Live performance of backing tracks... best way to get it done?

[PianoVST]

You can use a VST host and play MIDI or audio backing tracks (+ other features, such as ChordPro/Lyrics support, automation using timeline actions, add effects to vocals, or guitars, use VST instruments...).

 

[amwilburn]

OK, I've been poking around looking at arranger videos. The more I look the less I like them.

I'm a player. Seriously, I play the keyboard at a fairly high level, maybe not as grand or flashy as some but seriously, I play. When I watch the videos of people playing arrangers, it smacks of pushing buttons to play this riff or that riff or this run or that run, instead of playing a riff or a run. It also seems to put every song into a "box". Yeah, there are a lot of styles. But I have yet to hear a style on any video that says, "Yeah, that's how I want to sound". I get that customization is possible. Too far out of the box and it's very tedious and I'd be asking myself why I didn't just create something from scratch.

It's not that I "can't" drop some coin on a wonderful new toy, I supposed I could. But I don't want to buy a great and wonderful toy that just isn't a good fit for me.

The longer I think about it, the more inclined I am towards creating some really simple backing tracks, which would be 100% mine, and 100% me playing them, and use them. After all, if I create them myself, I'll pretty much know them inside and out. It does kinda lock me in but even with that, there's nothing I couldn't change if I didn't like it.

Anyway, that's where my mind is going. So with that said, my original thought on how to best play those backing tracks is still very much in my mind.

Again, thank you all for the thoughts and discussion. I do appreciate it!

Well certainly to each his own, but I have to ask what kind of videos you've been watching that are 'pushing buttons'

This is my take on Pirates of the Caribbean (played live on Genos 1 after work, hence most of the lights were dimmed), and as you can see, I even missed a couple of starts of bars (largest brain fart at 4:05) , and that's ok, just the drums played an extra bar. Which is the point Nakayer was making; if you play to an mp3 or even a midi, you're kind of 'locked' to it and can't improv.

And holy cow did I ever age in 4.5 years. (really in the last year and a bit)

I take pride in playing my videos live, with no additional tracks that would play without me playing; if I stop playing you'll either hear only drums, or the same chord I last used indefinitely.

I don't like watching someone press 'intro' and just sit there with their arms folded until the intro finishes playing, but guess what? you don't have to do that. Those intros are designed to hint at suggested songs for the style, especially when using regions that you're unfamiliar with (Middle Easter, Chinese, etc to give you an idea of suggested types of chord progressions and scales. Not to make you not play)

 

[BrianT]

You, sir, do an amazing job, and I suspect you would be excellent with just a simple keyboard. I meant no disrespect to you.

That said, what you do is not what I am aspiring to do. And I'm coming to the conclusion that perhaps most of the world has left me behind. So be it.

Unless the world changes in ways I don't see coming, the likes of and sounds of big bands, Dorsey, Ellington, James, Miller, Goodman, Basie... where my heart lives, will basically be gone soon.

Signing off.

 

[amwilburn]

Oh hardly, I have a coworker who's a ridiculously good jazz musician (and he plays piano *and* sax at a really high level)
I grew up listening to the Beatles, Ella Fitzgerald, Rosemary Clooney, Chick Corea in the car. I'm not a jazz musician myself, no, but those who strive to be *great* musicians will all learn jazz. I just strive to have fun

And thank you kindly!

Mark

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www.youtube.com/MarkWilburnTLM/Videos
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