Remove the drums (or bass) from a song to practice
2 min read · Updated
Playing along with the real song is the best way to improve, as long as your instrument isn't already on the recording. Drummers, bassists and guitarists can now remove their part from a song and keep everything else. Here is how to build a useful practice track.
In short
- Separate the song into enough stems to isolate your instrument (4 or 6).
- Mute your instrument in the mixer and keep everything else.
- Set an A–B loop on the tricky passage.
- Slow down, then work your way back up to the original tempo.
- Export the mix to listen anywhere.
Listen to a real separation
14 seconds of an original NAUPLY track. Switch stems while it plays: the position is kept.
Split by NAUPLY Stems for desktop into 4 stems, MEDIUM quality (Premium and Pro editions), untouched. Each stem is brought to the same loudness so you can compare by ear; MP3 128 kbps. Song and stems: NAUPLY's own material, no third-party song.
Which split for which instrument
Drummer: 4 stems are enough, just mute the Drums stem. Bassist: mute the Bass stem and keep the drums to feel the groove. Guitarist or pianist: you need 6 stems so that guitar and piano get their own stems. Singer: 2 stems are enough, the instrumental works as a karaoke track.
On a computer with NAUPLY Stems
Separate the song, then mute your instrument with its stem's mute button. The transport bar gives you an A–B loop and a metronome; in the Premium and Pro editions, speed can be adjusted to practice slowly, and transposition brings the song into your tuning.
When the track suits you, export the mix (Premium and Pro): you get a “drumless” or “bassless” file to play on any player.
On an Android phone
The NAUPLY Stems app for Android currently separates into 2 stems, vocals and instrumental: it suits singers and players who want to play over the music without the vocals, with key and speed changes. To remove only the drums or the bass, use the computer version.
A practice method that works
Start at around 70% of the tempo on a 2- to 4-bar loop. When you can play it three times in a row without a mistake, raise the speed a little. Also listen to your instrument on its own (in solo) before muting it: you hear exactly what is played, then you play it in its place.
Keep the metronome on at first, then turn it off: the song's drums, if you don't remove them, become your best reference.
Frequently asked questions
- Can you remove the drums from a song?
- Yes: separate the song into 4 stems or more and mute the Drums stem. The rest of the song (vocals, bass, other instruments) is kept.
- Can you slow down without changing the key?
- The Premium and Pro editions of NAUPLY Stems set speed and transposition separately; the Android app also adjusts key and speed.
- Is the free edition enough?
- To sing or play over the instrumental, yes (2 stems). To remove only the drums, bass or guitar, you need the Premium or Pro edition.
- Can I share my practice track?
- Keep it for personal use: distributing a modified version of a copyrighted song requires permission from the rights holders.
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