Can You Make Backing Tracks?

NorioDS

Is anyone out there willing to make a bunch of ballad-y backing tracks? I'm looking for:

C-Ionian
D-Dorian
E-Phrygian
F-Lydian
G-Mixolydian

The idea is to make something fun to play along with (please also let me know the chords used) that I can use to practise along to. All of the above modes use the same notes - what I'm basically trying to do is I'm trying to "master" my C-Major fingerings all across the fingerboard while also practising my modal phrasing. Then I want to move onto, say F, and so on, until I can do that in all keys.

But, ja, I need someone to actually make the tracks ? Could be a fun project and can be posted here for everyone to enjoy. Anyone keen?

ezietsman

You can get any backtrack in C and practice all the modal stuff on that one backtrack. Or get a few in a bunch of different keys so you can have some variety.

www.guitarbackingtrack.com has a good selection of backingtracks for download. Check under 'J' for jamtracks if you don't want specific songs.

NorioDS

An important part of this, for me, is to practise my phrasing, and you can't do that over any backtrack in C because it will always sound like Ionian. The chords will dictate much of the feel of the song, and that's what I'm looking for.

Will check out that site, thanks ?

raithza

I have an idea... why not make an awesome comp entry, win it, then make the topic for next month jam tracks in modes of C? ?

ezietsman

Norio wrote: An important part of this, for me, is to practise my phrasing, and you can't do that over any backtrack in C because it will always sound like Ionian. The chords will dictate much of the feel of the song, and that's what I'm looking for.

Will check out that site, thanks ?

Not necessarily. You play a major scale starting on C which is Ionian. But starting that same scale on D will give you D dorian. So it looks like a Dmajor scale but gives you the dorian mode you want when played over a C major chord progression. etc. Unless I'm an idiot and should stick to blues. In that case ignore what I said...

tentop

ezietsman wrote:
Norio wrote: An important part of this, for me, is to practise my phrasing, and you can't do that over any backtrack in C because it will always sound like Ionian. The chords will dictate much of the feel of the song, and that's what I'm looking for.

Will check out that site, thanks ?
Not necessarily. You play a major scale starting on C which is Ionian. But starting that same scale on D will give you D dorian. So it looks like a Dmajor scale but gives you the dorian mode you want when played over a C major chord progression. etc. Unless I'm an idiot and should stick to blues. In that case ignore what I said...

You're right ezietsman. Starting the C major scale on D makes it Dorian. If you have a song in D but start playing the major scale on D you'll be playing the Ionian mode again. You can practice all the modes in any key.

Warren

ezietsman wrote:
Not necessarily. You play a major scale starting on C which is Ionian. But starting that same scale on D will give you D dorian. So it looks like a Dmajor scale but gives you the dorian mode you want when played over a C major chord progression. etc. Unless I'm an idiot and should stick to blues. In that case ignore what I said...

Almost but not quite EZ: you wouldn't play D Dorian over a C chord progression (because then you'd actually just be playing C Ionian / C Major scale), you would play C Dorian - which has exactly the same step pattern (fretboard pattern) but starts on C. I like the Dorian vibe over both major and minor chord progressions ?

Some people will also argue that you also have to take the chord progression into account if you want to play truly modally, and that you can't call yourself a modal player if you're just using modal melodic ideas over regular major or minor chords. To this effect you would play over chords created from the notes in the modes you're using.

I personally think that's just being fussy and there's a lot of fun to be had implying modal tonalities over any chord changes you like, providing it sounds good and interesting.

@Norio: why not create your own backtracks? No recording stuff?

NorioDS

Wot Warren said ?

arjunmenon

Warren wrote: Almost but not quite EZ: you wouldn't play D Dorian over a C chord progression (because then you'd actually just be playing C Ionian / C Major scale), you would play C Dorian - which has exactly the same step pattern (fretboard pattern) but starts on C. I like the Dorian vibe over both major and minor chord progressions ?
Some people will also argue that you also have to take the chord progression into account if you want to play truly modally, and that you can't call yourself a modal player if you're just using modal melodic ideas over regular major or minor chords. To this effect you would play over chords created from the notes in the modes you're using.
I personally think that's just being fussy and there's a lot of fun to be had implying modal tonalities over any chord changes you like, providing it sounds good and interesting.

Excellent post Warren. Most jazz players improv on a chord-to-chord basis, implying the modal qualities better. Playing modally in regular progressions, in a way, is tricky too because you now have to focus on the intervals in order to imply the tonality of the mode. A lot of players don't push the envelope far enough here (i.e. sticking with chord tones).