Practice Tip #1: Backing Tracks

Yesterday during "Coffee with Ren" I suggested using backing tracks as you practice. Students in jazz have talked about this in rehearsal before, but the applications extend far beyond just playing the blues or working on improv.

As an example, check out this pop/rock backing track in concert D major.

These backing tracks do several different things as you practice.

• It helps to train your ear, giving you a tonal foundation to base your own pitch.
• It keeps a steady beat - there are many different temps on YouTube, find one slower or faster as you need!
• It gives you varying consonance and dissonance to practice playing in tune against.

I turned this on and was playing my concert D major scale. I started by playing half notes, quarters, and eighths, but then I started making up patterns. Here is a sample scale practice routine that you can try with this track:

⭐​ Play the concert D major scale in half notes, up and down, repeating the top note.

⭐ Next, play the same scale but this time in eighth notes. Always play with the beat.

⭐ Now, make up your own rhythm patterns as you play along with the backing track.

⭐ Finally, make up your own patterns of rhythms and notes. See if you can make it sound melodic, like someone is singing along with the backing track.

We call that improvisation. You are now an improviser. Go sign up for jazz band.