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For many types of practice it helps to have a rhythm accompaniment to "keep you honest". Not only will it help you keep your speed steady, it will help you stay at the right place in the song, without jumping ahead or falling behind. These are typical problems for the novice player, that a practice tape can help solve. This handout will show you how to create a "rhythm track" on a tape recorder, which you will later play along with. The idea is to play a clear rhythm at a comfortable speed, while correctly following the chord changes of the piece you want to play. 1. Be sure you know the chord changes of the piece. Run through the song while strumming the standard chords cleanly on the downbeats, (or if you’re able, using a vamp "boom-chick" on closed chord positions, thinking of the "boom" as the downbeat). There are two downbeats per measure of music in basic bluegrass style. 2. Singing, or humming or speaking the words if you'd rather, will make the tune easier to play along with later, as the words or melody locate your spot in the song more precisely than the chords alone. Practice singing or humming as you chord. If the purpose of the tape is to practice a solo based on a verse, practice just the verse. It’s OK to use the same verse over and over if you only know one. 3. Make sure your speed will be easy to play along with: 70 to 80 beats per minute is optimum for novice players. This is a bit slower than many songs are normally sung, but still fast enough to keep the roll flowing. If you have a metronome, set it between 70 and 80, and play your strums (or your "boom"’s) right with each downbeat. If no metronome is available, play the piece or simple rolls for a while at what seems a comfortable speed and then hold the tempo as you switch right into the strums or vamping you will record. Be careful not to speed the tempo when switching from rolls to rhythm. (Incidentally, you can time your speed by playing a steady roll while looking at your watch. Six rolls played in ten seconds comes out to 72 beats per minute. Seven rolls in ten seconds is 84 beats per minute. Remember, two beats per eight-note roll.) Time to record now: 4. For better recording quality choose the best cassette recorder and recording tape you have available. Use an external microphone if possible. A distorted, muddy recording is harder to play along with. 5. To make sure the voice records loud enough, place the microphone closer to your face than to your instrument. If necessary, tape the mic to a chair back, or balance a recorder with built-in mic on two chair backs. 6. Start the song in a way that will make it easy for you to anticipate later exactly when the singing is about to start. Establish a steady rhythm while playing the first chord, and when ready to start singing, give a signal. It can be a count ("1, 2, 3...") or anything, like "Now..." If you start or get going too fast or slow, stop. Better to take the time to get it right than do an entire run-through at the wrong speed. 7. Do a test recording for a half-minute to check quality before doing an entire run-through. Double check that your speed is not too fast or slow for comfortable playing along. 8. Important: Do several repeats, preferably at least five in a row. The more repeats, the more continuous practice later without having to stop to rewind. 9. Don't worry about a flawless performance. The main goal is a tape that's easy to play along with. Missed words or chords, occasional pauses between verses, etc. won't hamper your ability to play along. Rhythm hitches or irregularities can be a problem, though. If you make more than a couple of miscues that would derail you when playing along, try again. 10. After song is recorded, briefly check the end for quality. Did it speed up drastically compared to the beginning? If so, try again. Top of the page |
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| TIPS FOR PLAYING ALONG A portable stereo such as a Walkman is an ideal playback unit for a practice tape. Adjust playback volume for just the right mix with your live instrument. Try listening with one earphone on and one off. If you play the tape through a speaker, make sure it’s loud enough to hear easily while playing along. As soon as you hear the rhythm clearly, start your roll on a beat and play to match your eight-note rolls with the two beats in each measure (one beat at the first note, the other at the fifth note, the halfway point). Try to stay right with the rhythm at all times. Note places where you get off. If there is an error on the tape, note where it is so you can compensate for it next time. If the tape is not in error, take the time to try to figure out why you’re getting ahead (you played too few notes in one section) or behind (you took too long in one section). Ironing out these problems is a big part of what will make you a more solid player. If you stumble, try to get back on track as soon as possible. Stumbles happen in group playing situations, and learning how to recover quickly is a skill you will develop with experience. When you play with other people, there’s no going back when you flub! Just get back on track at a spot a little further ahead in the song. TIPS FOR USING PRACTICE TAPES Play-along rhythm tracks can be helpful not just for checking solos, but for earlier stages of playing too, such as doing basic rolls while changing chords, or picking out single-note melodies in correct time. It's a good idea to have several play-along tunes together on the same tape. Record some favorites with short spaces between, and have fun going from one right to the next. At a jam session where people are playing songs you would like to work on, record the jamming for playing along with later. It might be hard to get good quality, but if you position the mic or recorder near some of the clearer singers, you’ll have something to play along with. Practice tapes can be made to simulate real playing conditions for a variety of challenges. For accomplished intermediate players typical speeds may range from 100 to 150. Keys such as A, B, D, and E will sometimes be used, requiring accurate capoing and knowing basic chord positions in these keys on different parts of the neck. You can practice backup and lead and the transitions between. Top of the page |
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