Improv Backing Tracks

Addicted to hoedowns? Terrible at rhyming? Terrified of singing a chorus?  Never fear because the answer to all your problems is right here with our new Improv Backing Tracks.  Now you can practise in the safety of your own home and without your musician giving you dirty looks.  Stick it on in the car and just improvise along to "Hush Little Baby" for hours!  Just click on one of the store links below to preview, listen and try it out before you purchase.  All the tracks are played by me (Joe).  If you there is anything you are desperate for the backing music to practise with then just send us an email at openyourmouthandsing@gmail.com. Happy singalonging!

Here are the descriptions of how to use each track or you can listen to the very silly podcast we did where we try to sing along ourselves!  Here

8 Things

Intro (4 bars) then four verses of 8 things.  What? You don't know 8 things? You haven't lived.  Instead of explaining it in words, come to one of our workshops!  I will put up a recording of an example of 8 things just as soon as I find one.

The Blues(in E)

Intro (16 secs) followed by four verses of a 12-bar blues then an outro.  This structure is best suited to a 3-line verse.  The first two lines can describe the situation and hopefully rhyme.  The third line can be saved for defining the type of blues you have.  For example:
I woke up this morning, I had such a sore head.
I was so drunk last night, I must have banged it on the bed.
Oh yeah, I've got the hangover blues.
    

Hoedown with long intro

Hoedown with short intro

Hush Little Baby

Sad tagline song

This song has a 20 second intro, then two slow four-line verses (20s then 55s).  The bridge (1:26) has a more positive feel and is in the major key.  The final verse (1:56) returns to the slow sad feel, and the last line is lengthened slightly for the end.
This structure and feel would be ideal for a "tagline duet", which is where the final verse is shared by the two singers.  For extra style, they can even sing their original verses over the top of each other! 

Happy tagline song

This song has a 13 second intro, then two verses (13s then 38s).  The bridge (1:03) is slower and more downbeat.  Then there are two more verses (1:29 and 1:58).  Beware the final verse as some of the chords have changed - I like to keep you on your toes!
If you want to find out more about how a tagline song works then listen to our podcast on bridges.

Rocky Verse Chorus song

Here is the structure:
0-7s          Intro
8s             Verse 1
32s           Verse 2
57s          Chorus1
1:22        Verse 3
1:47        Chorus 2
2:11        Keychange into Chorus 3

Quirky Verse Chorus Song

This is a really tricky one to sing over so good luck!  The rhythm is syncopated and strong and the final choruses contain a key change and an elongated finish.  If you can nail this one then you can sing over anything.
Here is the structure
0-12s        Intro
12s            Verse 1
35s            Verse 2
57s            Chorus 1
1:19           Verse 3
1:41           Chorus 2
1:52           Key Change! (mid-chorus)
2:03          Chorus 3 and end

Sondheim

An improvised piano track in the style of the great composer Stephen Sondheim.  Now this really is a challenge to sing over as there is no leeway between the musician and the performer as would usually help on stage.  Here are the timings:
0-34s            Intro (moody)
34-1:50        Freeform verse
1:52-2:08     Interlude
2:09-2:29     Freeform verse
2:29-2:55    Interlude
2:55-3:48     Freeform verse 
3:48--4:20    Ending (slowing and fading)