Using Backing Tracks for Improvisation

Backing tracks are a great way to increase your guitar playing skills. Not only do they give you a foundation to build off of, but they also help you to improve your timing and creativity.

When you play with a backing track, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First off, you should try to keep track of which patterns you are using.

Although familiar patterns may seem great at first because they are, well, familiar, it is easy to get stuck in a loop playing the same patterns over and over.

Approach a backing track as you would approach any other type of song. Take your time to discern the key of the piece, and then once you have, study the piece. Try to envision what techniques you would like to emphasize in certain parts.

This is important, as many guitarists overwhelm themselves and try to throw all of their skills out at once. Not only does this destroy any chance of building up, but it may also cause discouragement. Be conservative.

When I use a backing track for improvisation, I like to set a goal. If I am playing along to a jazz piece, I like to outline a vague pattern once I have discovered the key of the piece. There are also a few things to take into consideration; regardless of the key, do I want to follow in chromatics or use a regular structured scale?

This is important as I can either rule out certain notes or rule in free reign over my choice of notes. I suggest you ask yourself similar questions while you listen to the track through for the first time. Planning your improvisation is an invaluable skill; I know of very few guitarists who go into an improvisation without at least some simple, basic notion of what they are going to follow.

Another great skill that can be gained by playing along to backing tracks is the ability to play various styles in your own way. Many players try to mimic other musicians when the play their songs, but with a backing track, there is no voice to mimic. You have complete and utter control of how you will play.

This can be an eye opening experience for many musicians, beginners and advances alike. Many of us see ourselves as much more diverse players than we truly are. Not only can various styled backing tracks help us to see our true strengths and weaknesses, they can also show us how much we have really been able to develop our own style.

If you find that all of the licks you fall into are ones you have copied from other players, you may want to focus more on backing tracks to develop yoor own guitar licks. If you find yourself having trouble playing along to a blues track because you focus most of your time practicing neoclassical guitar, then you know you need time to practice other styles to round out your playing.

As long as you create an outline, a goal, or a mission when approaching a backing track, you will see a large improvement in your improvisations.

Keep in mind that improvising entails playing the given style even if you add your own flare and as mentioned above, throwing yourself on the mercy of a jam track can really open your eyes to your adaptability and skill level. As with everything, when playing along to a backing track, above all be sure to have fun and stay aware of repetition.

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