Speaking of the Bass in Country Music...

[Lerb21]

I got torqued off because of all the I-V-I jokes and made this video...



Hopefully I didn't appear too stupid.

I really do dig playing bass though.

[bingy]

I hear what you are saying...but I had an experience playing the fair circuit with a professional country outfit many years ago... after I had been in rock, blues, pop and jazz bands.

I was pulling a lot of the stuff that you are doing here.
The guitar player who was a veteran tele master took me aside and informed me that either you are walking or you are not walking.

Here you have a combo of the 2 which is harmonically correct but idomatically incorrect.
That is to say if it is a swing tune walking is fine (lots of that in country music).
But if it is a straight tune you need to alternate basic chord tones.

Again I understand what you are saying but, different idioms have different requierments and lots of free thinking musicians have a hard time coming to grips with that.

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

Just sharing what I know.

[ibobunot]

When I lived in Texas it was referred to by bass players as eat ****** eat ****** eat ****** eat ******....

[garytelecastor]

bingy-I disagree entirely. I think that he is doing a fine job on this tune. There are tempo shifts and combinations of different genres that require going from a strictly 2/4 to walks. Check out the ending of Does Fort Worth.... or listen to the original version of Act Naturally. It is in 2/4 in the verses and walks on the bridge.
Bass guitar is a rhythm instrument.

[bingy]

Originally Posted by garytelecastor

bingy-I disagree entirely. I think that he is doing a fine job on this tune. There are tempo shifts and combinations of different genres that require going from a strictly 2/4 to walks. Check out the ending of Does Fort Worth.... or listen to the original version of Act Naturally. It is in 2/4 in the verses and walks on the bridge.
Bass guitar is a rhythm instrument.

I guess I forgot to declare the exception to the rule principle. Which I think you are describing.

Aside from that, my statement is not one of opinion but of learned fact.

In this situation I am not interested in arguing because you "disagree entirely".

Of course you can have your opinion but...

I'm telling it like it is. Not giving my opinion, for debate.

[Tim Armstrong]

I think Lerb was trying to show that it's not ALL 1-5, 1-5, 1-5, etc. His part fit the song he was playing (and he did a very nice job playing it!).

The truth of the matter, though, is that in one hell of a lot of classic country, the bassist IS playing 1-5, 1-5, etc. The thing is, that doesn't make it particularly EASY, as you really need to cop the FEEL of the song then. We do a pretty happening version of "Folsom Prison Blues", and while the bass part is quite simple, if you don't play it just right you KILL the rhythmic drive of the song.

Anyway...

Tim

[Lerb21]

Originally Posted by Tim Armstrong

I think Lerb was trying to show that it's not ALL 1-5, 1-5, 1-5, etc. His part fit the song he was playing (and he did a very nice job playing it!).

The truth of the matter, though, is that in one hell of a lot of classic country, the bassist IS playing 1-5, 1-5, etc. The thing is, that doesn't make it particularly EASY, as you really need to cop the FEEL of the song then. We do a pretty happening version of "Folsom Prison Blues", and while the bass part is quite simple, if you don't play it just right you KILL the rhythmic drive of the song.

Anyway...

Tim

Tim's got it!

(thanks for the compliments on the playing, all of you)

On songs that you don't call for anything other that I-V-I, it's generally important to stick with that and be on time. The example of Folsom Prison Blues works very well because most of the time the bass is just altering between the I and V of the progression. But, you can also add some pretty intricate walks in between chords as long as it's under the radar.

My point is that the bass playing in country music is as easy or as hard as you make it...

[garytelecastor]

Originally Posted by bingy

I guess I forgot to declare the exception to the rule principle. Which I think you are describing.

Aside from that, my statement is not one of opinion but of learned fact.

In this situation I am not interested in arguing because you "disagree entirely".

Of course you can have your opinion but...

I'm telling it like it is. Not giving my opinion, for debate.

the last thing on earth I would wish to do is argue over something like this. I was simply stating my point of view. I don't know how you read that I was trying to argue but believe me that was not my intent, and if it came across as such I apologize.

[broadcaster]

YEE HAW! Thats sure to get the booties movin' dude. Good job!

[axmaker]

nice bass there young man.......

[Bluesbob]

Nice playing BTW.
I was taught, here in that hot-bed of country music - Long Island NY, where the nearest "country" music station is across the Sound in Connecticut - that you start out simple - I-V-I-V - and through the course of the song you throw in more runs and fills. I think this is more true in modern country maybe than trad. country, but even in a song like "Act Naturally" it might be better to hold back some in the beginning, and let the runs and fills kind of evolve or build up, until by the end of the song you let it all hang out, leading to the bang-up ending we all love.
Again, this is JMHO and YMMV.

[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. I like goofing around as much as anyone but this really ruined the whole thing. If you want to let loose on the ride, go ahead but as remarked above, while everything you played is correct it just sounds bad and kills the feel.

You say you can make it as easy or complex as you want. Right, but make sure you booked the job, you do all the singing and you own the PA if you play everything like that.

And I do see your point but if the drummer isn't going wiht you.....yuck. Like I always say, you don't need Dave Pomeroy or Glen Wharf to play 1-4-5.......but is sure don't hurt!

[Dave W]

Come on, guys... he isn't saying it should be played the way he did or that he would play it that way in a cover band. He's just showing that even 1-5 songs can be played another way.

That said, anyone who thinks most country bass is 1-5 has probably been listening to a pretty narrow selection. Not that I would know, most of the country music I listen to is over 40 years old.

[Tim Armstrong]

Yeah, I'm with Dave. It's not like he was popping and slapping and tapping and all that virtuosic overkill stuff that some folks do. Every bit he played was useable and useful in a song like that. Sure, it seemed a little excessive to have it all in one song, but it was a demonstration.

Tim

[Bandit]

To quote my Dad, "If your instrument has four strings you are not the lead guitar player"

I played with a good guitar player in a Country band and we did a version of guitar boogie shuffle and I played a walking bass the first couple of gigs. Then I realized I was walking all over his instrumental. I switched to playing quarter notes on the root note of each chord one night and the guitar player thanked me.

That said you are a good bass player.

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

[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

[Old Cane]

One other thing; work on lighting when you do your videos for real. You're a nice looking kid. The chicks will dig it. That's why we do what we do, ya know.

[bobbybigmac]

Good on ya for putting together the video !
Nice job but you forgot to mention that in some bars people "like both kinds of music ..... Country and Western"

[strat a various]

Years ago I did quite a few bass gigs and I tried to play country and rock stuff like the original recordings. Gives the tunes an authentic feel. From a guitarists point of view, I appreciate a bass player that makes the tune sound "right". Get too busy and the holes that create the feel get plugged up with clutter.
That said, 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". The Bridge often goes to walking, but only on certain tunes.
In Jazz, the same problems plague combos, when the bass player tires of playing in 2/4 and starts walking or semi-walking in inappropriate places. Best way to solve this, short of firing the bass player, is to have some reference recordings of original or milestone versions of the tunes. That ought to settle any reasonable arguments.

[Warren Pederson]

I dunno. I haven't read every post but I don't see the rockabilly/blues walking bass working on that song. Maybe over a solo part for a twist, but Rich's guitar gets lost (not talking volume) along with that, and the vocal delivery doesn't fit either.
You CAN do it but does it sound better? Than the I,V..IV..etc? To me, your theory could be put to use, but maybe on something like some Paisley, Lee, Mason, or Vince Gill rippin' country barn-burners.