Free Drum Tracks
How to Practice Timing
Choose any chord voicing - e.g. C minor 7 voiced as Bb D Eb G played over C:
Now play this chord on beat one of the backing track...
Sustain this chord for 4 beats with the pedal, while you prepare to play the same chord again on beat 1 of the next bar.
Play the chord on beat one of the next bar, and then the next bar, and so on...
Pay full attention to your timing:
Are you playing the chord precisely on time with the drummer?
Are you late, or are you early?
If you're late - you need to play slightly earlier than you think.
If you're early - you need to play slightly later than you think.
If you're tired of hearing the same chord - change it to C# minor 7 by transposing your first voicing up a half-step. Then change to D minor 7, and then Eb minor 7, and so on.
Use this exercise to fine tune your timing - to the point where you can play EXACTLY on time with the drummer.
Practice this exercise for 2-5 minutes at a time, and practice daily for the next week.
3 Free Backing Tracks
Click the download icon in the top right of each track to download. Or hit 'play' and practice your timing now:
Track 1: 'Ballad 85bpm'
Track 2: 'Undercover' Salsa 100bpm'
Track 3: 'Funk 90bpm'
You can also use these backing tracks to compose your own music to, or play songs from your repertoire to.
Watch a Premium Jazz Lesson now?
Watch me voice the song 'Misty' at the piano, one chord at a time...
I'll talk you through my arranging process, and teach you how to voice any song using Shell Voicings:
I hope you enjoy these backing tracks and I'll let you know when the Complete Backing Track Collection is available soon!
