50s Style Band

[bigthemat]

Hey y'all,

Gonna be playing some gigs with a cover band, and one of the sets they will be doing is a "Sock Hop" full of 50s songs like Rockin Robin, ShBoom, Good Golly Ms Molly, etc. The chord progressions are all pretty similar and I'm not worried about playing the right notes, however, this is just a style that I've never really played before and want to make sure I can help sell it.

So, what should I be aware of technique wise? I'm guessing a lot of palm muting, probably play on a p bass, but what else am I missing?

Any help appreciated.

 

[g-dude]

Maybe play with your thumb.

After all, that's what the original tug bar placement indicates:

 

[Lobster11]

Playing that stuff is a blast. A few thoughts off the top of my head:

1. It's all blues-based -- just (usually) happier and faster -- so whatever you know about playing blues will help.

2. The major pentatonic scale is your best friend: especially 1-3-5-6.

3. A lot of your bass lines will be similar and seemingly repetitive, but this is a feature rather than a bug. Just rock it and the audience will be happy.

I personally disagree with @g-dude about playing with your thumb. I think you should feel free to play fingerstyle or even with a pick if you feel like it. IMO nothing matters other than locking with the drummer (who hopefully can provide a fat back-beat) and making it rock.

 

[bigthemat]

Playing that stuff is a blast. A few thoughts off the top of my head:

1. It's all blues-based -- just (usually) happier and faster -- so whatever you know about playing blues will help.

2. The major pentatonic scale is your best friend: especially 1-3-5-6.

3. A lot of your bass lines will be similar and seemingly repetitive, but this is a feature rather than a bug. Just rock it and the audience will be happy.

I personally disagree with @g-dude about playing with your thumb. I think you should feel free to play fingerstyle or even with a pick if you feel like it. IMO nothing matters other than locking with the drummer (who hopefully can provide a fat back-beat) and making it rock.

Thanks!

The drummer I jammed with last night was great. No issues there. And yeah, it's a bit repetitive but it is fun.

 

[g-dude]

Playing that stuff is a blast. A few thoughts off the top of my head:

1. It's all blues-based -- just (usually) happier and faster -- so whatever you know about playing blues will help.

2. The major pentatonic scale is your best friend: especially 1-3-5-6.

3. A lot of your bass lines will be similar and seemingly repetitive, but this is a feature rather than a bug. Just rock it and the audience will be happy.

I personally disagree with @g-dude about playing with your thumb. I think you should feel free to play fingerstyle or even with a pick if you feel like it. IMO nothing matters other than locking with the drummer (who hopefully can provide a fat back-beat) and making it rock.

The thumb thing is for tone, and people were still doing it into the 1960s - McCartney made use of his thumb from time to time.

Also, don't play any notes below the A on your E string. 1950s bass amps sucked, and people tended to avoid the really low notes as a result based on what I've read.

 

[Malcolm35]

Just follow the chords and root on one. PEGGY SUE CHORDS (ver 2) by Buddy Holly @ Ultimate-Guitar.Com

 

[Blues Daddy]

I've played plenty of sock hops back in the day . . . . I suggest . . .

* use an upright ('dog house') bass if you can
* if using a bass guitar, strap it high on your body with the neck pointing up
* if you wear glasses, wrap a bunch of scotch tape around one of the arm hinges
* stock up on "Brylcreem"
* practice your duckwalk
* Have Fun !!! Sock Hops Rock !

 

[bassfran]

Thumb and foam mute at the bridge w/flats. Thud in da' mud.

 

[GreyBeard]

I use a p-bass with flats and a foam mute for 50's stuff

 

[Malcolm35]

I use a p-bass with flats and a foam mute for 50's stuff

I use that for everything. Course I'm old school and just like that sound...

 

[chris_b]

A Precision with flats would be "period correct", but many different basses were used in the 50's.

Don't bother with palm muting. A little foam under the strings by the bridge might work, either way let the notes ring.

Don't over play. Keep it simple, lock in with the drummer. . . . and swing!

 

[dangevans]

Play the way you normally play. No need to change your entire technique- thousands of us play this kind of stuff with our normal technique and as long as the parts are played correctly style/note-wise, people will be happy.

 

[Dana R Gregory]

Practice your walking bass lines. You will need them. Also, listen to lots of rockabilly. That will go over well. Have fun and enjoy it.

 

[g-dude]

Play the way you normally play. No need to change your entire technique- thousands of us play this kind of stuff with our normal technique and as long as the parts are played correctly style/note-wise, people will be happy.

You can totally do that as well…

…but frankly it’s a lot more fun to try to connect with the spirit of how it was originally done, and getting into the mindset might even result in better music.

There’s no reason why the guitarist can’t show up with a day glow superstrat and a Marshall JCM800, but I think we’d agree that it’d be be cooler if he had a Strat and some sort of tweed amp.

 

[buldog5151bass]

The audience isn't going to worry if you don't have an "authentic 50s" bass tone. Like any gig, find a sound that fits the mix. But keep your lines simple, lock with the kick drum, and "flats and foam" will work.

 

[InhumanResource]

Hey y'all,

Gonna be playing some gigs with a cover band, and one of the sets they will be doing is a "Sock Hop" full of 50s songs like Rockin Robin, ShBoom, Good Golly Ms Molly, etc. The chord progressions are all pretty similar and I'm not worried about playing the right notes, however, this is just a style that I've never really played before and want to make sure I can help sell it.

So, what should I be aware of technique wise? I'm guessing a lot of palm muting, probably play on a p bass, but what else am I missing?

Any help appreciated.

Palm muting or the old “stuff some foam down by the bridge” worked well for me. My old band did a 50s medley that always went over well. This stuff is a blast to play - I used to do neck pickup soloed on an active jazz with the tone rolled all the way off. Pam muting and foam mute sounded pretty similar to me, which one I picked was a matter of convenience. Have fun!

 

[lunarpollen]

You have a P bass, palm muting is good, flatwound strings would be ideal. I would just recommend downloading high-quality soundfiles of the original tunes on the set list and getting super familiar with the bass lines. Make a playlist of all the tunes, put it on repeat, listen throughout the day, while driving, etc. When you have free moments to sit down with a bass, play along with them and see how close you can get to the bass sound on the recordings.

 

[HardNHeavy]

my last bad was an oldies thing with some "shaboomy sock hop stuff"... Doesn't matter what bass imo. I did it on my J and the songs were similar, blues based...Got boring for me, but the lil old blue haired retirees loved it.

 

[KevInDaBassment]

…but frankly it’s a lot more fun to try to connect with the spirit of how it was originally done, and getting into the mindset might even result in better music...

Well put ^

If it's just a regular gig playing some 50s tunes, perfectly fine to just use whatever works or is comfortable. When the band has a sort of gimmick (not in a negative way, as in a fun and lighthearted theme), it's a real blast to try and fit the bill as much as possible. Sure, you can show up to a Halloween party or historical period festival in regular clothes, but it's a lot more fun to go "in costume"

Color me jealous, OP. My Daphne Blue Jazz and Precision basses scream to play this sort of music live, but alas it's not exactly in the cards right now. I'd totally be down for some cardigan sweaters, matching suits, or maybe even bowling shirts for said gig

 

[micguy]

I think the folks on here don't realize just how rare bass guitars were in the 50's - they existed, but almost everyone, for most of that decade was playing uprights - even in the 60's, bass guitars were still pretty rare things.