COUNTRY TABS!!!

[cassanova]

Originally posted by georgecarter
Do what with the scales?? I'm not very well educated on theory so I have very limited knowledge on scales. Care to try and educate me?

There are 12 keys (scales) all have a major and minor scale. Figure out what those notes are and then write them out in their propor order in the circle of fifths (theres an existing thread on the circle of 5ths here at TB)


major scale is R-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8

natural minor (aeloian) is R-1-b3-4-5-6-b7-8

the interval stuff i mentioned earlier is kinda hard for me to explain as its still something im learning.

but if you look above youll see i wrote out the intervals of the major and minor sclaes. Youll see the major scale has a major 3, and major 7, where the minor has a b3, b7.

theres also a good thread on intervals too, you should check it out.

 

[georgecarter]

Cassanova,
I will check out those threads later today.

 

[Steve-D]

Help me!
I just joined a country band and I need some country bass tabs asap!! Anybody know any sites that I can get them from??!!

I am looking for country tabs too. While I like the amount of replies that are here it doesn't help me now. I think you were asking for help right away. Everything the replies show that it is important to learn all they are talking about. You aren't going to learn Music Theory overnight. Just my two pennies worth.

 

[Malcolm35]

Country bands will play from fake chord sheet music. The director will hand out the fake chord sheet music -- and every one plays from the same sheet of music. That way everyone is together. I never had a director tab out anything for me. Rock, Pop, Country or Praise, it's all fake chord.

Ask the rhythm guitar for a copy of the fake chord sheet music they use, put it into a binder. This becomes you gig book.

Here is a classic: video heartache by the numbers - Bing video.

Here is some fake chord sheet: Heartaches By The Number Chords - George Jones - Cowboy Lyrics

Strum the root of the active chord to the time signature beat of the song, 4/4 or 3/4. Sing the lyrics under your breath as you play - to keep up with where the other guys are in the song. Pound roots right at first, then when that flows add the V chord for a Root on the first beat and a V of the 3rd beat. If there is a drummer lock with his kick drum for the rhythm. Singing under your breath with the lead vocalist helps.

If you are going to be in a Country band you have to learn how to play from fake chord as that is what they hand out. Its not rocket science and you'll be holding your own in a week or so.

If you find the I chord's root on the A string the IV chord is up a string same fret, and the V chord is down a string same fret. Piece of cake.

The V from any root is down a string same fret, or up a string and toward the bridge two frets. That's all you need for the first 6 months.

Good Luck.

 

[DanM01]

I wish I had read Malcolm35's advice 2 years ago! This is the best piece of advice I have read about playing bass in a band. It is not limited to country, as you can apply the same method in many genres, from rock to blues, to pop, to reggae, etc.

My band and I have a slowly expanding catalogue in various genres. We started with country and are now playing rockabilly, classic rock, ballads, folk, grunge, etc. I am a perfectionist... At first, my way of learning new songs was to get a Guitar Pro tab from sites like UG, then try to play the bass line from a tab. Works fine until I needed to (a) transpose because our singer sang in another key and (b) when we got to more than 50 songs. I don't want to rely on a tablet or iPad in a band practice or live situation.

Make sure the band agrees on a key, use the same chord sheet, and get a general feel for the song (general rhythm, tempo and time signature, chord changes). For new songs I am not familiar with, I will ask a guitarist who knows the song to strum it, that will generally help me with my bass line. Lastly, I try to "get out of the way" of our drummer. By not playing a note when he plays the snare drum!

 

[two fingers]

No disrespect intended, but does anyone really need tabulature to learn country?

1) Modern country is pretty much rock music. There aren't many Kenny Rogers or Waylon Jennings-style songs being released these days.

2) Nashville studio musicians are some of the most talented and inventive musicians on the planet. Some of those bass lines are very interesting. (Not all of them, of course. But not all rock, metal, jazz, etc. bass lines are inventive/interesting either.)

