Hi fam,
I’m happy to share the next episode of The Improv Loop series with you. This one covers how to use a looper pedal to create your own backing tracks.
Getting started with a looping can be pretty awkward and intimidating at first, but with a little practice, you can get it down. This video gives you some of my best tips for playing in time and making your loops super-smooth.
1 - Use a metronome to start. - When first starting out with a looper pedal, you will probably notice that your timing could use some work. That was certainly the case for me. Using a metronome for a while can whip your timing into shape. That will make your loops sound as smooth and in time as possible.
2 - Count yourself off and/or start playing before starting the looper. - Getting in a groove before you start can help your loop stay in time as you play.
3 - Hold your foot over the looper in preparation to stomp it. - When you are creating a loop, every second counts. Keep your foot poised to start and stop the loop so you don't lose any time moving your foot to and from the pedal.
4 - Keep it simple to start. - When you are first starting out with looping, there is a lot to think about. Keeping it simple can make things a lot more accessible for you. Try starting by looping a single chord with a simple strumming pattern for 1, 2, or 4 measures. You can dress things up once you get the basic mechanics down.
Don’t forget that you don’t have to have a looper pedal to participate. Future lessons in this series will have downloadable jam tracks of any relevant chord progressions or backing tracks so you can jam along.
Have fun, and let us know about any questions or lesson topic suggestions you may have for this series.
Nate