I'm just curious. Do we have any bluegrass bassists here? I know there are a lot of us but they're seldom heard from.

I just got a new cd by Marshal Wilborn that's fantastic. All bass solo tunes with mostly banjo and dobro accompanyment. Can you believe, a bluegrass cd without a guitar?

While most are a little reluctent to say they play bluegrass I am not. I have played music of all types for 50 years and Bluegrass is the last style I have learned. The chords are way to easy but the precision it takes, makes it difficult to play. I only jam and don't play Bluegrass for money. I have a great love for the music and there are no better people on the Earth.
SO play another cabin song.......Carl

I haven't played bluegrass for a couple years since my old group fell apart, but it sure is fun music.

As somewhat limited as it may be considered, I often found it a bit of a challenge to play tunes I didn't know because the changes don't conform to, shall we say, conventional music, and can really throw your expectations into the trash pretty quickly. Before I lost my voice I really enjoying tossing in harmonies.

I've been playing with a guy who does OLD ragtime blues, as in the Piedmont style, similar in some ways, and he's even more a challenge. Again, unexpected changes -- and after we play someone has to sweep up all the dropped beats -- it's the nature of the music, which ain't called 'ragged time' for nothin!

There is a lot of pleasure in playing music out of the mainstream!

Originally posted by Bob Gollihur
I haven't played bluegrass for a couple years since my old group fell apart, but it sure is fun music.

As somewhat limited as it may be considered, I often found it a bit of a challenge to play tunes I didn't know because the changes don't conform to, shall we say, conventional music, and can really throw your expectations into the trash pretty quickly. Before I lost my voice I really enjoying tossing in harmonies.

I've been playing with a guy who does OLD ragtime blues, as in the Piedmont style, similar in some ways, and he's even more a challenge. Again, unexpected changes -- and after we play someone has to sweep up all the dropped beats -- it's the nature of the music, which ain't called 'ragged time' for nothin!

There is a lot of pleasure in playing music out of the mainstream!

=====================================


I like to think,Bob, that the beauty of bluegrass is its simplicity.Both in the playing and the listening.

It's not that easy to do well but it's pretty easy to reach the point where you actually are making music. G C D and a capo have made learning to play guitar lots easier. Also, I've found most real bluegrass nuts(meaning nuts in a nice way :)) to be very tolerant of beginners. I don't ever recall a bluegrass musician charging for music lessons.

Actually I'm between bluegrass bands too for the moment. My banjo player suffered a mild heart attack which kinda threw a wrench into the plan. Anyway, he's doing great but can't play for a few days. I am very, very thankful. I can find another banjo player but good friends are hard to find.

I started playing EBG in Jan. and have been spending a lot of time with it so the time will be well spent. I'm loving the EBG. I'm doing things on it with ease, that after 40 years of apprenticeship, I still can't do on the URB.

My compliments on your website,Bob. Very interesting.

On my last post I forgot to mention that I am a member of the Southwest Bluegrass association. http://www.s-w-b-a.com please drop by for a visit to a great web site.

I have a great love for the music and there are no better people on the Earth.
SO play another cabin song.......Carl

==========================================
That says it all, Bassdude. I've heard a lot of conversations mention the fact that bluegrass people are the greatest.

I've been around long enough to see that bluegrass comes and goes in cycles. The timing is right for another group like the Osborne Bros. to come along and give it a good kick forward.

My only regret is that bluegrass didn't prepare me for the kinds of music that I play now. It definitely didn't hurt me though. I feel like I'm stuck in a root/V world but it taught me that time is more important than melody to the average listener.

Right on, bassdude, that's a great website. I didn't get all the way thru it but I'll go back. Good to know that B.G. is alive and well in California.

Yes bluegrass is cool... I've been to several weekend festivals and have yet to be disappointed. The one thing I don’t get…well maybe it's just me, but it seems like this music which at introduction was so inventive and daring is rather stagnant and confined... Especially for bass.

Still, there is nothing like hanging out underneath the stars picking some old favorites in the pines.

This for the non Bluegrassers out there, as Festivals go Bluegrass festivals are the best bargan in summertime fun, often costing less for admission than a hamburger, coke and fries at other festivals. It is also a way to see a lot of upright basses all together and sometimes find one for sale. Here is another website to visit http://www.tricopolisrecords.com

Hey... Just got back from the Wheatland Music festival... I went to a bass workshop by Mark Shatz and Marshal Wilborn. Gosh I hope I spelled them right. What a treat!

jc

Originally posted by Rockinjc
Hey... Just got back from the Wheatland Music festival... I went to a bass workshop by Mark Shatz and Marshal Wilborn. Gosh I hope I spelled them right. What a treat!

jc

J.C., I'm green with envy! If Marshal teaches just half as well as he plays you must have learned a lot. What sort of person is he?

