drum backing tracks?

proc83 · #1 01-03-2007, 03:41 PM

Hi! I was wondering if anyone know of a program/something that will just play drum beats for songs so that I can jam along with my bass...I dont know any drummers around here and I wanna hear myself with one (without playing the song or something on mp3). Know what im saying?

98dvl · #2 01-03-2007, 03:45 PM

All kinds of options... be sure to search for drum machine / drum software.

Personally, I picked up a zoom RT-223 ($100 used). It has lots of sounds, and can store up to 50 drum kits and 500 patterns.

http://www.zoom.co.jp/english/products/rt223/index.php

I like that I can use the RT-223 as a practice amp, by just plugging in my bass, and firing up a few patterns and playing along.

The Alesis SR-16 is very popular as well. I don't have any experience with it, but it's been around a LONG time, and is considered to be very good (even after all these years).

Those are both drum machines... It's easier to use software, but you can't always have a computer near by to fire up the programs.

One popular/free program is Hydrogen...

http://www.hydrogen-music.org/

Both software and drum machines will require a learning curve (unless you use pre-set patterns)... but it's easy enough to overcome if you have some music knowledge (which you probably do).

daffy · #3 01-03-2007, 04:00 PM

+1 on Hydrogen.

also have a look at HammerHead, which is not as full featured as Hydrogen but has an extensive library of existing drum loops.

proc83 · #4 01-03-2007, 04:01 PM

Wow thanks a lot! That was very helpful

vcs700s · #5 01-03-2007, 08:12 PM

Alesis SR-16.

You can find them all day on ebay.

arbarnhart · #6 01-04-2007, 07:32 AM

I also found a bunch of midi tracks posted here:

http://www.ejamming.com/?download_drumloops

If you play those using Windows Media Player, you can change the play speed (under the View->Enhancements menu).

There is also DrumFlow, which is shareware but the trial version will let you create and play all the loops you want, just not produce MIDI.

What you really need to do is get lucky like my guitar playing buddy - he bought a Yamaha drum machine with pads and a bunch of presets for $5 at a flea market.