Great Example of Bluegrass/Country Bass Solo?

[dataBASS5]

Hello everybody,

Recently been asked to play a bass solo or two over some real simple changes. This is primarly root and fifth stuff over D A & E changes. Only problem is, I'm not an avid country music listener. The genre (while fun) is completely new to me.

Can any of you think of a good song to download in hopes of inspiring me? Doesn't have to be fancy. I'll even look at tab if you've got a good example.

Thanks!

[Joel S.]

lol, I've never heard a country or bluegrass song with a solo. Maybe check out the Wood Brothers? They're country-ish, and Chris Wood (from Medeski, Martin and Wood) is the bassist.

I can't even begin to wrap my head around what a country bass solo could sound like...

[dataBASS5]

Originally Posted by Joel S.

I can't even begin to wrap my head around what a country bass solo could sound like...

It's just a break in the song where they want some bass runs or fills while they play the chords on the downbeat. So I've got the better part of 12 measures to fill.

I had been doing a root-3-5-6-8-6-5-3 over the changes, just to fill the space while we learn the songs. That way the roadmap of the song is intact, but I hope to solo something more "brilliant" (possible in country?) later.

[Methodis]

Check out "My Sweet Annette" by Drive-By Truckers. I believe one of the major tab sites has a very good tablature of it, and it has a small solo.

[bassbully]

Bluegrass and country is anti solo for sure. There is a small solo or run in Little Texas song "God Bless Texas" its cool and fun to play.

[seanm]

Generally when I play country and am told to "solo", they just mean do a standard walk.

I don't know of any country songs with a bass solo. But I mainly played traditional country.

[cranberrysauce]

I play in a country band that has a couple of bluegrass style numbers. A pattern that I use... and this example I am going to give you is in the key of D.
Here's the tab of a line I use.. I change it up, but this is the basic pattern.

D__________A_______________D_________________G____ _____________
__________________________________________________ _________
_5___5_7____7____7___7___7_5___5__7_5___5______5__ ___5_______
___5______5___5____5___5_____5________5___5__3____ 3_______

[etoncrow]

Most bluegrass/mountain music bass solos I have done are essentially double time walking bass lines. They can be made more interesting by having designated notes that are punched or accented by everyone simultaneously.

[RedsFan75]

What etoncrow said

BUT If you want to find an example of some bluegrass bass solo's look for stuff by Missy Raines. She's been in several groups where she was given some good solos. Got her own group now.