Pro Band - Jamming Tracks App Review

One of the best ways to get better improvising is to play with other musicians. Sometimes that is hard, especially if you are a beginner. It's to find pro musicians that would want to play with you. Enter the backing track concept.

This is a great little music App for the musician that likes to practice his/her improvisational skills. There are tracks many styles, grooves and tempos but not straying to far from the blues and rock genres.

The tracks sound like real musicians are playing and what's good is the feature that allows you to change keys and tempos. I also like the fact that there is a chord chart included as well. There is also a feature that allows the jammer to see a fretboard with the scales to use. This not available on the Android version but I felt that this was a bonus feature since these are not meant to be guitar lessons in the first place. Another thing to point out for those that use iPhone and Android is that although the tracks are the same, they are packaged differently so make sure to check their website to see what's what.

You can plug your guitar into an interface like iRig and play through one of the many amp and effects modelers available and jam away to these tracks and it sounds awesome through headphones or through a sound system. For bassists and drummers there are tracks minus the bass and tracks minus the drums.

Tracks From iStore

• Modes
• Acoustic Blues
• Classic Blues Grooves 1
• Blues Volume 2
• Acoustic Blues
• Other Blues 1
• Other Blues 2
• Ultimate Blues Bundle
• Rock Tracks
• Eclectic Tracks
• Blues minus Drums
• Blues minus Bass

Tracks From Google Play and Amazon for Android

• Blues #1
• Blues # 2
• Blues # 3
• Blues #4
• Rock # 1

Alligator Juice 12-bar blues with a hybrid funk New Orleans groove. Even the alligators will sit up and take notice (just don’t let them get too close), when you get down and dirty on this swampy hybrid New Orleans groove. Sneak a little Mixolydian hoodoo, and some blues scale voodoo into the major and minor pentatonic stew and listen to the magic happen.

All The Sad Songs 12-bar minor blues with a 12-8 feel. When everything’s gone bad, and you really need to cry the blues nothing beats a slow minor 12/8 feel. The only thing that ever goes right on this jam is your soulful wailing on the minor pentatonic and blues scales. A shot of Dorian and Aeolian may not bring back your baby, but will certainly help ease the pain.

Blue Dog 12-bar blues with a 50's Elvis shuffle rock feel. You ain’t nothin’ but a blues dog, wailin’ all the time. Especially when you start howling out those classic blues riffs on this 1950’s inspired rock blues track. Besides the perennially favorite minor pentatonic, you’ll find the blues scale and various major pentatonic and Mixolydian scales will provide you with plenty of ideas to make this track rock.

Blue House 12-bar blues with a really slow 12-8 feel. See that house over yonder? Well you’re baby ain’t there no more so just get over it. Or better yet make your guitar cry over this oh so slow 12/8 blues. Can’t be accused of shredding cause you only played one note! You can really draw the licks out here and show the world your slow and tasty side. Or let it rip; it’s your solo, your spotlight so do what feels right. The minor pentatonic, the blues scale and various major pentatonic and Mixolydian scales will drive the blues away.

Boogie Country 12-bar blues with a country rock/honky tonk groove. No one is going to mess with you after you get through pumping out those Southern-fried country rock riffs on this rocking, honky tonkin’ country blues track. Get some classic twang with the Mixolydian and major pentatonic scales, and get some down and dirty with the blues scale.

Bossa da’ Blues 12-bar minor blues with a Bossa Nova groove, a favorite of the soul jazz setYou da’ boss. Show them who’s in charge as you stream torrents of tasty soul-jazz licks over this Latin jazz influenced Bossa Nova groove. Or play it laid back and in the pocket, you’re the still the CEO of amazing phrasing. Manage the minor pentatonic scales as well as the Dorian and Aeolian modes and everyone will know why you get a parking space with your name on it.

Dirty Rivers slow 16-bar blues with a 12-8 feel ala Muddy WatersSpell bad, say B, say A, say D, what’s that spell? Bad! You are one bad-a**ed cat and everybody will know who you are after you finish throwing down your vintage blues riffs over this traditional 16 bar slow blues progression. Stay on the blues scale and sound classic. Use combinations of major and minor pentatonics with the Mixolydian scales and become legend.

