Playing over backing tracks... ?

**Mondy** · 06-07-2004, 02:51 AM

Hi guys,

Last night, I was trying to play along to both Unchained and It's About Time, using the backing tracks. However, when I did this, I couldn't nail the timing correctly.

Now, I reckon that this is down to the following three reasons :

My ears. I'm pretty sure the shitty state they are in at the moment is not helping me here, but forget about this one for now, as obviously nothing you or I can do can fix this one.
My "internal clock" timing. i.e. the way I hear it and therefore translate to how I play it, isn't correct. Whilst it may sound right on it's own, it's never gonna match the recording. Here, I dunno what to do if this is the case. I guess just more practise until I nail it ? [img]images/smilies/dunno.gif[/img]
Guitar level vs Backing track level. When I start playing, I suddenly find it's hard to then make out the backing track. However, if I turn the guitar level down in order to hear the backing track, I then can't hear what I'm playing so also don't know whether I have got the timing right...

Listening to coolez nailing It's About Time, and listening to how tight all your recordings are made me envious of you all, and I would like to nail it.

So I thought I'd call on your infinite wisdom to help a frustrated brother out.

So, any suggestions on what I can do ?

When playing, I go through the headphones from my POD XT. So I'm hearing both the backing track and what I play on guitar through the headphones together.

Cheers,

El_jalepeno · 06-07-2004, 03:31 AM

My setup is headphones from the computer. My VAmp goes to the computer, and the BT is on the computer. I can adjust the levels fine in Cool Edit to play with the BT. I adjust the "line in" for the guitar, and the BT volume for the BT.

**Mondy** · 06-07-2004, 03:39 AM

Yeah, but if I turn the guitar down, then I can't hear it over the BT, but turn it up and it drowns out the BT.

[img]images/smilies/headscratch.gif[/img]

POD GOD · 06-07-2004, 03:59 AM

I had the same problem but now I usually pan the backing track about 80% to the left and pan my guitar 80% to the right( this is just the playback levels...not recording levels).

**Mondy** · 06-07-2004, 04:10 AM

Cheers POD GOD. I will give this one a try.

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El_jalepeno · 06-07-2004, 04:58 AM

When I play with a BT, like when I am recording, it sounds the same in my phones as it does when I do the final mix... [img]images/smilies/headscratch.gif[/img]

Basspond · 06-07-2004, 12:44 PM

I run my PODxt into the computer with the USB and then a line out to a 15w marshall practice amp, I use my computer speakers and volume on that to adjust the backing track volume and use the marshall to monitor what I'm playing on the POD.

06-08-2004, 01:17 AM

I use a software called n-track for recording here, and what i do is to

06-08-2004, 01:17 AM

the answer to your problem is to get cool edit and decode your mp3 back track to wave format then put it in cool idit and play along with it at any volume you like then record yourself as you go after your done you can do what you want with it

**Mondy** · 06-08-2004, 02:46 AM

I think it's just me. With It's About Time, the initial guitar is played off beat to the drums. There's that pause.

I start off playing off beat, but after the pause, I can't help but come back in on the drumbeat. I'm just struggling with the offbeat.

I'll keep trying, but it's just so natural to play on the drumbeat...

[img]images/smilies/wutblau.gif[/img]

06-08-2004, 02:21 PM

If its the timing, get a metronome and just nail playing to that. Set the tempo right and just get it to the simple ticking of a metronome. Then when you got that go to the BT. Hope that helps!

PS - there are metronomes you can download i think, google search time!

**Mondy** · 06-09-2004, 02:26 AM

It is the timing, but forcing myself to play OFF the click rather than ON the click. Listen to the backing track for It's About Time, you'll see what I mean...

[img]images/smilies/icon_thumb.gif[/img]

06-09-2004, 01:01 PM

Well i wont download it cos my 56k is feeling pretty sick at the moment lol. What i do when trying to play off beat is, use the metronome again, and then count beats, between the tapped beat. Try that!

Stiglar · 06-09-2004, 04:00 PM

try thinking in 2's mondola ... sit there and listen to the click (or a click) and just think in quavers

da-da da-da da-da ..

pick say one note top e for example over the click in quavers ... when you feel you really have that down .. keep thinking da-da da-da da-da .. but just play the second one . .that's what i used to do and it seemed to work alright .. hope that helps

**Mondy** · 06-10-2004, 12:33 AM

Cheers Stig. I was trying that indeed. It's just the way he plays the intro.

Cuz it goes Bam Bam Bam Bam Bam Baaaaaaaaaaaaam Ba-Dam

And it's that big pause. I start off off beat and when I get to the pause, I come back in on beat. I just need more practise at it. I will keep it up (fnarr fnarr)...

[img]images/smilies/icon_thumb.gif[/img]