Speaking of the Bass in Country Music...

[Bluesbob]

Originally Posted by strat a various

even I, V type country bass playing usually contains an "and-four-and" walk-up or walk down about every four measures, so it's not so much a matter of "don't do it" as "when to do it".

Exactly my point, except the "and-four-and" just wouldn't happen in the first verse. Knowing when is just as important as knowing how. Now if only I could get the drummer in PlanB to agree with this.

Originally Posted by Bandit

The only thing I can't stand is a bass player that uses a pick.

I play Motown with one (right-hand) finger - ala Jamerson - most blues, R'n'B and classic rock with two fingers and I HAVE to use a pick when I play Zep's "Rock and Roll" and Edgar Winter's "Gotta Keep Playing that Rock and Roll" with Hadicus Road.
So basically I do what I need to do to get the song across.
But maybe country bassists don't need to use a pick. I haven't played country in three years (except for "modern" country), and I didn't use a pick then.
Whatever works.

[OzDoug64]

Originally Posted by Old Cane

"if you were playing this way in Bucks band you would be told to cut it out."

and if you were playing in mine.....you wouldn't be playing in mine any more.

+1 This is what happened to me at a very important audition. Overplaying killed it for me. Country and Jazz are miles apart from the technique used in Rock. Playing classics you can get away with shredding out a bit, BUT country, READ THIS POST

Lerb21, good job for your age and keep at it. Try more I-I-I-I amongst the I-V-I-V. Make sure you take advantage of everyone's praise and criticism. Take it on as a the best advice you'll get. I'm a much better player for it One more thing, get a few lessons on technique by the best teacher you can find, it will make you a better player sooner.

[casterway]

Who gives a crap what others think of the music you love?

Here's some really tasty country bass...

[martini]

Dave and Tim, your absolutely right, but I think we all know that the Bassist who turned up for the Country audition playing that way would not be the one who got the gig......

[zook]

Originally Posted by Tim Armstrong

Lots of really great bass players played classic parts with a pick, but that's a whole other thread! And rather than start it up again, I'll just say we've chewed this one over a whole lot already...

Tim

Yes we did,. didn't we



Winnie

[Tim Armstrong]

Originally Posted by martini

Dave and Tim, your absolutely right, but I think we all know that the Bassist who turned up for the Country audition playing that way would not be the one who got the gig......

Heck, that would depend on the definition of "Country Music", wouldn't it? Based on what I hear on the radio anymore, he could be playing Norwegian Death Metal licks and qualify!



Tim

[broadcaster]

Originally Posted by Tim Armstrong

Heck, that would depend on the definition of "Country Music", wouldn't it? Based on what I hear on the radio anymore, he could be playing Norwegian Death Metal licks and qualify!



Tim

Ain't that the truth.

[martini]

Originally Posted by Tim Armstrong

Heck, that would depend on the definition of "Country Music", wouldn't it? Based on what I hear on the radio anymore, he could be playing Norwegian Death Metal licks and qualify!



Tim

Laughing out loud: No comment.

[Bluesbob]

Originally Posted by Tim Armstrong

Heck, that would depend on the definition of "Country Music", wouldn't it? Based on what I hear on the radio anymore, he could be playing Norwegian Death Metal licks and qualify!



Tim

That was a good one...

[bobbybigmac]

Originally Posted by Tim Armstrong

Heck, that would depend on the definition of "Country Music", wouldn't it? Based on what I hear on the radio anymore, he could be playing Norwegian Death Metal licks and qualify!



Tim

Har har. A+++ Tim

Hey, wait a minute, you could have something here.
If Pat Boone sings metal, maybe one day we'll see Shania Twain and Lee Aaron singing a Noregian Death Metal duet with a two step beat.
It could happen....
Just think about their outfits......grrrrrr...then again maybe it's best I go easy with on my backpain pills....

[Old Cane]

Originally Posted by casterway

Who gives a crap what others think of the music you love?

Here's some really tasty country bass...

But in '72 this wasn't a country song.

[Tim Armstrong]

Originally Posted by Old Cane

But in '72 this wasn't a country song.

Sssssure it was! Mel Tillis wrote it!!!



Tim

[Old Cane]

I should have said that better, huh?

I should have said KR was a pop star in '72.

[Tim Armstrong]

Originally Posted by Old Cane

I should have said that better, huh?

I should have said KR was a pop star in '72.

Yeah, I was just messin' with you!

It WAS pop in '72, and yet it's more country than most of what they're playing on country radio today...

Tim

[Dave W]

Kenny & the First Edition's version of Ruby was a hit in 1969. Kenny wanted the group to take a more country direction. It was as big or bigger on the pop charts as on the country charts, but that may be because Johnny Darrell had a big country hit with it a year or two before.

Don't underestimate ol' Kenny as a bassist, he was doing studio bass work around Houston as early as the late 50s (electric and upright).

[trailboss]

...and sometimes in a live setting/cover band, the bass has to move a little more to fill up space. There is a big sonic difference between a 3 or 4 piece live band and a 24+ track studio masterpiece. The trick is linking in with the drums and adding notes that fit both musically and melodically. Sometimes if you're playing 1-5 bass on a super-slow waltz tune it sounds like the whole thing is gonna fall apart (especially in a trio or 3+ singer). For example, a favorite little trick of mine is a simple 1bump, 5bump, Octave bump/slide to major 3, to mimic the tonality of a steel guitar bend. Nobody is gonna think the bass is a steel, obviously, but a subtle little Octave/3 slide adds the tonality.

[mudbean]

Sheesh, that KR performance has an amazingly comfortable, swinging groove. Very nice.

mud

[Cas_SB]

That was awesome! So many little things caught my attention and made me want to try them. Obviously you need to be at the right place in the somng, but there are so many places, especially in a country song, where the bass NEEDS to fill in with a little walk or something.

This has definitely expanded my horizons. I'm currently at a plateau, a really beginner plateau, and needed something I could hear and experiment with. It also doesn't help that my hearing is really compromised down low...

And Tim or lerb, folsom is something that to me should be easy as heck, but I cannot do it. Anything I do sounds downright wrong. So I just sing. Which sounds wrong as all get out in its own right, but at least I remember most of the words.

I'd be greatly obliged at some simple peices of tab that might help me develop something for folsom, if you have anything handy or have a good link. No need for anythimng fancy as I am not that good anyhow.

[Tim Armstrong]

My trick for playing Folsom Prison Blues: I play on the 1 and the 3, and I slap the string (which I simultaneously mute with my left hand) on the 2 and 4 beats. I try to cop an upright bass vibe...

Tin

[casterway]

Originally Posted by mudbean

Sheesh, that KR performance has an amazingly comfortable, swinging groove. Very nice.

mud

And, golly gee whiz, he's using a pick!