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Joining a folk band - any tips on nailing the style?

B

BoombasticLarry

Aug 2, 2019
9
9
#1
Hello there TalkBassists,

So it looks like I'm going to join a folk band, which I'm really looking forward to. Mandolin, guitar, violin, vocal harmonies and subtle drums. I'm looking for advice on how to approach joining the mix as a bassist.

My general inclination is towards funk, but I'm pretty versatile. My first band was actually an acoustic folk trio, so I'm not completely unfamiliar with the style, although I played percussion there so it's still a somewhat new prospect.

I've been playing along with the band's recordings, and I seem to fall pretty steadily into root/inverted fifth/passing note, following the strumming rhythm of the guitar. With funk music, I feel the guitar leaves a lot of gaps, and I can add a lot of colour. But in this kind of folk music, the guitar strumming patterns fill up much more space, and I'm quite not sure how best to serve the songs besides a simple rhythmic underpinning.

Does anyone have any advice on how to spice up folk style bass?

Obviously I'm going to research websites too, but I thought I'd ask for some personal input here as well because this is a pretty helpful community.

Happy Friday/holiday weekend to all my low end brothers and sisters!
 
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#2
I just started playing with a new group this summer. We play bluegrass, folk (Dylan, Gordon lightfoot) and country. Banjo, guitar, and a singer/percussionist.

I find that the music needs a lot of Root-5th quarter notes. If I get too fancy it takes away from the melody (or worse, screws people up! :eek: )

I will do the usual country walk up. Ghost notes are great, I can play with rhythmic variation that way, while still being subtle. Occasional 8th note walk- adds a nice exciting drive, but I use it sparingly.

when I get bored, I work on backing vocals! (Tbh, this band has been really great for this :) )
 
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#3
tone: try to get as close to a thumpy upright sound as you can. tapewounds or flats will help and play closer to the neck pickup or even up in the high frets. Put a slice of foam under the strings in front of the bridge to shorten the decay.

technique: stick to the roots and don't over play or get too busy. it's ok to play whole notes on the slower tunes and save the quarters, and eighths for the quicker ones. keep it simple and walk when applicable but also use alternating and creative walk patterns so it doesn't get repetative.
don't be shy of working up the neck.

I know it's old school folk but listen to some Peter Paul & Mary and pay attention to the bass.
And listen to anything and everything Barry Bales has played on.
 
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#6
BoombasticLarry said:
Hello there TalkBassists,

So it looks like I'm going to join a folk band, which I'm really looking forward to. Mandolin, guitar, violin, vocal harmonies and subtle drums. I'm looking for advice on how to approach joining the mix as a bassist.

My general inclination is towards funk, but I'm pretty versatile. My first band was actually an acoustic folk trio, so I'm not completely unfamiliar with the style, although I played percussion there so it's still a somewhat new prospect.

I've been playing along with the band's recordings, and I seem to fall pretty steadily into root/inverted fifth/passing note, following the strumming rhythm of the guitar. With funk music, I feel the guitar leaves a lot of gaps, and I can add a lot of colour. But in this kind of folk music, the guitar strumming patterns fill up much more space, and I'm quite not sure how best to serve the songs besides a simple rhythmic underpinning.

Does anyone have any advice on how to spice up folk style bass?

Obviously I'm going to research websites too, but I thought I'd ask for some personal input here as well because this is a pretty helpful community.

Happy Friday/holiday weekend to all my low end brothers and sisters!
Click to expand...

I'm playing in a roots Jazz / Blues / Classic Rock semi-acoustic trio, I would suggest a few of things. Try an Acoustic Guitar Bass wrapped with some LaBella tape Wounds (if you do fretless, it's even better). You can also use an upright (I use an Stagg EUB for quite a few songs), that would be the schnizzle. A P-Bass wrapped with flats will also work well, IMO. As for technique, if you're using a fretless or upright bass, it will naturally lean towards something that works very well for folk.
 
#9
Don't try. Don't drink coffee. Don't play anything you don't feel.

A lot of Nashville cats get a ton of studio work by playing the bare minimum, so rather than thinking "what can I play " think, what can I leave out. Learn to sing lead or harmony vocals so you have something to think about other than bass playing
 
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#11
BoombasticLarry said:
Hello there TalkBassists,

So it looks like I'm going to join a folk band, which I'm really looking forward to. Mandolin, guitar, violin, vocal harmonies and subtle drums. I'm looking for advice on how to approach joining the mix as a bassist.

My general inclination is towards funk, but I'm pretty versatile. My first band was actually an acoustic folk trio, so I'm not completely unfamiliar with the style, although I played percussion there so it's still a somewhat new prospect.

I've been playing along with the band's recordings, and I seem to fall pretty steadily into root/inverted fifth/passing note, following the strumming rhythm of the guitar. With funk music, I feel the guitar leaves a lot of gaps, and I can add a lot of colour. But in this kind of folk music, the guitar strumming patterns fill up much more space, and I'm quite not sure how best to serve the songs besides a simple rhythmic underpinning.

Does anyone have any advice on how to spice up folk style bass?

Obviously I'm going to research websites too, but I thought I'd ask for some personal input here as well because this is a pretty helpful community.

Happy Friday/holiday weekend to all my low end brothers and sisters!
Click to expand...


I'm not a huge folkie, but IMO you'd be doing that genre and probably your bandmates a disservice to spice it up too much. Maybe some fills every now and than.

There are some genres that you just simply want to lay back in and let the bass serve a more fundamental role.
 
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#19
Well, there is no such thing as a "folk style".

There's lots of kinds of folk music, some don't even call for bass. Traditional Irish and Scottish music doesn't use bass, although modern bands have added it. There's nothing to "spice up" in most cases. It's simple music.

Bluegrass, for example uses root-five 90% of the time and some triad walks (but not jazz walking!!!) now and then. When I play bluegrass that's what I play because that's what sounds right. I've played in some styles where it's just playing roots! The less traditional the band is, the more you can stretch on bass. If they are doing covers listen to the original records and compate that to the way your band is playing the songs.

If you really feel you need to play more, use your ears and if your bandmates ask you to play simpler, do it. Listen to the guitar for bass runs they might be doing (bluegrass rhythm guitar plays root-five on downbeats and chords on backbeats) and of course to whatever the drummer is doing.
 
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