Did you by any chance get a copy of his c.d., Root Five? That has got to be my all time fav c.d. Talk about smooth. Wow.

Both Marshal and Mark made it look too easy and were nice to boot. For instance when I slap I look a bit like Pete Townsend with my arm doing this big whirlwind movement. These guys are so much more relaxed (or is it efficient) than I am capable of. If you watch them from behind you can barely tell they are playing.

During the workshop, a lot of the folks asked questions about gear and setup… This was frustrating to me as there is so much talk of this online that I didn't care too much for that. But for those who care, Marshal uses the Realist and Mark uses and endorses the Fishman and uses a mike stuffed in the top of the F hole. They talked about simplicity, muting, injury and working with the rest of the band. Oh and I asked a question about how they record.

They did a double bass duet of Buffalo Gals and a blues slap thing together, what a treat! All in all they spent about an hour and a quarter when the schedule only promised 45 minutes.

Lynn Morris was there and some other guy from the band as Marshal and her were to perform after the workshop. She was rather nice and said a few things about her feelings about the roll of the bass in bluegrass music.

The morning before the bass workshop, it rained. Well, that is an understatement. It was a real downpour it happened just after somebody sang a gospel song about Buddha. Somebody reflected about the irony of rain after a funny song. Apparently god has a sense of humor. Anyway, Somewhere on the festival grounds the adolescents and young adults took to sliding down the hill in the mud.

So during our workshop you could hear yelling and screaming in the distances as the folks did the mud slide thing. Mark was particularly interested, as we kept getting interrupted and young women sauntered by wearing little more than mud. At one point Mark shared some wisdom with us - he said that muddy girls like bass players!

More on Wheatland; if you want to play all night and then for breakfast - all weekend, as a bass player you pretty much have it made. There is a ratio of about 20 to 1 on the bands to bass player scale. So you just walk around with the old girl until you hear some good pickers and join in. If fact they are so happy to have a bass join in, that you pretty much don't have to bring your own beer. Just play and mooch. :P

NO I don't have His CD but I got the video on Bluegrass slap. If you have a decent collection of folk and bluegrass recordings as I do, you will find him all over the place.

jc

Right on J.C. I don't have a good collection of music. Makes me appreciate what little collection I do have though.

Bluegrass festivals are more fun than eating dirt but I haven't been to one in a while. I know what you're saying about finding a group to pick with at festivals. I was at the Camp Springs, N.C. festival several years ago and fell in with a group of people picking in the parking lot. I must have played for the better part of an hour when I found out that one of the guitar pickers was Jimmy Martin. I was playing great till I found that out. All of a sudden I felt so intimidated that I just froze. I was getting ready to leave when Jimmy insisted that I keep playing. It really didn't take much insisting. I felt like I was in the presence of the gods. Best part was when some of the other guys in my band came up and there I was playing with one of the greats. My chest must have been puffed out for weeks.

To me that's the beauty of festivals. The famous and the unknowns rub shoulders like they've known each other forever.

Oh well, I'm starting to ramble. I guess you've got to try festivals before you really understand the rapport among bluegrass musicians. I'm sure that you do understand.

Originally posted by pkr2
I'm just curious. Do we have any bluegrass bassists here? I know there are a lot of us but they're seldom heard from.

I just got a new cd by Marshal Wilborn that's fantastic. All bass solo tunes with mostly banjo and dobro accompanyment. Can you believe, a bluegrass cd without a guitar?



I play bluegrass bass and love the sound of that big doghouse thumping like Bigfoot's keeping time and ready to dance! I'm not all that good but if I know the chords I can take it from there. Lots of great CDs out there too but the disappointing thing to me is many of the newer groups use electric bass. It sounds soft and lacks the forward drive of an upright. Love that thump, buddy!! I'll see if I can find the Wilborn cd and check it out. Thanks.

Yesterday I went to the funeral of Terry Stanton the bass player and bandleader of the Bluegrass group the "Circuit Riders". This group is one of the better west coast groups and one of the longest running westcoast bluegrass acts. Terry was my friend and the model for my bluegrass groove. I will miss him a lot.

