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Originally Posted by Axtman  This Sunday my church is having a guest singer who is prominent black gospel singer. I have listened to her songs and the band practiced without her last night. We will practice with her before church. Anyhow, do you have any tips or tricks of the trade on how to play gospel bass?  |
Gospel music and Black Gospel music can be two different things. With that in mind .......
If you can find the songs to be played in a hymnal you can pretty well look at the bass cleft and figure out what bass line to use.
Look at the lowest note in the bass cleft measure, I bet the lowest note in the measure will repeat itself through out the measure. If so you've got one chord for that measure and that lowest note is the root note of the chord that can be used for that measure. Yep, simple as that. If the measure is a two chord measure - adjust.
Now what you do with that chord, Roots, R-5 or a full chord tone like R-3-5-8, etc. is up to you.
I'd stick close to roots and not interfere with the vocalist - they want to hear her not you. I bet the vocalist will bring her own pianist and the pianist is going to take care of the harmony, your job is the beat. Lay down a beat and stay out of the way. Ask if you are to lay the beat on 1 & 3 or 2 & 4, other than that -- good luck.
EDIT - A thought just unloosened - If she does bring her pianist the pianist is going to be stepping on your toes a bunch. Back off the two of them do not need a lot of help.