 

[motoman]

Country bands will play from fake chord sheet music. The director will hand out the fake chord sheet music -- and every one plays from the same sheet of music. That way everyone is together. I never had a director tab out anything for me. Rock, Pop, Country or Praise, it's all fake chord.

Ask the rhythm guitar for a copy of the fake chord sheet music they use, put it into a binder. This becomes you gig book.

Here is a classic: video heartache by the numbers - Bing video.

Here is some fake chord sheet: Heartaches By The Number Chords - George Jones - Cowboy Lyrics

Strum the root of the active chord to the time signature beat of the song, 4/4 or 3/4. Sing the lyrics under your breath as you play - to keep up with where the other guys are in the song. Pound roots right at first, then when that flows add the V chord for a Root on the first beat and a V of the 3rd beat. If there is a drummer lock with his kick drum for the rhythm. Singing under your breath with the lead vocalist helps.

If you are going to be in a Country band you have to learn how to play from fake chord as that is what they hand out. Its not rocket science and you'll be holding your own in a week or so.

If you find the I chord's root on the A string the IV chord is up a string same fret, and the V chord is down a string same fret. Piece of cake.

The V from any root is down a string same fret, or up a string and toward the bridge two frets. That's all you need for the first 6 months.

View attachment 4025164

Good Luck.

Would you be able to explain this method a little simpler . I am interested in learning this but I can, t wrap my head around it. Thanks

 

[Steve-D]

1) Modern country is pretty much rock music. There aren't many Kenny Rogers or Waylon Jennings-style songs being released these days.

2) Nashville studio musicians are some of the most talented and inventive musicians on the planet. Some of those bass lines are very interesting. (Not all of them, of course. But not all rock, metal, jazz, etc. bass lines are inventive/interesting either.)

Love your granny, sounds a lot like my late mother.

 

[Malcolm35]

Would you be able to explain this method a little simpler. I am interested in learning this, but I can't wrap my head around it. Thanks

Fake chord looks like this: Eagles - Hotel California (Chords)

• Got it by using the following search words -- chords, hotel california.
• Follow the song's lyrics and play the root note of the chord that is active -- when these lyrics are being played. Notice some words are two and three syllables long and may take more than one chord.
• Follow the chords, and the beat of the kick drum.
• Roots work, but by themselves it gets a little boring. So, throw in a five. The rest of the chord's notes, i.e. the correct (major or minor) 3, 7 and 8 will be safe, i.e. R-3-5-b7.
• Lot of info on the Internet on how to use fake chord, just ask Google.

Take the fake chord on Hotel California and put it on your music stand, now call up a video of Hotel California. Now that you are armed with your fake chord play the video and see how you do. Helps to sing the lyrics under your breath.

Happy trails.

 

[motoman]

Thank you i will try this

 

[devnulljp]

I-V-I-V-I-V-I-V .... wash rinse repeat

 

[Bald-N-Bassy]

I play bass in an original modern country band. When we do covers, typically I either figure it out by ear or go on YouTube and watch bass covers.
a lot of newer country uses the same formula. Like others have stated, being familiar with common runs and shapes is super helpful. Knowing basic pentatonic scales that work with the chords helps break up the monotony of root 5th or simple triads, and helps make transitions a lot more fun.
Pop/modern Country isn’t a hard genre to play. But I do try to lock in with the drummer and play in the pocket. Keeping things tight and knowing when to use the 5th string low notes vs the octave.

 

[DanM01]

Fake chord looks like this: Eagles - Hotel California (Chords)
Take the fake chord on Hotel California and put it on your music stand, now call up a video of Hotel California. Now that you are armed with your fake chord play the video and see how you do. Helps to sing the lyrics under your breath.

Happy trails.

I have a very similar approach to learn new songs quickly.
If my band starts playing a particular song frequently however, I'll take the time to improve the bass line. I'll listen to the song repeatedly, look at tabs (I use Guitar Pro), and watch videos. My goal isn't to do a "100% note-for-note" bass line. It's more to understand the "feel" of the song.

 

[Wannabebass]

Here is a link to some country basslines - I probably found it here on another thread:
Country Bass – Bass Transcriptions