Thoughts? I'm presently volunteering in Big Bend National Park, TX and work 3 days on/3 days off so I have a good bit of time to practice my craft, playing acoustic electric guitar and singing, and incorporating customized backing tracks on my iPad. I realize some tunes simply sound better without backing them up with tracks. I'm always learning tunes while keeping in mind my goals. One of my goals is to play for veterans venues with a few coffee houses and bars along the way while im livinga nomadic lifestyle. I'm trying to keep a good balance of tunes but I'm not going to break my neck doing it. I'm getting tired of the same 3-400 tunes I can easily meddle through and truly at this point in my life, almost 66, I feel I have nothing else to prove to anyone but to myself (alternate tunings, difficult tunes that I like and should play at least for my own personal enjoyment). So many songs out there. Some stay popular for shorter periods of time than others and that's life. I'd appreciate anyone's input on this topic of using backing tracks, how and when, overuse, to include vocal harmonizer use. Criticism taken lightly. Rock on, Rich Ford! (I hope the link works)
Funny, I just watched a video from a solo artist in Australia - I watch his stuff on occasion. He talks a lot about gigging as a business. In this video he addresses backing tracks.
I have used them in the past, as you know. My candid reply is - the only people who really care are other musicians. MOST audiences don't care, nor do the venues.
My only issue is when the 'musician' 'fakes' his/her instrument and basically just sings to the tracks. He may have a guitar in his hand, or stand at a keyboard, but basically - he's singing and barely playing any chords.
When I did use them, I edited out the guitar parts and played the guitar (with the leads). I only use one track now - It's the piano to "Always On My Mind" - actually my son playing it. Other than that, i will loop live on 1/2 dozen songs for solos and I do use a harmonizer for back ground vocals.
At your point in your journey - I'd play whatever you want and how you want! You have a fantastic voice; are a solid guitar player - why not add some tracks to your set list? It will allow you to add songs that don't normally go well as an acoustic solo. The joy of learning new songs and HOW to play with tracks would be worth it!
Here's his video (that's the title of it)
Backing Tracks Suck!
