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Jon1980 · Joined: 30 Mar 2006 Posts: 169

I am looking for some tracks to jam over, in particular II-V-I and VI-II-V-I progressions as well as some standards, recorded with a full rhythm section.

I have looked on Amazon (I'm in the UK) but can't seem to find any. Ideally I would like CDs to put in the stereo rather than something that uses the PC.

Viper · Joined: 04 Oct 2005 Posts: 566 Location: Bristol, UK

Abersold

Stackabones · Joined: 11 Jul 2007 Posts: 113 Location: Texas

Band In A Box is cool. Plus, it's programmable.
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Jon1980 · Joined: 30 Mar 2006 Posts: 169

jokron · Joined: 23 Aug 2005 Posts: 656 Location: Skelleftea, Sweden

I would recommend BIAB if you're looking for repetitive chord progressions.

The Aebersold Vol 3 that deals with II-V-I's doesn't have them in each key for a longer period of time. The first track goes through all twelve keys with just two turnes on each. The other tracks are variations of II-V's, V-I's and so on. If you want to try out some ideas or just get familiar with the chord progressions you should be able to stay for about three minutes or so to really work out. In that case the BIAB is better, you can play as long as you like in one key before moving to next...

Otherwise, when it comes to playing standards the sound quality on the Aebersold's play-a-longs are excellent and the arrangements are very good. But, on some of the tracks they increase the tempo gradually, I don't know if it's intentionally or the usual fault among many musicians...

So, to practice scales, chords, patterns, arpeggios and chord progressions I'd go for BIAB, for playing standards it'll have to be Aebersold play-along imo.

/Jokron
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FlatFive · Joined: 10 Jul 2008 Posts: 30 Location: Scotland

I know you have asked for examples with full backing tracks, but you might also consider something quite different. I use a Boss looper. I can record my own backing track for anything I'm working on, from either one chord to three minutes of multiple chords before the repeat sets in. There are disadvantages to both methods (CD or looper) but I think we should work on our comping as much as our soloing. Having CD backing tracks doesn't exactly encourage that. The looper allows me to jam for hours on one chord or sequence, and at any tempo I feel comfortable with. I use the Boss RC-20, which I got on ebay for 60 pounds. I find it really helpful. I also use full backing tracks sometimes too, so it's not a case of having one or the other.

Just a thought...

jokron · Joined: 23 Aug 2005 Posts: 656 Location: Skelleftea, Sweden

Talking about alternatives:

Since I've discovered the fun of playing bass I more and more tend to make my own backing tracks in Cubase like this:

- make drum tracks with Groove Agent 2.
- play bass
- comping on guitar or piano
- play the lead and improvise

Since I do this in Cubase and define any part or the whole song for continuous repetition I can play the same progression/song for an hour if I want to...or choose some tricky parts

I can export the the whole mix without lead/improvisationtrack to a stereo track and slow it down or speed it up without changing the pitch.

Working with drums, bass, piano and guitar in a tune gives a real down-to-the-basement-knowledge of the tune; drums make me aware of the timing issue and bass defines the basic harmony.

/Jokron
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Play what you hear - not what you know.

Miles Davis

eleven7 · Joined: 02 Jun 2008 Posts: 77

jokron · Joined: 23 Aug 2005 Posts: 656 Location: Skelleftea, Sweden

Have you tried the free RiffWorks?

http://www.sonomawireworks.com/T4/

/Jokron
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Play what you hear - not what you know.

Miles Davis

CalebFSU · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Posts: 40 Location: Tallahassee, Fl

I am really surprised there aren't any on-line some where. I know there are a lot of them on line for Jazz manouche, I mean really high quality ones that where put together with a pro rhythm section. I am surprised that no one has done any straight ahaed rhythm section tracks on at least Standards. I understand that if you just want to loop a sequence of Chords then yeah you need like a band in a box program or you can do your own.
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CalebFSU · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Posts: 40 Location: Tallahassee, Fl

I am at work so I can't test it out but,

http://www.ralphpatt.com/Backing.html

These look free although it says on the site these are admittedly Vanilla. might be usefull though for tunes.
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Caleb

jokron · Joined: 23 Aug 2005 Posts: 656 Location: Skelleftea, Sweden

Well, you have theese...

http://www.jazzbacks.com/cgi-bin/online-store
http://www.greatscores.com/p/backings
http://www.petethomas.co.uk/jazz-backing-tracks.html
http://www.standardstrax.com/

...you just have to google... Wink

But maybe we shuld have a forum for backingtracks here at PlayJazzGuitar.com

I could make some for free to share with my fellow guitarists...there are a lot that want to play and learn but cannot afford the cost for software, samples or professional tracks...or send me a PM...

/Jokron
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Play what you hear - not what you know.

Miles Davis

Jon1980 · Joined: 30 Mar 2006 Posts: 169

greentone · Joined: 31 May 2008 Posts: 667

The Aebersold materials make great backing tracks. If you havn't checked out the new Volume 123 with Joey DeFrancesco, you should. It's a really good workout with an organ trio. It's just Joey D and drums on the left track, so you can add guitar to it. The charts include a killer "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy." There's nothing quite being in your own B3 trio with Joey D laying down the organ/bass for you. His bass lines are stupid-good, as usual.
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Jon1980 · Joined: 30 Mar 2006 Posts: 169

I now have BIAB 2007 and am trying to figure it out, although it is pretty complicated.

I can make it play repetitive II-V-I progressions, which is useful though.