Creative Music Backing Tracks Smooth Jazz, Latin & Blues
CMTrx
let the journey begin
Creative Music Tracks supports artistic growth by offering all original studio quality backing tracks for musicians to create with, learn new skills with and record / perform new songs of their own with.
Our creative tracks are jazz influenced multi-genre blends of music providing a new approach to solo artistry and performance.
"Living in discovery is at all times preferable to living through assumptions" Rick Rubin
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Did you know ...
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Jazz vs Smooth Jazz
When you blend jazz with smooth jazz, it involves combining elements of traditional jazz with the smoother, more accessible sounds of smooth jazz.
Traditional jazz is characterized by improvisation, swing rhythms, and complex harmonic structures, while smooth jazz is known for its mellow melodies and relaxed feel.
In blending these styles, artists can incorporate a variety of elements.
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Melody: Smooth jazz melodies are often more accessible and less complex than traditional jazz melodies, making them easier to listen to for a broader audience.
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Harmony: While traditional jazz often features complex harmonic progressions and chord changes, smooth jazz tends to simplify these elements, creating a smoother, more laid-back sound.
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Instrumentation: Smooth jazz often incorporates a wider range of instruments, including synthesizers, electric guitars, and saxophones, which can give the music a more modern and polished sound compared to traditional jazz.
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Rhythms: While traditional jazz is known for its swing rhythms and complex time signatures, smooth jazz often features simpler, more consistent rhythms that are easier to groove to.
Blending jazz with smooth jazz allows artists to create music that retains the improvisational and expressive qualities of traditional jazz while also appealing to a wider audience with its smooth, easy-listening qualities.
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Blending these two genres is realistic when you let go of the strict definitions that bind you.
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Blues
Blues and jazz have long been related and have an equally long history of influencing each other.
The blending of blues and jazz involves integrating elements of blues, with its soulful, expressive qualities, into the improvisational and harmonic structures of jazz.
Here are some key aspects of this blending:
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Blues Scale: Both blues and jazz often use the blues scale, which includes flattened notes that give the music its characteristic "bluesy" sound.
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Question and Answer: The Q&A pattern, common in blues music, is also found in jazz, particularly in improvisation where musicians trade phrases back and forth.
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Improvisation: Both genres place a strong emphasis on improvisation, with musicians taking turns soloing over a chord progression. In blues, improvisation often focuses on the blues scale and emphasizes emotion and storytelling.
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Harmony: Jazz harmony is more complex than traditional blues harmony, but jazz musicians often incorporate bluesy elements, such as seventh chords and blue notes, into their improvisations to create a bluesy feel.
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Rhythms: Jazz rhythms are often more complex and syncopated than blues rhythms, but both genres share a sense of groove and swing that is essential to their styles.
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Blending blues and jazz creates a rich and expressive musical fusion that draws on the strengths of both genres, resulting in music that is soulful, dynamic, and deeply rooted in African American traditions.
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Ambient
Jazz and ambient music are two distinct genres with different characteristics and aesthetics, but they can be blended together to create a unique and atmospheric sound.
The blending of jazz and ambient music often involves incorporating elements of jazz, such as improvisation and complex harmonies, into the spacious, ethereal textures of ambient music.
Consider the following:
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Texture: Ambient music is known for its lush, atmospheric textures created through the use of synthesizers, effects, and electronic processing.
When blended with jazz, these textures can provide a rich backdrop for improvisation and exploration.
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Improvisation: Jazz is characterized by its emphasis on improvisation, with musicians often taking spontaneous solos over chord progressions. In a jazz-ambient fusion, musicians may improvise over ambient soundscapes, creating a sense of freedom and exploration within the music.
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Harmony: Jazz harmony is often more complex than the harmonies found in ambient music, which tend to be more static and drone-like.
However, jazz harmonies can add depth and color to ambient textures, creating a more dynamic and engaging listening experience.
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Overall, the blending of jazz and ambient music can result in a fusion that is both meditative and exploratory, combining the improvisational spirit of jazz with the expansive soundscapes of ambient music.
Things to Consider:
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How to improve:
Master different styles: Challenge yourself by learning to improvise in various musical styles, such as jazz, blues, rock, Latin & classical.
Each genre has its own nuances and vocabulary that can enrich your improvisational skills.
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Develop your own voice: Focus on creating a unique sound and style that distinguishes you as a musician. This might involve experimenting with different techniques, tonalities, or even unconventional scales.
