Free Backing Tracks

This is a collection of piano/drums/bass backing tracks of standard tunes in their original keys. They are intended for use by vocalists and instrumentalists.

This collection represents the origins of the PlayalongStudio™ project. The tracks are not the same as the ones on the PlayalongStudio™ CDs. Many of the tunes are the same, but these are MP3s without the mixing characteristics that permit them to be recognized by the software. You can certainly burn them to CDs and use PlayalongStudio™ to play them just as it can any other audio CD. But to get the full capabilities offered by PlayalongStudio™, you should order the PlayalongStudio™ CDs themselves.

In all tracks, the piano solo is the next to the last chorus or the first half of the last chorus. Most tunes have a head, one or two rides, a piano chorus, and an out chorus.

These tracks are copyrighted. You may share them. (Please identify the source when you do.) You may use them to practice. You may distribute them to your friends and students. Some players even use them to perform solo gigs. (I don't, but to each his own; whatever it takes.) If you wish to record with any of these tracks for commercial distribution, please ask first. It's okay to use them in a demo or in recordings that you plan to give away. You may not, however, sell them as backing tracks.

Please note that none of these tracks include lyrics or melodies. These are only rhythm section accompaniments and improvised piano solos on the chord changes. This is intentional in order to avoid copyright issues with respect to the tunes, themselves. If you need lead sheets, most of these tunes are published and readily available in the many legal fake and real books available today.

Swing

TitleKeyTempoComments
All Of MeC1608 bar intro, tag, long ending
Autumn LeavesG minor1454 bar intro, triple ending w/rit
Blue MoonEb1204 bar intro, tag
East Of The SunG1204 bar intro, triple ending
Have You Met Miss JonesF1804 bar intro, triple ending
I Remember YouF1354 bar intro, triple ending
I Wish You LoveF1154 bar intro, tag
Just FriendsC1808 bar intro, tag
Lady Be GoodF2004 bar intro, 2 ride choruses, tag
The More I See YouEb1704 bar intro, 2 ride choruses, tag
On Green Dolphin StreetC1608 bar intro, triple ending
Out Of NowhereG1204 bar intro, triple ending
Pennies From HeavenC1804 bar intro, tag, long ending
Take The A TrainC144Standard 4 bar intro, C scale out chorus.
There Will Never Be Another YouBb2008 bar intro, triple ending

Ballads

TitleKeyTempoComments
Body And SoulDb554 bar intro, 1/2 piano chorus, rit at end
But BeautifulG604 bar intro, 1/2 piano chorus, tag
Don't Blame MeC70No intro, 1/2 piano chorus, rit at end
Georgia On My MindF904 bar intro, tag
Here's That Rainy DayG852 bar intro, 1/2 piano chorus, tag, rit at end
My Funny ValentineC minor804 bar intro, rit at end
My RomanceEb804 bar intro, triple ending
Over The RainbowEb804 bar intro
Polkadots And MoonbeamsF704 bar intro, 1/2 piano chorus, tag
Smoke Gets In Your EyesEb804 bar intro, 1/2 piano chorus, rit at end
StardustDb80Rubatto verse, 1/2 piano chorus, rit at end

Latins

TitleKeyTempoComments
DesafinadoF1608 bar intro, 1/2 piano chorus, tag every chorus
The Girl From IpanemaF1404 bar intro, triple ending
TristeBb1254 bar intro, quad ending
WaveD1304 bar intro, 1/2 piano chorus, triple ending