Backing Tracks for Cover Bands

Many of today's cover bands use backing tracks to provide a fuller sound for their audience. Recent technology and the availability of music online have made composing backing tracks easier than ever.

Karaoke-Version is one of the leading karaoke websites online. They offer customizable accompaniment tracks that can be downloaded for a minimal cost. Once you've purchased a song, you can re-edit the tracks and re-download them as often as you wish. Most custom tracks include all instruments, backing vocals, lead vocals, and a click track.

How It Works

1. Download two versions of the same song. The first file should include everything you want your audience to hear (instruments, backing vocals, etc.). The second file should be just the click track.
2. Import both tracks into your favorite audio editor (GarageBand, Audacity, Logic, etc.) and pan one track to the left channel and the other to the right channel.
3. Split the output on stage: Send the music channel to your PA system (for the audience) and the click channel to your drummer's in-ear monitors. Your audience hears only the music; your drummer stays locked in with the track.

If a song doesn't include a click track, you can create your own using any audio editor — just set the BPM to match the song and export a simple metronome pattern.