Country Bass, something infuriating!

[basstoven]

Lets start this off by saying Country Western is possibly the my favorite genre of music. I only listen to three stations when im driving by myself. Country, Classic Rock, and Jazz, while the dial is on country most of the time. Like wise my wife listens to Country just as much and she also listens to top 40. Any ways you have great guitar player like Keith Urban, and fiddlers who can jam the hell out. Thinking Charlie Daniels and Allison Kraus. Most of the bass i hear (is usualy mixed to low) is just a root-fifth half note pattern. Is there any country bassists who lay down a good groove? I know the "song is king" and not to "step on the singer." Bella fleck and the fleck tone features victor wooten and their a blue grass band. Country western has roots in blue grass so why can't the bass transfer?

[yodedude2]

let's not confuse country with western. they are 2 seperate genres. if you want to hear the groove, check out some western swing ('western' for short). it's probably not on your radio...might start with asleep at the wheel and junior brown. cheers, ron

[Aaron_D]

Nashville bass is often sublte, mature, and brilliant. If you are looking for flashy, Wooten type playing, you are going to be disappointed.

Knowing when not to play, when to hold down the groove, and when to throw in a sick lick is more impressive than all the slapping, tapping, and wanking a youtube bedroom bassist can muster.

[salcott]

In a lot of country music, "good groove" IS simple root/fifth half notes that lock with the drummer and propel the music. also, It aint just half notes, though-just as important to the groove is where you stop each note; it could be a full half note, a 1/4 note 1/4 rest, dotted quarter 8th rest, triplet feel with the last note of the triplet rest, etc. Two-beat country is not as simple as it sounds.

[salcott]

yodedude, I'm gonna have to disagree with you; "Western" is not short for "Western Swing". Country is its own thing whether it's classic or modern. When I hear "Western", I think of cowboy music (Don Edwards, for example), another distinct genre. Of course, there is a lot of crossover, and each style has influenced the others. Most of the Western Swing players I know play country (got to be able to play a Ray Price shuffle) and play it well, but are very serious about the distinction.

[Steve]

The name you're looking for is Kevin Grantt. They'll let him get above the double dots...for one or two measures.

[rhino333]

+1 asleep at the wheel
+1 junior brown

[testing1two]

While country bass lines rarely stand out, they are thoughtfully constructed and perfectly played. Next time you are practicing, put on a country song and try to embellish the bass line. You'll hear all the places where extra notes don't fit and you'll appreciate the perfect placement and execution of the ones that do. Then play some Motown and Tower of Power to channel your inner funk.

[yodedude2]

Originally Posted by salcott

yodedude, I'm gonna have to disagree with you; "Western" is not short for "Western Swing". Country is its own thing whether it's classic or modern. When I hear "Western", I think of cowboy music (Don Edwards, for example), another distinct genre. Of course, there is a lot of crossover, and each style has influenced the others. Most of the Western Swing players I know play country (got to be able to play a Ray Price shuffle) and play it well, but are very serious about the distinction.

fine with me. i'll drop the whole country and western thing and stick with texas swing. cheers, y'all!

[BookMDanelectro]

Buck Owen and the Buckaroos. Country music does not get any better than that IMO. Love that Bakersfield sound!

[RCCollins]

Ray Price used to have this awesome bass player named Willie somethinorother.... I think he had a couple kids named Matt and Gunnar?

[Clark Dark]

Originally Posted by testing1two

While country bass lines rarely stand out, they are thoughtfully constructed and perfectly played. Next time you are practicing, put on a country song and try to embellish the bass line. You'll hear all the places where extra notes don't fit and you'll appreciate the perfect placement and execution of the ones that do. Then play some Motown and Tower of Power to channel your inner funk.

Is that why I can listen to the opening theme of "Justified" all day long ?

Edit: I guess it ganstagrass I like
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXKSuHuYslU

[turbo chicken]

sounds like i need to pick up some country music ... i got the root 5th thing down ...

[TC2112]

Originally Posted by RCCollins

Ray Price used to have this awesome bass player named Willie somethinorother.... I think he had a couple kids named Matt and Gunnar?

wow - not even close

Willie was a bass player and song writer for Ray Price (and a song writer for most of Nashville at the time) but the Nelson boys (Matt and Gunnar) are sons of Rickie Nelson, grandchildren of Ozzie and Harriet.

[mebusdriver]

Check out the Zac Brown band. You've prolly heard some stuff on the radio. But if you listen to the albums there's some cool stuff on there. Solid, SOLID, SOLID, SOLID, drum and bass lines. Hella tone too.

[mebusdriver]

TTT for some new western swing, or country, or country and western, or texas swing...... Or whatever. I'm really getting into country and really want some more music to check out. I like some "bluesy" country too.

[TC2112]

I find myself really influenced lately by a lot of the alt. country / americana / roots music style stuff. Whiskeytown, Uncle Tupelo, Steve Earle, Wilco, The Legendary Gram Parsons and that first Flying Burrito Brothers record. I find that if you want to listen to great country, you have to go back, because in my opinion, the future isn't so bright. Stuff like the early Emmylou Harris and the Hot Band, Willie's stuff around the Red-Headed Stranger, Shotgun Willie era is just killer (listen to that groove during the choruses of Whiskey River).

George Jones is always great IMO as well as Townes Van Zandt, and some of my favorite blues country ever is from the Stones around the Sticky Fingers, Exile era. Far Away Eyes, Dead Flowers and Torn and Frayed are classic examples of their country influence.

And a big +1 to the Buck Owens / Bakersfield stuff.

[Musiclogic]

Maybe I am just old, but how could this many posts go without Mentioning Leland Sklar??? You want some bass in country, start looking into some of Lee Sklar's work, should be a fine study in playing within the song, and where a little more works in Country.

[sammyp]

dude ,,you're ears are wide shut man ....there's lot's of great bass and mixed well in modern country ...especially keith urban ...check out his DVD Livin' Right Now with Mark Hill on bass and get to work....

[Melik]

David Hungate!