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Country Bass, something infuriating!

B

basstoven

Nov 20, 2008
69
0
Buffalo, ny
#1
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.:crying: 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?
 
#2
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
 
#3
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.
 
#4
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.
 
#5
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.
 
#8
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.
 
#9
salcott said:
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.
Click to expand...

fine with me. i'll drop the whole country and western thing and stick with texas swing. cheers, y'all!
 
#12
testing1two said:
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.
Click to expand...

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

Edit: I guess it ganstagrass I like
 
#17
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.
 
#18
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.
 

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