Bass Guitar Backing Tracks

[Major Sinner]

Hi Guys…

I am planning to release a Bass Guitar Backing Album early 2012.. but would appreciate your opinions…!!

I have been doing lead guitar ones which are very popular.. and as a bassist myself noticed there were not many for bass !?

Please do not think I am trying to Spam this forum… or use it to promote the tracks… as I am offering anyone who offers advice and comments on this thread the tracks free of charge !!

The initial tracks are just the lead backing tracks with the bass removed… so...

Basically what I would like to know is… 1. Would you prefer more lead guitars on the tracks. 2. What are your favourite Jam Keys ? 3. Which styles do you prefer ? (currently mainly blues and slow minor scales)..

You can here the few test tracks on youtube

Slow Gm Blues Bass Backing Track - YouTube

Thanks Guys.. Comments and suggestions welcomed !!

Jason

Major Sinner Studios.

[Major Sinner]

Will Also be happy for suggestions of types of tracks to do...

Is 10 minutes to long or about right ?

Thanks.

[maxgrant]

If you're trying to make this more useful, I'd throw in some keys like F and Bb, c# minor, etcetera. Make folks work without all those open strings.

Rock jams, harder rock, and some funk and even some clean pop-type stuff. Differing rhythms and feels. If I were doing something like this I would be building them on a bass line I'd hide, and I'd pick stuff out with wide potential for different rhythms to play along to it. Different feels.

[64jazz]

That was fun! I've always found there to be quite an absence of backing tracks out there for bass practice and what you've got posted so far feels right to me. Like Max suggested, use keys that minimize the open strings. Improvement comes through hard work, not hardly working.

I would opt for the inclusion of lead guitar, where applicable. Having that distraction explode in the middle of a song helps me train into the groove and stay locked in. As far as genres go, I would expect to see a demand for this type of track across all markets. Personally, jazz, funk, and classic rock would have the most appeal to me.

[bassike]

MAXGRANT is right about diferent keys and it'll be nice; and it'll be nice to play the exact same track in diferent keys cause you know those situations where the band decides to play a cover in a diferent key cause of the singer.

would be nice to add some odd timeing; and maybe give and example of the bass line for people not familiar with other styles of music.

[cjjrwe]

I always have a hard time finding any bass backing tracks, so really any would be appreciated.

[abstractart06]

This is great stuff. I would love to see some Reggae, and Latin grooves as well.

[Major Sinner]

Thank you for your replies guys.. All points noted….

I will be working on more over the next few weeks and hope you enjoy using them….

Cheers

Jason

[BassChuck]

Yes there is a need for this kind of thing. I've often taken progressions and put them in Band In A Box, and then turned off the bass sound. Your tracks sound miles better than that, so this will be a good thing.
Suggestions. The different keys is not only a great idea, but necessary. Do as many as possible. Also, there are many, many different variations on Blues progressions. It would be fun and interesting to mix them up, like you might get in a live Blues jams. Using the flat 6 chord (Eb in your Gm example), tritone subs etc etc. This would be a great ear training workout.
Also.... Lots of backing track play-a-longs have standard progressions and very clear harmony. I might be fun to have a couple of tracks with just drums and a melody with no real indication of harmony. This would be interesting as a bassline creativity workout and ear training too.
Good luck. This will be a valuble tool for us all.

[MrSnuts]

Originally Posted by cjjrwe

I always have a hard time finding any bass backing tracks, so really any would be appreciated.

I have to say I'm not sure if I think this is going to become a commercial hit... since there is quite some free stuff on the web...
my current favourite site: bassless backings.

+1 on the ear training and general feel benefits of good backings, I've been making progress that way myself (havent seen a bassteacher in years)

[abstractart06]

Originally Posted by MrSnuts

I have to say I'm not sure if I think this is going to become a commercial hit... since there is quite some free stuff on the web...
my current favourite site: bassless backings.

+1 on the ear training and general feel benefits of good backings, I've been making progress that way myself (havent seen a bassteacher in years)

Thanks for posting this. Just checked the site out. Very helpful.