Easy Town Classic medium shuffle 12-bar bluesYou’ll make it look easy as you go to town, effortlessly burning through your bag o’ licks. You can play it laid back, but you know you’ll want to pull out all the stops and show them what you got. The classic minor pentatonic and blues scale can more than get the job done, but you may want to enlighten the masses with an occasional major pentatonic scale and perhaps even tease them with some slick Mixolydian licks.

It’s Workin’ 12-bar blues with a cut time country train grooveYou know it’s working when you dig into those tasty down home licks on this up-tempo country train beat meets the blues. They’ll know you’re workin’ it when you show them what you got going on those major and minor pentatonic scales. To really go into overtime, grab hold of some Mixolydian riffage and mix it with the blues scale. There ain’t no coffee break on this gig!.

Jazz Cowboy Country swing 12-bar blues,They’ll call you the jazz cowboy (or girl), after you get through laying your twang-tinged bop lines over this swinging country blues. The minor and major pentatonic, the blues scale and some Mixolydian scales will help you through the changes. Maybe even try some diminished and altered dominant scales, but don’t forget you big city slicker, you’re still in the country.

Key To The Bathroom 8-bar blues with a slow 12-8 feel. There won’t be any lines to the bathroom here because as soon as you start playing everyone will rush back in. You are on fire! You can’t hold it in any longer as you unleash streams of inspired guitar awesomeness! Let’s just hope the audience can hold it in. This slow 8-bar blues is a perfect place to let it go with the Mixolydian scale. Don’t hold back as you also fluidly combine major and minor pentatonic scales while liberally sprinkling in the classic blues scale.

Lie To Me 12-bar blues with a rock/rhumba/Latin groove. (BB King uses this). Your baby may lie to you but there ain’t no denying the truth of the blues when you are pouring out your heart and soul over this Latin jazz influenced Rhumba groove. There’ll be no contradiction to your skills as you demonstrate the fact of the major and minor pentatonic scale, the reality of the blues scale and the truth of the Mixolydian scale.

Lizard Lounge Jazz swing feel 12-bar blues with more chord changes. Classic jazz quartet playing jazz changes for the blues. You can be-bop, or just play it cool, but you are definitely allowed to wear sunglasses at night. The minor pentatonic, the blues scale and various major pentatonic and Mixolydian scales will help you through the changes. There is even room for some diminished and altered dominant scales, but don’t forget, it’s still the blues.

Mumbo Gumbo 12-bar blues with a classic New Orleans front line groove",You’re down in New Orleans and its party time! Get the folks dancing in the streets as you strut your stuff over this classic New Orleans “second line” groove. Use healthy portions of major and minor pentatonic scales, add in the legendary blues scale, and stir in as much Mixolydian spice as you want for a bluesy gumbo that will make them keep on coming back for more!

No Whip Frap 12-bar 3-4 time blues with a swinging jazz waltz feel ala Allman Brothers. You’ll have no problem whipping out some stinging blues licks over this jazz waltz/rock/blues hybrid groove so popular among a few Southern boys. Just when the audience is getting used to the minor pentatonic blues scale burn, lash out with a Dorian minor assault and let them know who’s going to dispense the discipline around here.

Rock The Funk 12-bar blues with a rock/funk groove. Who’s funky now? That’s right you are! Add some rhythmic syncopation to your already tasteful lines over this rhythmic rock-funk-blues track. You are in da’ house and everyone knows it so flaunt it baby. You’ve got the major and minor pentatonic gold with the blues scale bling. Let them see your Mixolydian mastery and it’s all over.

Sit Up Sue 24-bar blues with a cut time country train feel. There won’t be no lying down after this track starts. Bring out that Tele and crank up the treble because this up- tempo straight ahead country feel will bring the chicken pickin’ right out of you. Be the King of Twang, the Czar of Country, and the Master of the Telecaster. Spit out those tricky steel guitar bends combined with daring double stops and lightning fast runs using tons of major pentatonic scales. For added grease and honky tonk you need to throw in the blues and Mixolydian scales.

Whose Riff 12-bar blues with a rock/shuffle groove. A classic blues shuffle riff but now it’s your turn to show the world what you can do on this favorite of so many blues artists. It’s got your name written all over it, now own it! Show them what you got going with your unique blends of major and minor pentatonic scales and the legendary blues scale. Want to raise the bar? One word; Mixolydian!