Modern 50's sound?

[mc_muench]

So Im joining a pair of guitarists in making a 50's style rock band, I love listening to 50's rock and roll, but its not my normal playing style. I love that in my local scene no one really plays it, it's unique.

From listening to it, I always hear a walking bass lines, and I can play walking lines, I need to practice them more but I can play them The thing is, is that they aren't that fun to play for me, I like playing driving, droning, syncopated 8th notes in the pocket.

I like to be creative and challenge myself with my music to further my skills. My question I guess is...Does 50's rock need that walking bass line or can a more modern music bass line carry the music? More importantly is it even morally ethical to "deface" this great musical style?

[dvh]

Guess when I read "50's rock and roll" I think of Elvis, Chick Berry, Bill Haley, Little Richard, Chet Atkins.... and for that the bass is "walking" over 1-4-5 dominant sevenths. It's not "walking" so much as it is riffing basic arpeggios on the quarter notes. I think of walking as moving through chord tones of jazz changes.

Morally ethical? It's just music. Play it the way everyone in the band and your audience like the way it sounds and, enjoy...

[sikamikanico]

depends only on whether you can make it work! talk to your band-mates and discuss what everyone is comfortable with. then again, you might benefit going outside your comfort zone!

[mc_muench]

I plan on talking to my band mates, I was just hoping for others opinions on if it was a ridiculous idea or not. Next jam session Ill give it a try

[Spectrum]

Depends on whether you want it to sound like 50s rock or if you are doing modern rock covers of 50s songs, with more distortion and grind, etc.

As dvh said above, most early rock songs are just I-IV-V blues patterns and the basslines are often the same with variations depending on the rythm. This is one of the first things I learned as a new bassplayer and once you do you can jam to almost any blues tune without even thinking about it.

[K2000]

You can test it out at home simply by playing along with some of your favorite records.

[Jazz Ad]

If you don't have fun playing bass lines from The Shadows, there's something wrong with you.

[dhomer]

There's more "modern" ways to skin the cat so they say...lol.. I used to play in a 50's outfit here.. The "doo-wop" tunes ya gotta leave it pretty much alone.. The rockers.. kinda depends on how the band wants to do it.. I'll take Chuck Berry tunes for example. The originals, the bass lagged behind a bit.. If you listen to bands like Rockpile and Thorogood, everything is on the one and it gets goosed a bit.. I played "Johnny B. Goode" with a combination of walking/pumping 8ths.

Listen to as much Sha Na Na as you can, the bass recordings are very clear and a bit simplified..

[JimmyM]

Some songs lend themselves to experimentation more than others. Some songs will die a horrible death on the dance floor if you don't "modernize" them a bit. Other songs will sound bad if you get too experimental. Use your best judgment, and let the dance floor be what guides you.

[Blue]

... In your 50's studies, don't forget Eddie Cochran ... and a bit earlier but still "rock" to my ears: enjoy Louis Jordan and the Typhany Five.

[SactoBass]

As Marty McFly said:

"I guess you guys aren't ready for that........but your kids are gonna love it!"

[Spectrum]

I love playing Link Wray's tunes. Cool thing is that the guy played them until he died a couple of years ago, and you can see how he modernized his own stuff by embellishing it with modern amps, effects, and playing styles. Listen to the original version of "Rumble", and then see the version he did on Conan O'Brian's show in 98. It's almost like a metal version.

[bassksun]

Originally Posted by dvh

Morally ethical? It's just music. Play it the way everyone in the band and your audience like the way it sounds and, enjoy...

+1000

I know what you mean by "walking". It's because 50's blues and 50's jazz are so closely related. When I play either style I get bored too. What works for me is emphasis. Depending on the song I may add emphasis on another beat. So, I may add a little emhasis on the 3 etc.

Hope this helps

[5StringBlues]

Originally Posted by Blue

enjoy Louis Jordan and the Typhany Five.

This is great advice in ANY situation!

[u84six]

Why not stick to walking but instead of your basic chomatic lines moving from I IV and V, try taking a more jazz oriented approach, with some added swing movement. I think that would ramp up the challenge quite a bit. Check out some old jazz upright playing and it might give you some ideas.

[mc_muench]

thanks for the advice everyone, unfortunately the band didnt work out, I thought it went well but I havent heard from the guys since and they wont return my emails calls or texts. I was really excited cause you never hear that music being played.

But all is well I already have another 3 piece band lined up...and this one involves a wall of speakers...an 8x10 and my 2x15, talk about bass heavy