Originally posted by bassdude
Yesterday I went to the funeral of Terry Stanton the bass player and bandleader of the Bluegrass group the "Circuit Riders". This group is one of the better west coast groups and one of the longest running westcoast bluegrass acts. Terry was my friend and the model for my bluegrass groove. I will miss him a lot.

That's a tough thing to deal with, Bassman. It's a sad day when the world loses a good musician. It's a sadder day still when you lose a good friend. My condolences.

Sorry to hear of Terry Stanton's death. Though it will happen to us all, it is never easy to take for a close friend. Keep his memory bassdude, and remember him when you play his favorites. Sound travels real far.

pkr2
Just finished opening the Amelia Bluegrass Festival last weekend with Sandy Creek(Ralph Stanley, James King Country Gentlemen,Bluegrass Brothers and others were there). There are a bunch of Bluegrass thumpers on TB as well as blues and jazz. They have been a constant source of help and knowledge to me and other bassists. If I'm not mistaken Mike Childree plays a bunch of Bluegrass and has a couple of excellent cuts available for the listening on this site. An excellent form of music and the greatest people on earth.
By the way does anyone out there know where I might find the tack on scrolls for a Kay bass? A friend broke his carrying his bass on stage the other night.
Jim

By the way does anyone out there know where I might find the tack on scrolls for a Kay bass? A friend broke his carrying his bass on stage the other night.
Jim

I'd contact Englehardt-Link. Shouldn't be a problem to get one of the curley-cues.

kaybass.com

Wow...talk about a resurrected thread!

Yep, I'm still here, and lots more of us are playing bluegrass (or just now admitting it) :) Oddly enough, It's just about supplanted all my other gigging. My band has gotten really busy in the last year or so.

In fact, there seems to be an upswing in the discussion of the rootsier styles of music lately. I'm pretty glad to see it, as that's the stuff I enjoy most.

I play blue grass. I also play just about any other music. Blue grass somehow gives some the impression that it is easier than other forms when you listen to it. I think if you are a real bluegrass player, you will find that there are some easy popular tunes, just like any other genre. Beyond that, there are tunes that are as challenging as anything else you can find. For me, I really have to pay attention when I'm playing blue grass. The changes can be fast, unexpected, and several (not necessarily in that order).

As as far as groups to listen to, I like the traditional ones and I also like newer groups like The Waybacks.

Bluegrass..........did someone call my name??? I love playing bluegrass! Up here in the foothills of the smokies, we have lots of great festivals and you can learn so much about style and technique when you get a bunch of bass thumpers under the same shade tree. The only problem I have is that I play in a bluegrass gospel group and we're on the road playing just about every weekend, so I miss watching the entertainment, but would rather play anyway. There's just nothing like it. I've often wondered if I would have this much :hyper: fun playing in a jazz trio. Though I may never know, I sure would love to give it a shot.

Well, as my member name says, I also love to play bluegrass. I also play in the praise band at my church, and do some coffeehouse gigs with buddies from time to time, but bluegrass is my first love. I just enjoy the friendships and fun I have with bluegrass musicians. I join in the jams each year at Merlefest, and have met some fine folks from around the country there. BTW, if you want to hear a great bluegrass bass player, check out Mike Bub of Del McCoury's band. He has one of the best slap techniques I've ever seen or heard. He usually participates in the bass workshops at Merlefest. I also got a few minutes to meet and talk with him this year. He's a super guy....as most bass players are!

Wow ... what a resurrection of an old thread!

My son has this great hobby: He is a Civil War reenactor. We spend just about every weekend in the summertime chasing battles. And it is great when the bluegrass folks show up. Due to weather today, we weren't able to be in the parade we were scheduled for, so we went to a pioneer village near here for their heritage days. Low and behold, there was an old time bluegrass group playing with an elderly lady thumpin on a bass. It was an American Standard and looked to be about 60 years old (the bass). Great folks, great music, great time. I just might have to give bluegrass a try one of these days!

I've been playing bluegrass (and some other forms) on DB for 8 or 9 years now. But, what I really love to play is some good old time country. Singing songs, fiddle/dance tunes and the like.

Don't think I've read any real discussion about the links between (and genesis of) mountain music (The Stanleys, for example), oldtime country (The Carters), and bluegrass (Bill Monroe) here on TB. Maybe the jazzers on here don't care (or don't know).

