Tips for playing Lomax/Americana?

**Ukiah Bass** · #1 01-01-2010, 05:03 PM

I'm starting a new project that focuses almost exclusively on music from the John & Alan Lomax / Library of Congress collection. Lots of folk, early country, some bluegrass. The lead instrument is mostly banjo with some guitar. There may be a drummer joining us soon.

I played through the first 25 demos and most of the songs have a two feel, some slow, some are fast. Playing simple root, or root/five patterns feels appropriate, but it does lend a "sameness" to the music. Any advice on variations, or should I not worry about that and just focus on keeping a simple pulse? I'm playing an amplified fretless acoustic bass guitar. BTW, I have the "Lost Art of Country Bass" but most of that consists of walking lines, which seem too complicated for this music. On the other hand, I was thinking about playing occasional counter melodies to spice it up and compliment the banjo/vox. Thanks for advice!

Jason Sypher · #2 01-02-2010, 05:23 AM

Since you are not trying to recreate the music I would tust your instincts and try to fit in whatever you can when it feels right. Sometimes a single "right note" can make the whole tune.

**Ukiah Bass** · #3 01-02-2010, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Sypher

Since you are not trying to recreate the music I would tust your instincts and try to fit in whatever you can when it feels right. Sometimes a single "right note" can make the whole tune.

Funny you should say that. Some of this music makes me feel like not playing at all, except to add a single note here and there. I suspect people will be listening more to the words than making judgments on my quantity of notes.

Jason Sypher · #4 01-02-2010, 08:10 AM

Don't sign a pay per note contract on this gig, you'll lose your shirt. Look for opportunities to subdivide the beat, and think like a drum. Might even stick some foam under the strings near the bridge to give you more thud and less sustain. I find it's hard to play that music on electric, too smooth and metallic sounding. The fretless will help. You can also "slap" the bass notes, not like an electric, but more like an upright. Turn your right hand more perpendicular to the strings, make a claw shape and hook your middle finger slightly under the string and pull up, then let the hand fall back on the strings in rhythm with the tune (think snare drum hit). You can get a little more rhythm happening this way, thrill your gal and amaze your friends.

Nagrom · #5 01-02-2010, 01:52 PM

I spent some time studying some bluegrass upright players at a major festival a couple years ago- rounder records superstar kind of acts.

The bassists played 1-5 almost exclusively but with very subtle flavors thrown in. I didn't see a single one of them go farther up the neck than the fifth note.

M Ramsey · #6 01-04-2010, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nagrom

I spent some time studying some bluegrass upright players at a major festival a couple years ago- rounder records superstar kind of acts.

The bassists played 1-5 almost exclusively but with very subtle flavors thrown in. I didn't see a single one of them go farther up the neck than the fifth note.

That's about it in a nutshell, right there.