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Incorporate outside playing: Learn to incorporate 'outside' playing into your solos, which involves using notes that are not traditionally part of the underlying chord or scale. This can add tension and interest to your improvisation.
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Use motifs and development: Practice developing a simple motif or musical idea throughout your solo, varying it rhythmically, melodically, and harmonically to create a cohesive and engaging improvisation.
Collaborate with other musicians: Play with musicians who are better than you or have a different musical background. This can challenge you and inspire new ideas.
Continuously seek inspiration: Always be on the lookout for new influences and sources of inspiration. Listen to a wide range of music, attend live performances, and engage with other art forms to fuel your creativity.
Improvisation is a lifelong journey, and even experienced musicians can always find new ways to grow and evolve. Embrace the journey, and enjoy the process of discovering new ways to express yourself through your instrument.
Experiment with rhythm: Rhythm is a crucial element of improvisation. Experiment with different rhythmic patterns and syncopations to add interest to your solos.
Explore dynamics and expression: Use dynamics (variations in volume) and expressive techniques (such as vibrato, bends, or slides) to add emotion and depth to your improvisation.
Record yourself: Recording your improvisations can help you identify areas for improvement and track your progress over time.
Play with others: Whenever possible, play with other musicians. This can provide inspiration, and the interaction can lead to new ideas and approaches to improvisation.
Remember, improvisation is a personal and creative process, so don't be afraid to take risks and explore new ideas.
With practice and patience, you'll develop your own unique style and voice on your instrument.
The more hours you spend in experimentation mode, the more you will uncover. The more you uncover, the more you naturally ingrain over time.
You'll get to a point where you put the thinking aside and let the music be the music. There is no one interpretation of what a piece should be.
What sticks, sticks. And you put it out there. And you keep going. And you'll grow. In your own way as it should be.
Make it your art and personal legacy.
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On style:
Smooth Jazz
Sound: Smooth jazz is characterized by its mellow, laid-back sound. It often features polished arrangements and a focus on melody, making it more accessible to a broader audience.
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Instrumentation: While traditional jazz instruments like saxophones, trumpets, and pianos are common in smooth jazz, this subgenre also incorporates electric instruments such as keyboards, electric bass, and guitar, as well as electronic effects.
Rhythm: Smooth jazz often has a steady, groove-oriented rhythm, with influences from R&B, pop, and funk. The beats are usually more straightforward and less complex than in traditional jazz.
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Improvisation: While improvisation is a part of smooth jazz, it tends to be more restrained and less adventurous compared to other forms of jazz.
Latin
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Immerse yourself in the vibrant rhythms of Latin smooth jazz, where the lively beats meet the sultry melodies of the guitar. Our selection of Latin-inspired smooth jazz guitar backing tracks captures the essence of passionate dance floors and tropical sunsets, blending traditional Latin rhythms with the smooth, flowing harmonies of jazz. Each piece is crafted with precision by skilled guitarists who excel in both genres, offering a rich, dynamic sound that's both energizing and relaxing.
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Whether you're practicing your salsa steps, enhancing your guitar skills, or simply unwinding after a long day, our tracks provide the perfect musical companion.
Experience the unique fusion of congas, bongos, and other Latin percussion with the mellow tones of the guitar, creating a soundscape that’s both uplifting and soothing. Dive into our curated collection today and let the rhythmic charm of Latin smooth jazz guitar transport you to a world where music dances freely in the air.
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Latin nylon guitar backing tracks, where the warmth of nylon strings merges seamlessly with the fiery beats of Latin music. Our collection is a treasure trove for guitarists and music lovers alike, featuring tracks that encapsulate the essence of Latin rhythms coupled with the smoothness of jazz influences. From the seductive sway of the bossa nova to the energetic pulse of the samba, each track is a meticulously crafted piece of art, designed to provide both a rhythmic foundation and a melodic inspiration.
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Perfect for improvisation, performance practice, or simply enjoying as a rich musical background, these tracks highlight the distinctive sound of the nylon-string guitar, renowned for its mellow, rounded tones that echo the traditional music of Latin America. As you play along or listen, you'll feel transported to lively streets of Rio or a serene beach at sunset, where the music encapsulates the spirit of the culture.
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Our library continuously expands, incorporating new styles and compositions to ensure freshness and variety. Engage with our Latin nylon guitar backing tracks and experience a rhythmic journey that enhances your skills, enriches your performances, and deepens your love for Latin music.
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