Reverse tracking involves recording a performance onto tape while the playback runs in reverse, so that normal playback plays the recorded audio backwards. To ensure the performance fits the progression, the chord sequence must be mapped in reverse and played to match the backwards progression. When played normally, the attacks of the notes swell inward while still resolving onto the intended chords.
How the songs in the archive use it
On I’m only sleeping by The Beatles, George Harrison composed and performed his guitar parts against reverse playback, creating backwards-attack lines and fills that align with the song's real chord changes.
How to do it in Logic Pro
Reverse tracking involves recording a new part along to a backwards backing track, so that normal playback plays the recorded performance in reverse. Use this to create otherworldly guitar solos, vocal effects, or swells that naturally resolve into the chords.
Bounce a temporary stereo mixdown of your project's backing track and import it into an empty audio track.
Reverse the bounced audio region so that the backing track plays backwards.
Chart out your song's chord progression in reverse order so you can anticipate the backwards harmonic movement.
Record your new performance onto an adjacent audio track while listening to the reversed backing mix.
Reverse the newly recorded audio region to play it backwards over the original, forward project.
A general method with Logic Pro's own plug-ins. Control names are checked against Apple's manual; the values are starting points, so adjust them by ear.
Songs that use it (1)
What each track sheet's analysis found, with the sheet's own score. Analysis, not verified credits.
I’m only sleeping by The Beatles Backwards Composition: Harrison did not simply record a solo and reverse the tape. He mapped out the chord changes in reverse, composed a solo to fit that reverse progression, and played it reading the backwards notation while the multitrack tape played in reverse. When the tape was flipped back to normal playback, the attack of the notes was reversed, but they landed perfectly on the true chord changes.Sheet score 10/10 · Source given: George Harrison / Geoff Emerick interviews · Open the full track sheet
I’m only sleeping by The Beatles Fuzz Tone Sustain: To ensure the backwards notes had a smooth decay (which becomes an aggressive attack when played forward), a fuzz box was likely used to maximize sustain without extreme volume.Sheet score 8/10 · Source given: Andy Babiuk's *Beatles Gear* · Open the full track sheet
Want these sounds in your own mixes? Every song above has a full track sheet with its signal chains and a step-by-step recreation for your DAW. Open Track DiveAll techniques