But give me a rockin', rollickin' fiddle tune that is "up to speed" any day! That stuff is great fun to play! On DB you can really cut loose, and if you are playing a dance they really go for rocking bass lines!

Z

Oh yeah...I love playing old-time fiddle tunes as well! Blackberry Blossom, Whiskey Before Breakfast, Red-Haired Boy, Cluck Old Hen....those are a hoot!

A lot of people would say that bluegrass music didn't exist until Bill Monroe invented it in the mid-40's. Got rid of the accordion, got rid of the girl singer, stopped playing oompah waltzes and got down. Getting Earl Scruggs was a major catalyst, IMO. Once Mr. Mon-roe (accent on first syllable) put out a lineup of banjo, fiddle, mandolin, guitar and bass that was it: blue moon keep on shinin'.

Bluegrass is about as old as bebop in jazz.

Doesn't mean to say there aren't a zillion antecedents. A lot of festivals are called "bluegrass and old time" festivals -- the "old time" part covers off everything that came before The Tenor Singer From Jerusalem Ridge, including all that fiddle music that reaches back centuries.

People used to call all of this music "hillbilly" -- everything from Riley Puckett to Webb Pierce. I have no idea whether that label offends folks, but everything sorta fit under one roof then...

I learned 1st-hand recently that many people don't even consider it bluegrass without scruggs-style banjo. Played in a blugrass band competition with bass, guit, fiddle, mando, and CLAWHAMMER banjo. We played 3 songs really well, but didn't even place in the top 3. A few old timers in the audience I spoke with said we were the best band, but that we were essentially disqualified because of that clawhammer. But I prefer clawhammer to scruggs-style.

Did anyone catch the public TV program "The American Experience" on the Carter Family recently? Really a cool show that might still be running in some areas right now. Some sweet footage of Mother Maybelle playing guitar with the thumbpick on the bass end and then finger-brushing on the high-end. Another sound that set a standard. Like Earl did, but before him, I believe.

One way I think about it (which could be wrong) is that Big Mon took his hillbilly and oldtime influeneces and straightened them out. Essentially made a new, popular form (that could be marketted) out of hillbilly in bluegrass. From what I can gather, instrumentalists were not really taking "leads" or solos much until Big Mon started arranging bluegrass that way. Oldtime players would mostly play the melody together, all the way through the song--like in dance tunes.

The bottom line for me is that the country forms of music are inclusive. The oldtime and hillbilly stuff was meant to be participatory. The divide between performer and audience was not really a divide at all. The music was not esoteric.

Although I enjoy some forms of Jazz, I never get that sense listening to it. When I hear Mingus say "no rattling the ice in your glasses" or whatever to the audience I always cringe. What an *sshole! A brilliant *sshole to be sure. But that sh*t wouldn't fly in the country!

Thanks for the thread...
Z

I used to play bluegrass, back in the '70's and early '80's. Played a lot of fiddle tunes for a lot of square dances too. Made a living at it in Canada for a number of years, if you can believe that. No shame in playing bluegrass, traditional bluegrass of the '50's and '60's is no more simple or crude than the rock 'n' roll or country music of the era. Some of the more progressive guys of the '70's and '80's were spectacular players and singers. Bluegrass was beginning to achieve respectability, it was no longer perceived strictly as hokey hick music.

My knowledge of bluegrass since that time is very spotty. Thanks to some discussions on this board, I've recently started to go back and listen to some again. Thanks, guys.

Where would a person look if they were wanting to learn a few of the standards (Cripple Creek, Turkey in the Straw, etc.)? I was invited to a bluegrass jam tomorrow and am almost sure to get asked to play. I don't want to be rude by saying "no." I grew up with the songs and know the words by heart (which can really help when faking it), but I would like to come off as somewhat less of an idiot than I really am! :D

TIA.

When I hear Mingus say "no rattling the ice in your glasses" or whatever to the audience I always cringe. What an *sshole!


That was a classic Mingus joke, you know... There was no audience at all when he said that.

Oh, sh*t, then the jokes been on me! Guess I coulda read the liner notes...

I do like Mingus--what I know of it.

Have a good weekend all,
Z

Where would a person look if they were wanting to learn a few of the standards (Cripple Creek, Turkey in the Straw, etc.)? I was invited to a bluegrass jam tomorrow and am almost sure to get asked to play. I don't want to be rude by saying "no." I grew up with the songs and know the words by heart (which can really help when faking it), but I would like to come off as somewhat less of an idiot than I really am! :D

TIA.

