Choose a chord progression, a key, a style and a tempo, then press Start. After a one-bar count-in, drums and bass play the progression on a loop while you play the chords on your piano or keyboard. The display shows the current and next chord, with the notes marked on the keyboard.
Practising chords alone can feel like homework. Put a drummer and a bass player behind you and the same four chords suddenly sound like a song. These backing tracks run in your browser, in any key and at any tempo, so you can start slow and speed up as your changes get smoother.
Backing track player
How to practise with it
- Start slow. Set the tempo low enough that you can change chord on the first beat of every bar without stopping. Speed comes later.
- Turn on the piano guide part for a couple of loops to hear how the chords should sound, then turn it off and play them yourself.
- Hold the chord, then add rhythm. Play each chord once per bar. Next, play it on every beat. Then try a broken chord (one note at a time) or a rhythm pattern.
- Change one thing at a time: a new key, a faster tempo, or a new style. Not all three at once.
Not sure where the chords are? Each one appears on the keyboard above as it plays: the blue key is your left-hand bass note, the gold keys are your right hand. Our chords guide explains how the shapes work.
What to play in each style
| Style | Try playing | Where Pianoforall teaches it |
|---|---|---|
| Ballad | Bass note on beat 1, then a slow broken chord rippling upward | Book 5, Ballad Style |
| Pop | Chord on every beat, or on beats 1, 2 and the “and” of 3 | Book 1, Rhythm Style |
| Slow blues shuffle | Chord on the off-beats with a lazy, swung feel | Books 2 and 7, Blues |
| Rock ’n’ roll boogie | Right-hand chords on every beat over the walking bass | Book 2, Blues & Rock ’n’ Roll |
Select the 12-bar blues progression with either shuffle style for the classic blues form. It uses seventh chords, as most blues songs do.
Common questions
Do I need to connect my keyboard to use the backing tracks?
No. The drums and bass play through your computer, tablet or phone speakers or headphones, and you play along on any piano or keyboard. Nothing needs to be plugged in.
Why can’t I hear anything on my phone?
On iPhone, the silent switch mutes browser audio. Turn silent mode off or plug in headphones, then press Start again.
What should I play over the backing track?
Start with the right-hand chord on the first beat of each bar and the root note in your left hand. When that feels easy, play the chord on every beat, then try a broken-chord or rhythm pattern.
Can I use my own chord progression?
Yes. Type chord names separated by spaces, such as C G Am F or Dm7 G7 Cmaj7, and press Start. Major, minor, 7, maj7 and m7 chords are supported.