Backing Tracks - what do you want?

[chrisgraff]

Thinking about producing an EP of backing tracks. Any requests?

[Twangmaster]

the complete ZZ Top library.

[BBender]

Le Grange
Machine Gun

[gomez1856]

Covers? or styles?

[stevel]

Originally Posted by chrisgraff

Thinking about producing an EP of backing tracks. Any requests?

1. I would consider simply making "files" rather than an "EP" since the idea of CDs is getting old fashioned (Susan Boyle excepted). You might could offer individual ones for download at X price, then say "select 10 for the price of 8 or something. That way people could pick and choose the ones they wanted (assuming you had 20 or so to begin with).

2. If you do covers, you have to pay for licensing.

3. I personally would use backing tracks to improvise over, so I'd like a variety of styles - bluegrass, blues, jazz-blues, rock, etc.

However, what I find most lacking in most backing tracks (except for jazz ones that have *too many* chord changes) is it's just 4 measures over and over - I get tired of that really quick.

It would be nice if you had a 3 minute track, to have an intro, verse, chorus, break, outro, etc. type structure (which has better real world applications than just improvising over 4 bars over and over).

I've tried to create my own many times, but I find I tire of a 12-bar after two or three passes (because I'm too lazy to make the backing tracks very interesting). But if there were stuff like "hits" in a section, or a verse that was 16 bar and a chorus that was 12 bar, or a verse with a quick change or chorus without, etc. You could even do stuff like "double" or "half" time sections.

Even on a simple level, have a verse in minor, and chorus in major, or stuff like that - or a different example for different modes.

I think part of why this doesn't happen is by the time you do all that, you're practically writing a song at that point, and if you're going to do that, you might want to go ahead and call it a song and copyright it.

But anyways, there's enough "run of the mill" stuff out there - it'd be nice to have something a little more complex (but graduated, so it would be available to many levels of player).

HTH,
Steve

[Tone_Terrific]

Suggestion-
Make all the tracks separate and include a vocal track so the user can build the song any way they wish.

[chrisgraff]

Thanks for the suggestions. Probably won't do any covers; don't feel like licensing anything at the moment.

Multitrack versions - great idea.

Will definitely be songs with vocals.

[chrisgraff]

Back Where I Started

Buddy of mine, (used to have a deal on Warner Bros.), sends me demos all the time. Amazing songwriter. This one might be a fun track do play over.

[gomez1856]

I'm sure you will, but please keep us posted. I always like new backing tracks, especially well made ones!

[chrisgraff]

Talking with Andrew Ramsey, (Johnny Lang, India Arie) about possibly licensing some of his tracks/demos for this. That'd be cool, huh?

[Tone_Terrific]

Originally Posted by chrisgraff

Back Where I Started

Buddy of mine, (used to have a deal on Warner Bros.), sends me demos all the time. Amazing songwriter. This one might be a fun track do play over.

That was an interesting song to TRY to play with...not much room, imo.
I'd like to hear what somebody else might put in there, in a complementary fashion.
I suspect that is not a good direction for a backing tracks project but that may just be me.