How to Create Backing Tracks If You Don't Play All the Instruments... or Any

Congratulations! Your singing has become amazing,main melody. They usually have a slightly different
and it's time the world knew. You've also writtenrhythm, and fill in where the melody has breaks.
some songs that are just kick you-know-what.A great example is in the song "The Winner
They need to be recorded, MP3ed and put on theTakes It All," by Abba. Listen to the theme that is
net ASAP. But you've got two problems. First,always playing underneath the melody - it really
you can't afford a studio, let alone a band for alldrives the song.Another thing you can do to put
this stuff. Second, you don't play all, or any, oflife into your tracks is to customize the style.
the instruments.Well there is good news. With aDepending on how good you are with your
deft combination of the internet and today'ssoftware and its capabilities, you can create your
software, you can do wonders. While it's neverown riffs and mix them into the song. Also, vary
going to be the same as a true band in a realsimilar styles throughout the song to break the
studio, which you had better hire for that bigmonotony. And, again, don't underestimate drum
record company showcase, you can still createfills!Creative use of layering is a very effective
great backing tracks.First, repeat after me. "I lovetechnique. When all the tracks play all the time, it
MIDI." Thank you.MIDI, to refresh your memory,can be very boring. Wait to bring in some
is like sheet music for a pianist. The paper itselfinstruments till later in the song. That creates a
makes no noises, but the pianist gets all the"building" feel. Then, at some point towards the
information he needs from it to let us hearend, take them out again briefly to create a
Beethoven (especially if the music is also"break" or "bridge". When you bring them back, it
Beethoven!). In your computer set up, the MIDIis very powerful.Finally, don't allow any perfection.
file is the sheet music, the MIDI sequencer orYes, you read that correctly. If your music is
playback program is the pianist, and yourperfectly aligned rhythmically, it will sound artificial.
computer's sound card and synthesizer are theLive musicians are never precisely on the beat.
piano. That's all you need!Before we get started,Almost all programs have a "humanize" function
I'll mention the ultimate cover song shortcut - thewhich corrects this automatically. Otherwise, take
Internet! There are tons of great MIDI files ofthe time and slide some notes in the piano roll
almost every piece of popular music out there. Alleditor window. If you need quantize (rhythm
you have to do is find them. If you can't, orcorrection) on the recorded tracks, set it to less
you've got your own material, read on. Be legal,than 100%.When you've got your MIDI file, there
though!If You Play Keyboard or Guitar WellFirst,are two ways to convert it to audio (wav, mp3)
thank your parents for the lessons. Then, getfor CD burning. The quicker way is with a
your hands on a sequencer program and recorddedicated program that renders wave files from
your tracks. Using MIDI, you can choose theMIDI files directly. Most software synthesizer
instrument sound for everything - all you need toprograms that have a stand-alone playback
do is input the notes. For drums, you can eitherfeature can do this. Otherwise, open an audio
record them from your keyboard or use a plug-inrecording program, play the MIDI file, and
drum machine. If you choose to record them, asimultaneously record the output. Make sure your
quick way to do it is to record a couple ofaudio recorder is set to receive from the correct
measures and then copy/paste to fill out theinput.If You Play Nothing, and Don't Know Chords
song. But don't forget to put in some drum fills!Ifor Theory or Anything Guess what? You are the
Your Playing Is Limited to Little or Not at AllForone who should hire a musician. Yes, I know that
you there are wonderful programs, like Band in asome programs will offer both a chord
Box and Jammer, to create backing tracks. Theyprogression composer and even a melody
are very stylish, meaning, they function in styles.composer. All you would need to do is choose the
You must, at the very least, know the chords forstyle. If you are considering going this route, I
your song. You simply enter the chords, choosehave one request for you.PLEASE DON'T!Sorry to
the appropriate musical style, and click a buttonyell, but think about this. The melody is composed
called "compose" (or some reasonable facsimile).by a computer, the chords are composed by a
Before you can say "Holy guacamole, Batman,"computer, the band is composed by a computer.
your music is playing. The drawback here is thatIt is music that is completely composed by a
your band will sound canned. And well it should, forcomputer. Oh my gosh! How revolting is that?No,
it is! But, have no fear, there are ways tomy friend, hire a qualified musician. You sing the
mitigate that quite well.Making it Human Bestsong to them, they create the magic. Do not sell
thing? Play what you can, at least the melody.yourself short. Your song is important -- it's part
That, in and of itself, will help tremendously, as it'sof you! Show it the greatest respect and make it
no longer just a band style playing chordas beautiful as you can.Seth Lutnick is a singer,
progressions.Next up, record a counterpoint.songwriter and arranger. Visit his website, for
Counterpoints make ordinary songs exciting. Theymore on creating and using a home recording
are secondary melodies that complement thestudio, and personal action planning.