Clueless Newbie Questions, Karaokeing recordings. Options

[nickdaum]

My current hard and soft:
Mac G5 dual
M-Audio FireWire Solo
GarageBand
Audacity

I'm not a professional musician and don't intend to be. I just want to start singing and playing guitar Blues on my own as a retirement hobby.
Instead of using loops for the drums and bass backing I would like to use actual recordings of my favorite musicians as karaokes. Is it possible to remove both voice and guitar from a recording? If so how?

Secondary question, a little off topic: I need to buy an electric guitar, not too expensive, possiblly second hand.
As a matter of fact I'll stick to a slow tempo, like Blues does, so I don't need a "fast" guitar. I don't care about the look or the shape since I find them all ugly whether Strato or LesPaul or whatever. I don't care about accessing the highest treble notes.
I care only usability and sound.

What are the specs I should put on my list? Any brand you would recommend?

TIA

Nick

[nickdaum]

Hi Ron

I had a look at the site and saw interesting stuff. I'll explore more in that direction.

Thanks for your advices about guiars. I played piano and sang as teenager, but never did since. I have a better feeling about guitar today than about piano. Yet I don't even know to tune one so it's difficult to go in a shop and try one to make my own opinion ;-)

When you are talking about strats and lespaul is it the marque or the type because they were imitated.
I don't like neither looks so I don't care about that aspect. It's like if I had to choose between Superman's outfit or Batman's. I'd rather go for jeans ans T-shirt ;-) Yet Superman's gear is probably quite comfortable (not to mention it allows you to fly).
If I get it right, it won't make a big difference for a beginner like me and blues is pretty much straightforward, using little effects anyway.

Thanks for your input


Hi Rob

I'll take lessons for sure.

As a matter of fact I'm always extremely slow and cautious when I have a project, trying to study all the options. I never go by my impulse when I have little clue about the matter. It proved rather productive so far. And I'm not in a rush anyway.

Nick