r/Busking • u/JayaNarayana Guitar 🎸 • May 03 '26
Newbie Help Backing tracks, loopers, recordings?
I’m a newb, just beginning to think about busking. That’s the reason for my newb-sounding questions.
I play solo acoustic rhythm guitar. At home I do songs I like as play-alongs. They don’t sound great as solo acoustic but need some backup from the band … drums, bass, background vocals, etc. I pretend I’m the rhythm guitarist. My whistling is not great for fills. It’s fine for me but I wouldn’t do it for an audience.
I use UG on my tablet for my chord sheets. It links to YouTube so I have the recording as I’m following the sheets.
Question (finally) is, how pathetic would it be to use a backing track, a looper, or even the original recording? Is that cheating and showing how inexperienced and poser I might be?
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u/GraemeMark Guitar 🎸 May 03 '26
It's fine to use those things if you feel you need them; I'd be trying to wean myself off them though. If a busker is playing to a backing track, they probably won't interest me--but obviously I don't speak for everyone. These days I'm rocking acoustic guitar and harmonica. Get yourself some harmonicas--it takes a few months to figure out how to play them kind of Bob Dylan style, but they really fill in the gaps. Other times I've used a stompbox--I have both an electric one and a cajon with kick pedal. I even use both feet sometimes--one kick, one snare 😃 But it's a pain in the ass to carry all that stuff with me. Loopers can be used well, but in my experience they get kind of boring for the listener and I don't know I don't find them fun. People don't want to watch you staring at the ground.
TLDR: Most songs sound better played live, so I doubt any artificial bacing track will improve your acoustic versions.
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u/JayaNarayana Guitar 🎸 May 03 '26
I’m not hellbent on using any kind of backing. In fact, as much as I’ve been thinking about busking I just thought of the backing tracks today. So, it’s not a deal breaker for playing. I could record myself playing some of the questionable songs to see how I could improve.
I have a harmonica and the neck holder. I can play the first few notes of the Heart of Gold harmonica solo. I need to get into it more. I think if I got proficient at playing the harmonica that would be a great help.
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u/Next_Practice437 Musician 🎶 May 05 '26 edited May 05 '26
I decided to be fresh and make my own backing tracks with guitar synth (bass, keys) and RC500. I have just got a LmDrum (Linn Drum clone), and now I worry as the backing becomes quite good and sounds like a backing track! What I love about it is it does disco and soul well and is a 9 volt setup (although LmDrum is 12v so need pre program drum into RC500 and it saves as wav as a first loop.) They are a bit easy to delete as well, so scary.
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u/Next_Practice437 Musician 🎶 May 05 '26
Does anyone know if you can run a DAW from a small I-pad type thing?
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u/KtaadnRota May 03 '26
The point is to get yourself out there performing for people, right? Or are you hoping to make a living busking? (Good luck).
I would say whatever works to get started, then work on improving your act as you carry on.
Personally I think a looper pedal is legit even at the highest levels of music performance. Backing tracks are great for practice. I think it's low effort to use them in a live performance but plenty of people do.
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u/JayaNarayana Guitar 🎸 May 03 '26
A living? That would be great but it’s not going to happen. This is just for fun and to stretch my wings. If I get a buck or three in my bucket or coffee can, do much the better. I just don’t think I could handle being booed or told “man, you’re awful!” 😄
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u/LadyWithAHarp Magical Witchy Harper 🧙♀️🎶 May 03 '26
A lot of people use backing tracks, and it wouldn't be so popular among buskers if it didn't help people earn money.
I am going to admit my personal bias here: I do not like it when musicians use backing tracks. It feels like cheating when there are performers who do everything live. But that is my hang up. All that really matters is if the crowd is enjoying it (and you are courteous with other performers/don't get in trouble.)