Click Track

What Is a Click Track?

A click track is audio that helps musicians play in time. It sounds like a steady beep or click. It usually plays one click for every beat, but it can be customized to include subdivisions or other rhythmic cues as well.

The click track is a very helpful tool for recording music. In a recording setting, the click track plays into the musician’s headphones. This way, the microphones do not pick up the click sound.

What is the difference between a click track and a metronome?

Many people think a click track and a metronome are the exact same thing. They are very close, but there is a small difference. A metronome clicks at one specific tempo. You might use a metronome when you practice piano or guitar on your own. It helps you build good timing habits.

A click track is different because it is a reference to the beat in a song. If the song has tempo shifts written into it, the click track also has those tempo shifts. It can also stop and start when there are quiet parts or have subdivisions or other rhythmic cues.

The click track can be customized for the benefit of the musicians who use it as a reference while performing. A metronome just keeps going at the exact same speed until you turn it off.

Can you play live with a click track?

Yes, you can play live with a click track. In fact, many big bands do this today.

When a band plays a huge concert, they often use extra recorded sounds. They might have a computer playing cool sound effects, backing vocals, or extra keyboards.

The live band must play exactly in time so that their performance lines up with those extra sounds. To keep the band and the extra sounds in sync, the drummer listens to a click track. The drummer follows the click closely, and the rest of the band follows the drummer. This keeps everyone perfectly together. The fans in the crowd cannot hear the click at all. Only the musicians on stage hear it. It is a secret tool that helps the band put on a great show every single night.