Backing Tracks

Excluding the option of a Bass Player and Drummer moving into my home. I was wondering what are the best ways to get the Backing Tracks for improvs etc. ? I don't really want to learn songs of others but be more creative in what I wish to sound like.

I have Band-in-the-Box on the computer and can create or download midi songs to play over, which I usually burn to CD and play away from the computer. I also have purchased a few ready made JamTrax cd's but find there are not that many out there or I am not searching the right areas.

Lately I been thinking of getting a Drum Machine to create my own beats in the background although then I guess I will be out the other instruments BIAB can add in, a ALESIS SR-16 to be exact if it's worth the time.. anyone have one?

Any other options I have over looked or suggestions on BITB or the ALESIS SR-16?

Here is a link to some nice Backing Tracks for free... MP3 and Midi.. check it out... http://www.bluesblast.com/

Always looking for more...:R

Another good site with some good songs "Still got the blues, My guitar gently weeps etc..." kinda slow on the downloads.. just a dozen or so but nice.. http://www.xs4all.nl/~lookyes/play along.html

Some nice Midi Backing Tracks can be found here at Doc's http://home.texoma.net/~docdoc1/jamindex.htm :R

http://www.guitarbt.com had a bunch of Backing Tracks but their database kinda got messed.. some are now posting in the forums there with backing tracks again.

http://u2recording.tripod.com/backing.html Some U2 backing tracks

Today while surfing I found this site: http://www.guitaristworks.com/forum/index.php.

I download a lot of them, but have not listen to them yet. I did not have the time as the downloading took a lot of time.

You must sign in and then go up and click on the “DOWNLOAD” under the website title: www.GuitaristWorks.com.

Then scroll down until you find the Backing Tracks bar. There are a lot stuff there on the site. Click on the set you want. Run your arrow (curser) over the file name. Do a right mouse click and perform the “Save As” function. That’s all there is.

If you find more let us know about them. I will most likely come back with a thread asking how to learn what to do with the backing tracks.

Good luck!

Tim

thanks Justaguyin_nc!

Always inspirating to have some new songs to rehearse to.

Here is another very good site for backings...

http://www.jam.1gb.ru/mpjam_rock.html

Justa' - Hey, that last site has some fantastic backing tracks. I found Dire Straits' "Sultans of Swing" and ZZ Top's "Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers", two of my absolute favorite songs to play! Awesome sound quality, too - backing instruments sound like the real thing, and not stuff that sounds like it was done on a Casio!! Cool stuff - thanks a bunch!

Yeah I think that may be a russian site..and probably copyrite files.. not to sure...can't read russian but they are pro quality....

another copyrite sight is a man from sweden (hear that robert?) that has backings he created..in all styles.. free to use ... long as you don't transmit them.. descent site... http://datamusic.org/ check it out..

That russian page had some really good jazz standards!
Thanks justaguy!

Glad someone is getting use out of these links... I know there are more out there... still searching... gets like card collecting doesn't it...

Sure does Justaguy...
I could almost feel the hairband glowing while jamming to Dire Straits "Wild Theme" last night..