Backing Tracks

Backing tracks are your invisible bandmates — rhythm, harmony, and groove ready to support your mandolin, guitar, or any instrument. They help you:

• Practice improvisation in different keys and tempos
• Explore genres from bluegrass to rock
• Build confidence playing over real progressions

Music isn’t just notes — it’s motion. Each backing track is a space to explore tone, timing, and emotion. Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned player, this library helps you play with purpose.

Discovery ↓

Here are three ideas for online resources. These are just a few of the many resources avaible online,

• YouTube – www.youtube.com – Simply use search bar to find backing tracks.
• Free Bluegrass Backing Tracks – FBBTs.com – Choose a genre or use a search term.
• Bandcamp – bandcamp.com – Search for tracks of every conceivable kind. Practice online for free or pay to download.

Do This → Action Steps

1. Any time you learn a new scale, arpeggio, lick or riff play it against a backing track in the appropriate key.
2. Next, just make stuff up from the notes within each scale pattern, arpeggio, etc. that you are learning.
3. Remember, you don’t have to sound great. You just need to exercise your improv skills with everything you learn.
4. Return to improvising often with every scale or arpeggio that you already know. Keep it fresh.

Tracks from A – G

Credits

Each track is organized by key and style, so you can jump straight into the sound you want. Choose your key, pick your tempo, and start jamming.

A

A#/Bb

B

C

C#/Db

D

D#/Eb

E

F

F#/Gb

G

G#/Ab

A Major

A Minor

A Modal

A#/Bb Major

Bb Modal

B Major

B Minor

B Modal

C Major

C Minor

C#/Db Major

C#/Db Minor

D Major

D Minor

D Modal

D#/Eb Major

E Major

E Minor

E Modal

F Major

F Minor

F#/Gb Major

F#/Gb Minor

F# Modal

G Major

G Minor

G#/Ab Major

Credits:

T-Guitar

Tim Thurau created numerous of the backing tracks included above. His tracks are available for purchase at his
Bandcamp page: tguitar.bandcamp.com Additionally, you may find Tim’s backing tracks on YouTube at his page here: @t-guitar

At his YT page, try typing into the search bar, for example, “G Major” … you will find the tracks along with a beautiful image showing the chord progressions as they play.

Bulletproof Guitar Player

Ross Campbell created most of the tracks above beginning with the word “shuffle.” Ross is a guitar teacher who offers concentrated studies in blues guitar at www.bulletproofguitarguitarplayer.com. Take a moment to check out Ross on YouTube if you are a guitar player.

Ross Campbell on YouTube: Ross Campbell – YouTube