For getting the feel of the music, Flatt and Scruggs are hard to beat. Most of their stuff follows the basic bluegrass chord progression. Once you get that I-IV-V move down you can play tons of stuff. If you try playing along with one of their recordings just remember that they tuned a half-step higher than anyone else.

Even though Bill Monroe is often considered the man when it comes to traditional, many of the tunes he wrote are not all that easy to play until you learn the changes. Lonesome Moonlight Waltz and Jerusalem Ridge spring to mind as examples.

Flatt and Scruggs, Bill Monroe and Hank Williams (senior) are the players that were on in my house when growing up. Now that I sit and think about those tunes and how the bass fits into them, I think I could pull it off with a solid I-IV-V as long as I can keep the tempo. The jam is this afternoon in the open air (!) and it is a beautiful day for it. I will let you all know how it turns out. Thanks!

I played Bluegrass in California many years ago with
Clear Creek which included Jana Jae(fiddle), Ted Smith(guitar,mandolin), Ron Hunt(banjo), and Ken Woods(piano!!!).
We got together at the American Heritage Music Festival in Grove, OK in 2001, and last month in Placerville. We decided this year to do a yearly reunion, and I'm looking forward to it. I like doing anything improv.

I play bass in a Bluegrass band, and I do both......upright and bass guitar. I just think that some of the stuff we do sounds better with a bass guitar. So, I have a little mini mixer that I plug my upright and my bass guitar into. When I change instruments I just reach over and turn the one down that I am laying down and turn the one up that I am going to play. Plus, it makes for a more interesting time, cause no matter which I am playing at the time I kinda look forward to the switch.

i learned how to play by being inna bluegrass band.
now that i don't have a dawghouse, i would still like to play bg, but the current attitude of bg'ers, ie: nsna (no slabs need apply), turns me off.
but, hey...whatever works and serves the song is my motto.
:D

Slabs.........??

"slabs" being electric bass. two great electric players in bluegrass- John Cowan (Newgrass Revival, John Cowan Band) and Nick Forester (Hot Rize). Just played at a festival with the John Cowan Band this weeknd, he played great and sang even better. Also saw the Del McCoury Band there- Mike Bub is no longer with them. They had Dennis Crouch with them in SFCA when i saw them last week (happened to be on vacation near SF), and someone else with them this weekend (didn't catch his name).

I enjoy playing everything from Bluegrass to Classical on upright. Bluegrass music may not be as harmonically complex as jazz (I've heard bluegrassers call a 6minor "that drop chord" :) ) but bluegrass musicians can be very fine, accomplished players. Bluegrass singing often combines blues and gospel and can be very soulful. too.

Like all bass playing, the role of bass in bluegrass is to play solidly and appropriately. There may be a lot of basic 1-5-1-5, but bluegrass rarely uses drums and so good time, tone and feel are really important. In bluegrass, the mandolin is like the snare and the bass is like the kick -- so you hope the mandolin player has good time, too. ( and watch those darn banjo players, they usually rush like crazy ;) )

The late Roy Huskey Jr. was a player that inspired me to start playing upright. His tone and feel were really wonderful. Later, I found out that Roy could play swing, rock and all types of music. Dennis Crouch is a similar player. Both of those guys were very influenced by Bob Moore. Kevin Grant plays great bluegrass bass -- Carl Jackson used him on most of the Louvin Brothers tribute record. Barry Bales and Mark Fain are both fine, contemparary players.

Hi. My name is Steve and I play bluegrass. (HI STEVE!) I was a hotshot slabpicker in high school and college. Got an upright about 11 years ago and started playing bluegrass on it. Spent 8 years backing up the Dixie Pals' mandolinist Dick Staber and a couple of seasons with the 2003 national dobro champion. I've been to a lot of festivals, played in a lot of jams, met a lot of great folks. Glad to see this thread on TB.

Yeah, that would be me in a nutshell. I appreciate many forms of music, but feel my musical statements (or understatements, due to my instrument and what my role is) should be presented within the bluegrqass format.

I own 2 American Standards, #731 (1939-1940) and #2753 (1955-1958) and I also have a Gretch Tone King Bass (built in the Kay factory for Gretch) about the same as a C-1.

My early BG bass influence was Todd Phillips within the context of The Bluegrass Album Band recordings headed up by Tony Rice. Tom Gray of the Seldom Scene has been a favorite, though I don't do too much walking.

In early 1990, I met and very quickly became friends with a young BG bassist who has gone on to become a stylist. His name is Barry Bales and has held down the low end for Alison Krauss since about May of 1990.

