Need help with a country song

5string5fingers · #1 02-26-2011, 08:28 PM

Trying to figure out this song by Billy Currington. Not your typical roots only country song. I'm new at learning by ear so I'm just asking for some help out on this one.

Here's the song, Good Directions by Billy Currington

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWKqjy87hiY

Some great bass playing for sure, to my untrained ear it sounds like the bassist is playing with the root,4th, and the 5th of each chord. Once again any help is appreciated.

Having trouble with the chorus, and the second chord change in each verse, where he starts "crunchin on a pork rind".

MalcolmAmos · #2 02-27-2011, 07:24 AM

Have trouble picking out the bass on this recording, however, it is classic Country and that is roots and fives with chromatic runs to the next chord.

Chromatic runs -- target the next chord's root, miss it, and walk up or down to it - be there for the 4th beat.

If you are picking up a R-4-5-something that could be what is being used. I like R-3-5-8 or R-3-5-6 for something other than R-5. Course all our Country is Major so the 3 fits.

Sometime when the chorus goes melodic I back off the R-5 and use a walking chord tone bass line. R-R-3-3-5-5-6-5 or something like I mentioned above.

This one is so Country as long as you do not get real fancy with scales or God forbid modes, anything you do is going to work.

Go have fun with it.

Blake Bass · #3 02-27-2011, 08:40 AM

Malcolmamos: you probably shouldn't be giving advice if you're having trouble picking out the bass on the recording in question. The bass is very prominent in the mix!!

Blake Bass · #4 02-27-2011, 08:42 AM

The song is in the key of F...The "crunchin on a pork rind" chord is Amin.. I will listen to the chorus when I have a little more time.

5string5fingers · #5 02-27-2011, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blake Bass

Malcolmamos: you probably shouldn't be giving advice if you're having trouble picking out the bass on the recording in question. The bass is very prominent in the mix!!

He did make a valid point though that it wouldn't be hard to make your own. However, I'd like to learn the original before I start making it my own. Let me know what you hear!

Thanks a bunch both.

tjh · #6 02-27-2011, 07:13 PM

5/5 ... verse chords are D F# G A Bm capo 3, which puts it in F as mentioned ... you can kind of 'feel' how it steps up ... chorus is G and A, with Bm on 'tea' ... FWIW, I also struggle by ear, and if all else fails I google 'the song' chords ... then try to figure from there ... a whole lot easier finding the movement when in the correct chord for me ... there are probably several covers of this on YouTube as well for you to see whats going on ... good luck

5string5fingers · #7 02-27-2011, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjh

5/5 ... verse chords are D F# G A Bm capo 3, which puts it in F as mentioned ... you can kind of 'feel' how it steps up ... chorus is G and A, with Bm on 'tea' ... FWIW, I also struggle by ear, and if all else fails I google 'the song' chords ... then try to figure from there ... a whole lot easier finding the movement when in the correct chord for me ... there are probably several covers of this on YouTube as well for you to see whats going on ... good luck

I've been looking at the chords, but the guitar plays one chord every 2 measures, not much chord changing, while the bass is really what grooves in this song and is moving around.

And actually I have looked for someone playing this song on youtube and have found nothing

tjh · #8 02-27-2011, 10:03 PM

'Luke Bryan good directions live kansas city mo' ... << youtube this and you will be able to hear the bass quite a bit better ... then youtube 'good directions cover' and you will see a few bands with bass players playing it .. pretty straight forward country bass tune ... I couldn't play it without trying/wanting to embellish a bit ... but then, I am not a country bass player ...

5string5fingers · #9 02-28-2011, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjh

'Luke Bryan good directions live kansas city mo' ... << youtube this and you will be able to hear the bass quite a bit better ... then youtube 'good directions cover' and you will see a few bands with bass players playing it .. pretty straight forward country bass tune ... I couldn't play it without trying/wanting to embellish a bit ... but then, I am not a country bass player ...

Haha that makes two of us. I just enjoy playing country and thinking about joining a country band later down the road.

I'll try and check it out after class.