How to practice guitar with backing tracks

Updated 2026-10-26

Pick a backing track in the key you want to practise, let it loop, and play over it. Drums, bass and chords give you what a metronome cannot: harmony to aim at and a groove to lock into. On a phone you can then record your own parts on top, so a practice session turns into a song.

Choosing a backing track

Key first. Pick the key of what you are working on. A minor key is the easiest place to start improvising; A minor and E minor sit well on guitar.
Tempo second. Start slower than you think. A groove you can play cleanly teaches more than one you chase.
Style last. Funk makes you tighten your rhythm, rock makes you dig in, lo-fi leaves room for melody.

Jam Looper's Beats library, new in version 3.3, has 118 backing tracks (drums plus bass and chords) across hip hop, lo-fi, pop, funk, rock, house, trap and latin, from 70 to 180 BPM. Each shows its key and tempo, and you can preview it before adding it to a song.

Want to try this on your iPhone? Jam Looper is free to download, with four tracks free. Get it on the App Store

Four ways to practise over one track

Improvise in the key. Over a minor track, the minor pentatonic scale in that key is safe everywhere. Aim for the chord tones when the chord changes.
Find the chords by ear. Play single root notes along with the bass until you can hear where the progression goes.
Lock your rhythm to the drums. Strum or mute-chop with the kick and snare, not around them.
Write a part. When a riff sticks, record it as a loop so it stays.

Recording your own parts on top

In Jam Looper, tap Beats on a new song and add a backing track: it becomes the first track, sets the loop length, and sets the song's tempo, so the metronome matches it. Then record your guitar on the next track while the backing plays.

If you have already started a song, a backing track you add is stretched to fit your loop, keeping its pitch. 4 tracks are free and 8 come with Pro.

Drums only, when you want the space

A full backing track decides the chords for you. When you want to supply the harmony yourself, use a drum loop instead: there are 55 in the same styles, and you build the bass and chords on top.

Try it without buying anything

Jam Looper turns an iPhone into a loop station — smart loop lengths, four tracks free and eight with Pro. Download it free, or read the other guides.

Common questions

Where can I find backing tracks for guitar practice?

Looper apps with a built-in library are the quickest route on a phone. Jam Looper includes 118 backing tracks with their key and tempo shown; 4 are free and the rest come with Pro.

What key should my backing track be in?

The key of the song or scale you are working on. For general improvising, A minor and E minor are comfortable on guitar and make the minor pentatonic easy to find.

Can I record myself over a backing track on my phone?

Yes. Add the backing track as the first track of a song, then record your guitar on the next track. The backing sets the loop length, so your part lines up with it.

Do backing tracks help you get better at guitar?

Yes, mainly for timing and ear. Playing against real drums and chords shows you immediately when you rush, drag or land on a note that clashes, which a metronome alone cannot.