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THE BIG QUESTION

BACKING TRACKS OR LIVE INSTRUMENTS?

Oh, I’m so treading on dodgy ground musicians to pick up instruments so can
here but I do feel this is a question which be seen as lazy.
we need to get into, not so much to take
sides in any direction but more to give But we need to flip the coin and take a
everyone a fair crack at the whip. look at the positives of using backing
tracks too. Firstly, by using backing
I cannot tell you all the amount of times tracks you just need to worry about
I have heard the phrase, “Why are they yourself. That’s actually quite nice when
using backing tracks? It’s just Karaoke.” it comes to being paid. Let’s face it,
when a soloist or duo is trying to get their playing in pubs and clubs doesn’t bring in
voice heard. Or an audience complaining top dollar these days with the breweries
about the noise levels when a rock band squeezing the life out of landlords for
is screaming out Highway to Hell at a every penny they can get. Also, for peo-
million decibels. ple starting out in the business, it gives
them a chance to perform on a live stage
So I’m going to play Devils Advocate and and test the water without the pressures
pose and argument for and against both of being in a band. Which brings me to
sides and see what we can come up with. another point, backing tracks don’t make
mistakes. Some may argue that that’s just
Backing Tracks live performances but from a musicians
Ok, lets kick off with tracks. So what’s point of view, nah!
wrong with them? I suppose the big
one is the fact that they are pre-recorded Now as a soloist, I have to confess that I
tracks which replaces the need for live use tracks BUT I also use an instrument.
instruments. In short, they are basically I love surf guitar and often rock out num-
Karaoke without the graphics bit. Again bers from the Ventures and the Shadows
on the downside, they don’t encourage as well as Knofler numbers which brings
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