Talking with and playing Barry's American Standard at Merlefest inspired me to seek one out for myself. He has now heard mine and I think he covets my basses.

I also have 2 children still in my home, both of which are fluent in BG bass.

For me, it boils down to staying in time, in tune, with good tone and out of the way, supporting the other musical efforts of players and singers.

There's a monster bassman here in NC named Zack McLamb who is one of my new favorite players. He owns a late 30's Kay with high action and can blow the house down.

Oh, BG Bassist, be ye not afraid to jack up thy action, in order to allow thy instrument to be heard.

That's me.

If I could stretch this thread a little longer...

Of the folks who go to bluegrass and oldtime jams, don't the players usually go around a circle and take turns with a break? How many of you take a break on your bass in a jam? :bassist:

Dwight

If I could stretch this thread a little longer...

Of the folks who go to bluegrass and oldtime jams, don't the players usually go around a circle and take turns with a break? How many of you take a break on your bass in a jam? :bassist:

Dwight

Always!

The reason I ask is, I started playing the upright less than a year ago, and have been to a few jams. I am still a little hesitant to stick my neck out and take a break. I have not seen other bassists at the jams taking breaks either. I don't know if it is bad form, or are they as reluctant as I have been. I hope to start lessons the beginning of the year to get me to the point where I could take a break if it is appropriate.

dm

I generally don't...mainly because I don't usually run into too many people at bluegrass jams who recognize a tasty bass break when they hear it. Invariably, when a bass break comes around, most of them will yell "SLAP THAT THANG!". At that point, you could pull off the most melodic, unique solo of your life and nobody will even notice. If they see you ain't slappin', they stop paying attention. I just keep the groove going.

I love playing Bluegrass: :bassist: : Been doing it for 30 yrs now. We have a weekly Mon nite jam going on 7yrs that weve just started taking out and people seem to genuinely enjoy it. But somehow playing in a line, amplified on a stage isnt as much fun as standin' around pickin' a circle.

I generally don't...mainly because I don't usually run into too many people at bluegrass jams who recognize a tasty bass break when they hear it. Invariably, when a bass break comes around, most of them will yell "SLAP THAT THANG!". At that point, you could pull off the most melodic, unique solo of your life and nobody will even notice. If they see you ain't slappin', they stop paying attention. I just keep the groove going.
Hey Mike, I wonder if they yelled that at Dave Holland when he was playing with Vassar Clements. ;)

Marcus, amazingly enough, I've heard more than one bluegrass "expert" claim that Vassar "can almost play the fiddle". I love the music, but the hyper-narrrow-minded attitude really bugs me much of the time.

Well, I've played with Vassar a number of times and I can tell you that he can certainly play the fiddle.....

+1 ! !


As far as breaks, I agree that alot of the real traditional guys don't expect or really want to hear bass breaks. Since they don't, most of the amateur guys who emulate the old timers don't want em either. And even if they did, they wouldn't know what to do with it if you gave it to them. If you're lucky enough to be around some enlightened pickers however, go for it. Every situation is different, learn to read it and do what's appropriate. I do some really traditional BG gigs and I just play the bass player role as well as I can. When I go do my younger audience type gigs, more newgrass and hippygrass, I can stretch. These people are more used to jamming and nontraditional roles. Have fun and be solid and everything will be fine.

Invariably, when a bass break comes around, most of them will yell "SLAP THAT THANG!". At that point, you could pull off the most melodic, unique solo of your life and nobody will even notice.

Yeah, but YOU notice.

Still, I really don't think bass breaks work very well in the semi-chaos of a bigger jam session. Sometimes there may be 10-15 people (invariably 3 heavy fingered banjo players and 6 guitarists who are all slightly out of time with each other). joining in. You just get lost in the shuffle. On three different occasions I have actually have people come up to me and begin talking to me WHILE I was taking a break!

I just see melodic solos as working much better in a small group setting than in a jam.

Yeah, but YOU notice.

Still, I really don't think bass breaks work very well in the semi-chaos of a bigger jam session. Sometimes there may be 10-15 people (invariably 3 heavy fingered banjo players and 6 guitarists who are all slightly out of time with each other). joining in. You just get lost in the shuffle..


I understand what you are saying. Timing is hard enough without the bass (drum) in a jam.

On three different occasions I have actually have people come up to me and begin talking to me WHILE I was taking a break!

:eek: