That's correct, and it was unclear that I was really referring to the original version of Etta James' "I'd Rather Go Blind" which Stapleton basically copied, or mashed up, for his version of "Tennessee Whiskey." So, to restate, the original writer of "I'd Rather Go Blind" and/or whoever played bass on that song, obviously played it with a particular vision, and part, and didn't just jam through the changes.
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Does "Tennessee Whiskey" have a difficult bass part?
- Thread starter 51PRI
- Start date
I preferred George when he was still known as “Thumper” Jones and played Rockabilly.
Must love ‘White Lightening ’
Must love ‘White Lightening ’
Such a strange thread, with the scattergun responses.
my 0.02;
no, Tennessee Whiskey is not a difficult bass line. The feel, the flow, of the song however - is very easy to screw up. It’s a bluesy tune, laid back. When we play it, I try to stick to simple, with well placed, but simple, embellishments. People like the song. It’s a good song. It’s not Jaco, but it’s not trying to be.
my 0.02;
no, Tennessee Whiskey is not a difficult bass line. The feel, the flow, of the song however - is very easy to screw up. It’s a bluesy tune, laid back. When we play it, I try to stick to simple, with well placed, but simple, embellishments. People like the song. It’s a good song. It’s not Jaco, but it’s not trying to be.
- Apr 18, 2008
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- I'm highly opinionated and extremely self-assured
I don't understand this.
The bass line - at least the currently popular Chris Stapleton version - might be simple, but in order to support the song, you have to snuggle down deep into the pocket, in a very deliberate and conscious way. It takes concentration, which is another way of saying it's a delightful opportunity to enjoy playing waaaaaay on the back side of the beat.
If you think playing an extremely slow and simple bass part like the Stapleton version is "boring" and "makes you go to sleep", then you're not paying adequate attention. Playing quality notes, at exactly the right time, of exactly the right duration, and not filling the whole thing up with a bunch of twiddling, requires careful attention and mindfulness.
- Apr 18, 2008
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Exactly. Any bass player can play those notes, but it takes a musician to play them right!
Yes, very true. And I really think it's not a matter of not being able to play the parts, for the bass players that I've played the song with, but them just not wanting to. They just want to doodle around and just jam through it which, to my ears, completely changes the feel.
Question: When our band practices tomorrow night should I insist that our bass player play the part right? If my doing so pi$$e$ him off enough that he quits then maybe he's not the guy?
Insist is probably not the best way. Too confrontational. Ask them to play it the way it is on the record as that is the arrangement the band is playing. Have a decent recording of the song you can play through an amp so they can hear the bass line clearly. A competent player shouldn’t have any problem nailing it.
Define what you mean by "right" that you want the bass player to play.
Do you mean exactly like the record?
Or maybe a good spare in the pocket 12/8 feel, but I'd really like you to make sure to nail that triplet walkup that comes along every so often?
Or just a good spare in the pocket 12/8 groove?
The first one I'd probably not do. The last two I could and would do, because they would make sense.
Do you mean exactly like the record?
Or maybe a good spare in the pocket 12/8 feel, but I'd really like you to make sure to nail that triplet walkup that comes along every so often?
Or just a good spare in the pocket 12/8 groove?
The first one I'd probably not do. The last two I could and would do, because they would make sense.
Yes. I just want to hear what the song sounds like when that bass groove part is there.
That's true. A competent player should not have a problem nailing a part that is literally the exact same part for the entire song.
- Apr 18, 2008
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Haven't read the rest of the thread, yet, but...
That's where I've heard it before! (And you're right.) Thank you!
