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Everything you need to know about using JamAlong Backing Tracks.
1. Browsing tracks
Go to Browse to see all available backing tracks. You can search by title or filter by key, tempo, or time signature.
Click any track card to open the track player page, where you can read the chord chart and start playing along.
Logged-in members can mark tracks as favorites from the playback settings panel. Your favorites appear at the top of the browse page for quick access.
2. Playing a track
The chord chart displays the song structure divided into sections (e.g. Verse, Chorus) with each bar shown as a chord tile. The current chord is highlighted as the track plays.
Playback bar (bottom of screen)
- Play / Stop — tap the button on the right, or press Space
- BPM — tap − or + to slow down or speed up the tempo
A countdown plays before each start so you have time to get ready. The length of the countdown can be changed in settings (2, 4, or 8 beats).
You can also click any chord tile to jump directly to that chord and hear a preview note.
3. Playback settings
Open the settings panel by clicking the sliders icon in the playback bar. Settings are saved per-device.
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Key | Transposes the chord chart to a different key. The audio plays in the original key; the chart updates to show the chords in your chosen key. |
| Capo | If you use a capo on guitar, select the fret number. The chord chart will show the chord shapes you need to play with the capo in place. |
| Chord Type | Switch between Letters (A, Bm, C#) and Numbers (I, ii, III) notation. Numbers use Roman numerals relative to the key, useful for learning song structure. |
| Countdown | Choose how many beats to count in before the track starts: 2, 4, or 8 beats. |
| Metronome | Toggle the click track on or off during playback. |
| Favorite | Mark this track as a favorite to keep it easily accessible from the browse page. Requires an account. |
4. Jam Light
The Jam Light is a visual cue for band situations where everyone needs to know where they are in the song at a glance. Enable it by clicking the traffic light icon in the playback bar.
When the track plays, the Jam Light changes color to indicate the current loop:
- Red or Green — alternates each time through the chord loop, so you always know whether you're on an odd or even pass
- Yellow — you're on the last bar of the current loop; time to prepare for the next section
You can choose whether the first pass starts on red or green by clicking directly on that color on the Jam Light widget.
5. Looping sections
You can loop any part of the chord chart to practice a specific section repeatedly.
How to set a loop
- Click and drag across chord tiles to select a range — release to set the loop
- Right-click (or long-press on mobile) a chord tile for options to set it as the loop start or end point
- Chords outside the loop are dimmed so you can see exactly what will play
To clear the loop and return to playing the full track, right-click any chord and choose Clear loop, or click a single chord tile.
6. Creating a track
Creating tracks requires a member account with edit permissions. If you have access, a Create Track link appears in the navigation menu.
- Title — click the title at the top of the page and type your track name.
- Key & tempo — set the original key in the playback bar. Adjust tempo with the BPM controls; the tempo you set is the default players will start at.
- Chord chart — the editor opens automatically on the create page. Use the chord editing tools described below to build your chart.
- Save — click Save in the chord palette toolbar to publish the track. The track is saved as a draft until you explicitly publish it.
7. Editing a track
On any track you have permission to edit, an Edit button appears at the top of the track page. Clicking it switches the player into edit mode.
Chord palette
A chord palette appears above the chart. Click any chord in the palette to select it, then click a chord tile in the chart to place it. You can also drag a chord from the palette directly onto a tile.
Editing bars & sections
Per bar — click the ⋮ menu on the right of a bar to:
- Move the bar up or down within its section
- Clear all chords in the bar
- Delete the bar
Per section — click the ⋮ menu next to the section name to:
- Move the section up or down
- Add a new bar to the section
- Delete the section
Click the section name to rename it (e.g. Verse, Chorus, Bridge). Use the Add Section button at the bottom of the chart to append a new section.
Undo & redo
The chord palette toolbar includes Undo and Redo buttons. All chord placements, deletions, and section changes are undoable within the current editing session.
Saving & cancelling
Click Save in the palette toolbar to persist your changes. Click Cancel to discard unsaved edits and return to playback mode.