Some of you know I play bass. As a result, I've gathered a few backing tracks for practice that are only drums.
To work on my timing, I have started playing along with some of these tracks doing either rhythm guitar, lead guitar or a combination. The exercise is to keep my count accurate and "stay within the lines" of a 12 bar shuffle.
So here is the throwdown. This backing track is 144 measures or exactly 12 times through a 12 bar progression. It's around 120 beats per minute in a shuffle beat.
You can attack this at any level you want. You can play it in any key you want. It can be a straight shuffle or a quick change. But it must be a 12 bar progression or it won't fit with the drum track.
First Level : Do 48 or more bars of rhythm guitar. If you're adventurous, play it all the way through all 12 rounds of the progression and see if you can keep your timing intact.
Second Level: Do at least 48 bars of a combination of rhythm and lead. Do the entire 12 rounds if you dare.
Third Level: For the really brave. Do a solo lasting the full 144 bars. No rhythm guitar, no bass. It doesn't have to be spectacular. You just have to stay in time and not forget where you are in the 12 bar progression. The drums give a few clues about some of the changes, so if you get lost, you'll have to pay very close attention to subtle cues in the drum track.
If you like, I'll add a bass line to anyone who wants it, after you have uploaded your recording.
Unofficial May Challenge Drum Track
To work on my timing, I have started playing along with some of these tracks doing either rhythm guitar, lead guitar or a combination. The exercise is to keep my count accurate and "stay within the lines" of a 12 bar shuffle.
So here is the throwdown. This backing track is 144 measures or exactly 12 times through a 12 bar progression. It's around 120 beats per minute in a shuffle beat.
You can attack this at any level you want. You can play it in any key you want. It can be a straight shuffle or a quick change. But it must be a 12 bar progression or it won't fit with the drum track.
First Level : Do 48 or more bars of rhythm guitar. If you're adventurous, play it all the way through all 12 rounds of the progression and see if you can keep your timing intact.
Second Level: Do at least 48 bars of a combination of rhythm and lead. Do the entire 12 rounds if you dare.
Third Level: For the really brave. Do a solo lasting the full 144 bars. No rhythm guitar, no bass. It doesn't have to be spectacular. You just have to stay in time and not forget where you are in the 12 bar progression. The drums give a few clues about some of the changes, so if you get lost, you'll have to pay very close attention to subtle cues in the drum track.
If you like, I'll add a bass line to anyone who wants it, after you have uploaded your recording.
Unofficial May Challenge Drum Track
