I started playing about 2 to 3 months ago. I already have what resembles a band put together minus drums. We play Texas Country music with a little folk/americana sound. I've written bass parts to most of our songs, but I'm kinda getting stuck in a rut with how I progress from note to note.

I started playing guitar about 5 years ago and taught myself from tabs. I was looking to do the same sort of thing on the bass until I realized that country bass tabs aren't generally posted because of how "easy" it is to play. But learning stuff by ear is wearing my patience thin, and I tend to miss a few of the walkdown or transition notes while listening.

Also I've been writing the bass parts based off of the chords the guitars are using while throwing in some transition stuff so I'm not just playing whole notes. But we have a few songs with very similar chord progressions, like F, G, C, A and I'm kind of getting tired of playing the same sort of stuff over and over.

Does anyone know any ways to liven up a country bass part? Or does anyone happen to listen/play Texas Country? Also if you want an example of what I'm sort of looking for find the Bart Crow Band on myspace and listen to their Wear My Ring song.

Well, the "Wear My Ring" song has a sort of traditional-sounding country bass line to it, so let's go with that...

So mainly, you're going to be playing a 2-feel, which is to say notes on beats 1 and 3. Play a root on the 1 and the fifth on 3. Make the notes nice and long - don't leave gaps in-between.

You can do little walkups and walkdowns here and there. For example, if you're going from C to F, you can walk up C C D E F (quarter notes) or C7 to F could walk down C Bb A G F, etc. Or do a C / G C F (C / being a half note), returning to the root on beat 4 before going to the F.

One thing you want to avoid is having your note on beat 3 the same as the downbeat of your next bar. So if you're going from C to G, you wouldn't play C / G / and then another G. You could walk down C C B A G or C / B A G. Or you could play two half notes on the root: C / C / G. It's okay to repeat notes here and there or play them up or down an octave. Make sense?

As for "getting tired of playing the same stuff over and over," welcome to country bass. It is what it is, my friend. It IS very simple, but don't confuse that with easy. There is an art to playing half notes and quarter notes. You have to make those notes support the feel and emotion of the song. Just playing those notes and making those notes groove are not the same thing.

You did mention that you are throwing in some folk and Americana as well. In that case, you can certainly experiment with different lines and rhythms. It depends on the song. What I described for you was a very traditional approach. You will ultimately have to use your ears to judge. Hope that helps a little. Good luck!