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What's a good source for background music and improvising? I'm a relative jazz guitar newb so I'm looking for something (like 2-5-1 jazz standards) to jam with.
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11-26-2025 11:53 AM
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Ireal pro
Originally Posted by jumpnblues
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Send me a Direct Message if need help with this. I have a huge Ireal pro library Originally Posted by jumpnblues
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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iRealPro is the best all around app. You can practice with it, and you can use it on gigs to look up changes. Pro tip: Turn off the chord highlight as soon as possible.
Some guys are obsessed with the best sounding backing track, I don't really care if it's corny and straight. I'm not trying to replace my live experience with an app. You know, what would be funny, an applause button on some of these apps. Hook it up to a bluetooth footswitch and you can have "band member grunt of approval" or "audience applause"
Sorry, I didn't sleep well and I'm extra tangential today.
I also like the MrSunnyBass youtube channel. I used it to practice for some duo gigs I did with a bass player. The videos were harder than the gig because jam tracks are a one sided thing. But it was still worth it.
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There's also plenty on youtube, there was a double bass player on there that I remember liking
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PG Music's Band-in-a-Box is also useful. iReal certainly has its place, but BIAB is more lifelike on a home computer.
I also find improvising over changes with just a metronome (no backing track) helpful.
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AFAIK Ralph Patt's website is still up and running. It has excellent backing tracks for standards. It's about the best I've found.
Backing Tracks
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Is it possible to change keys/tempos with those backing tracks? Originally Posted by sgosnell
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iReal is ok and cheap enough but i agree with you about BiaB.It's more of an investment but you get more than your moneys worth.The Wesleydick backing tracks are free online and contains 100's of tunes to practice over and they sound good. Originally Posted by MarkL
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Another vote for iReal Pro, for its simplicity, flexibility, and scope.
Use bass and drums only, and turn off the position indicator.
But play with people ASAP.
Melody, melody, melody.
And try to have fun!
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Wow :-) Originally Posted by AllanAllen
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Not that I know of. They're actual .mp3 files, recorded by real musicians. Originally Posted by MarkL
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As I recall they're not very good, sound mechanical, and are too fast. After You've Gone at 250 or 300? Pull the other one.
Much as I like the Vanilla Book, there are far better options than this one.
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Yes....PG Music's Band-in-a-Box.This is one of the best solutions.I"ve been using it myself for over 30 years. Originally Posted by MarkL
This is very creative because you can type your own chords and make the correct progressions.
You can also play with different styles, change keys, tempos, etc.
You can use this program to train your hearing... This is really good.
Best
Kris
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I had BIAB etc, but Phil Wilkinson's Organ and drums Jazz backing tracks are fantastic, they're on a much higher pro level. (Jack Zucker used them to great effect.)
They're probably the best Jazz backing tracks available:
Individual Tracks
– Play Jazz Tracks
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this. you can also load them into transcribe! or audacity to change the tempos and keys. Originally Posted by GuyBoden
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Ok..I have it as an mobile app on my iPhone.You have to pay for a monthly subscription. Originally Posted by GuyBoden
The Jammates app is also very good.I have it too.
As I wrote before, Band in a Box is more creative.
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+1 Originally Posted by djg
I use Transcribe for practice. This is very good!!
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So, you'll already know that the quality of the Phil Wilkinson tracks is very, very good compared to BIAB. Originally Posted by kris
Ok..I have it as an mobile app on my iPhone.You have to pay for a monthly subscription.
The Jammates app is also very good.I have it too.
As I wrote before, Band in a Box is more creative.
Individual Tracks
– Play Jazz Tracks
Most of the old Jamey Aebersold play-a-longs are great quality too. It's where most older players started playing along with backing tracks.
Jamey Aebersold Jazz: Category Display
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Perhaps, but AFAIK BIAB makes it easiest to change instrumentation, styles, arrangements, tempos and key. Its quality is more than sufficient for use as a practice tool. Originally Posted by djg
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There’s also the recently arrived https://www.thefeelbook.net - a couple of threads running about this in this forum.
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jada is also the changes to doxie
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The quality of Band in a Box is also very good . Originally Posted by GuyBoden
You can adjust the volume of instruments and add corrections.
You can also delete or change instruments/tracks/.
BB allows you to quickly record a guitar part...No need to use an external DAW.
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Thank all of you so much for the information. This will give my improvisation a jump start.
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I was sponsored to make this video - but I use this product all the time. the Quartet playalongs are high quality and quite flexible. They are also played by real musicians which is important. (They are not free.)
Why 'Quartet' is DIFFERENT
Beyond that I search for things on YouTube. Moises is very powerful
IReal Pro is terrible sounding and feeling. I have no idea why people use it as a play along.
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