has some.
I'm not sure I really care for the theory that a live band can adjust to your style.
I can't imagine doing "My window faces south" or " Rocky top" with a picker who jumps time and expects the band to catch up. I used to back a singer with a great voice but he was forever coming in late or early or not at all. One of my favorite stories is about a band with no drummer, I took my drum machine one night and half way through the first song they stopped and announced " The drum machine can't keep time with us " Duh ?

Paul King · From: Gainesville, Texas, USA

Willis, I remember that statement about the drum machine cannot keep up with us. Just shows me how ignorant some people are. Last evening I played again with the tracks and it went so much better. Someone told me not to give up and I would get the feel for playing with them. The first time or two I played with them was discouraging since I sounded so awful to my ears. I put a video camera up and play so I can see what I need to work on. My playing this year has dwindled down to practically nothing so it has hurt me. Now, the bug is hitting me again and I know from past experience I can play better and cleaner, and cleaner is very important to me. Sure appreciate all you guys for the input.

Ernie Pollock · From: Mt Savage, Md USA

Paul: some tracks, just like some songs are very difficult, some are very easy. You just have to learn the arrangements of the tracks & you will find that you can fit right in there. I use gospel tracks all the time, some are tough, some are easy. Just keep working with it for awhile and you will find a wonderful way to practice or perform for that matter. You cannot always get a band to play with you, the tracks are great when you can't.

Ernie Pollock

http://www.hereintown.net/~shobud75/stock.htm

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Michael Breid · From: Eureka Springs, Arkansas, USA

I have to admit that playing with a live band has a certain chemistry that tracks don't have, but where I live there's just a few times I can play with a live band. I have to rely on tracks if I'm going to get my chops up. The first thing I do is write a number chart of the arrangement. Just like it's a session and I don't know the song. Some of the tracks I know and some I don't. I listen to the tracks and get a feel for the song and go from there. The good thing about it, is if you mess up you can go back, start the track from the top and work up your licks to where they become second nature to you. I'm very grateful to the people who put out the tracks for us steel players in remote areas to work with. Without them we would really be lost. The live band is the best bet, but tracks sure help til the real thing comes along. When in Rome.............

Paul King · From: Gainesville, Texas, USA

Thanks guys for all the tips and encouragement. I have played every day for a week with the tracks and now I am getting the feel for it. It is going much better. I remember a preacher telling me you have to learn how to play with tracks. Like many of you have said the band never jumps time and all I have to do is hit the stop button and start all over again. Once again, I appreciate all the advice andwords of encouragement.

Tom Jordan · From: Wichita, KS

Just remember that anybody that records (unless "live") is playing to.....tracks!!

Playing with tracks is like playing with a band, strategy wise. You need to have a road map and you need to have the audio set up in a way that you can blend with it just like you need to blend with the band. For me, that means "tracks" through the PA and monitor system as well as guitars and vocals.

I thrive on the chemistry of my band but geography puts me in the solo environment as well. Either way, you've got to find your place in the mix.

Tom Jordan

Rick Garrett · From: Tyler, Texas

The way I practice (just because I don't have alot of rythm tracks) is to plug in some music I like that doesn't have steel but should have

and learn by playing along. Sometimes it grooves and sometimes it don't but I keep at it.

Rick

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

great topic..

some positive statements about tracks..and things that will improve..

Intonation..
playing on pitch ..
Rehearse as much as you want...
headphones so ya don't kill your neighbors..
play the same parts over and over again...
nobody to yell at you for overplaying...
experiment without being embarrased...

expand your musical vocabulary at nobodys expense...

you can quit whenever you want...
general motion skills ...
general comfort with your rig..
you can fire the band.....

I'm sure there are more..but this is a start...

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