Ian Kurz asked:
If you’re a performing artist and want to take a step to increase the ‘wow’ factor of your show, you’re going to need to take the jump to using backing tracks on stage. They allow bands and artists to give an even more exacting performance of the songs they play in their repertoire.
Of course they’re more suitable for some bands than others but I believe that at some level, all bands and artists can benefit from doing their performances in this way. Cover bands and tribute bands especially. In my experience most bands that play in a circuit of any kind are consisting of a drummer, bassist, guitar player or two and a singer, with the band members supporting by doing backing vocals.
It’s also been my observation over the years that many people play guitar for example, but can’t sing, or can’t sing and play. This serves to limit the vocal performance of the band because they can’t cover harmonies that may in fact be critical. Also omitted often are songs that require keyboard parts. By require, I mean the song really cannot be performed without that keyboard part. Sure there are tons of bands out there that have a keyboard player but I’ve never been in a band that wants a keyboardist to play in every song because just as some songs require a keyboard part, other songs may be somewhat diminished by adding a keyboard line.
Enter the use of backing tracks. With backing tracks you can add every special little piece to the songs you play. I’ve used tracks with keyboard parts, horn parts, percussion parts and even some backing vocals. I’m careful about how much I’m willing to add to a track in terms of backing vocals. Generally if it’s something that is absolutely critical to the success of the performance of the song then I’ll add it, i.e. the part sounds like a choir or something that simply cannot be replicated by one or two singers. I have in the past added parts that may help save the top end of my range and the very occasional harmony. I try to be mindful of the difference between a band performance and what might appear to become a karaoke performance if you start adding too much.
Using tracks allows us to cover everything from the simplest song to orchestra backed songs. Audience respond well to the fact that you sound ‘just like’ the band you’re covering and in my experience, assuming you’ve picked the right songs, will dance all night long.
Almost all performers can benefit from using tracks on stage. It helps to make things sound just right, and will help to earn even more respectfrom your audience.
If you’re a performing artist and want to take a step to increase the ‘wow’ factor of your show, you’re going to need to take the jump to using backing tracks on stage. They allow bands and artists to give an even more exacting performance of the songs they play in their repertoire.
Of course they’re more suitable for some bands than others but I believe that at some level, all bands and artists can benefit from doing their performances in this way. Cover bands and tribute bands especially. In my experience most bands that play in a circuit of any kind are consisting of a drummer, bassist, guitar player or two and a singer, with the band members supporting by doing backing vocals.
It’s also been my observation over the years that many people play guitar for example, but can’t sing, or can’t sing and play. This serves to limit the vocal performance of the band because they can’t cover harmonies that may in fact be critical. Also omitted often are songs that require keyboard parts. By require, I mean the song really cannot be performed without that keyboard part. Sure there are tons of bands out there that have a keyboard player but I’ve never been in a band that wants a keyboardist to play in every song because just as some songs require a keyboard part, other songs may be somewhat diminished by adding a keyboard line.
Enter the use of backing tracks. With backing tracks you can add every special little piece to the songs you play. I’ve used tracks with keyboard parts, horn parts, percussion parts and even some backing vocals. I’m careful about how much I’m willing to add to a track in terms of backing vocals. Generally if it’s something that is absolutely critical to the success of the performance of the song then I’ll add it, i.e. the part sounds like a choir or something that simply cannot be replicated by one or two singers. I have in the past added parts that may help save the top end of my range and the very occasional harmony. I try to be mindful of the difference between a band performance and what might appear to become a karaoke performance if you start adding too much.
Using tracks allows us to cover everything from the simplest song to orchestra backed songs. Audience respond well to the fact that you sound ‘just like’ the band you’re covering and in my experience, assuming you’ve picked the right songs, will dance all night long.
Almost all performers can benefit from using tracks on stage. It helps to make things sound just right, and will help to earn even more respectfrom your audience.