Playing Country bass the "correct" way?

[basspraiser]

1 5 1 5 5 1 5 1 3 1 3 4 5 2 1 7 1

Lol

 

[Max Bogosity]

Sometimes older country songs with upright bass have rockabilly-style slap, which you can 'kinda-sorta' fake on electric bass with dead notes. It won't sound the same, but it helps to get the right feel.

Edit: But you need to coordinate that with your drummer. If you both try to play the 'clicks', it can get messy.

 

[Zooberwerx]

I've been in the same country band for the past 14 years and still can't provide a coherent explanation as to my approach. I can't palm mute worth a damn; it's all left hand and right thumb (floating thumb).

I don't wear a big hat or belt buckle.

Riis

 

[jmattbassplaya]

"We play both kinds of music in this band: country AND western."

 

[LBS-bass]

I would just listen to the original recordings of the songs they are doing and hear what the bassist was doing on those. That's the correct way to play them.

 

[Madhouse27]

I thought you muted the verse and let the chorus ring.

 

[JimmyM]

Sometimes you mute, sometimes you ring. There's no hard and fast rule.

 

[bigmikebass]

A little foam goes a long way.

 

[stringtapper]

Claims about what constitutes "real country" aside, making your note durations fit with the snare so they cut off right when the snap comes is one of those things that can really lock in that 2-step pocket, so I do it a lot.

 

[Pauly 4001]

I always thought the Owen Bradley "tic tac" bass was an upright bass, a Dan Electro and a Fender bass playing the same part but says here that it was just the Dan Electro:

Harold Bradley: The Guitarist Of Nashville Past

"GREENE: Still, Bradley did make a name for himself. The tic-tac is a bass sound that you were sort of known for. What exactly is that?

BRADLEY: Well, it's a six-string bass guitar. The bottom four strings are just like the bass but it has two additional strings on top. And I really made a lot of money with it. I'm not going to give any money back.

(LAUGHTER)

BRADLEY: But it is an ugly sound.

GREENE: Can you do it for us?

BRADLEY: Yeah, I actually brought the original bass guitar that I played on Patsy Cline's record here.

GREENE: Oh, wow.

BRADLEY: Try to imagine in your mind that I'm playing "Crazy," OK?

GREENE: I'm imagining it as we speak.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

GREENE: Bradley says "Crazy" was an especially memorable session but it wasn't an easy berth. Patsy Cline had injured her ribs in a car accident and was unable to sustain some of the high notes. So, Harold's brother had the group record without a vocalist, working hours to get it just right.

BRADLEY: We recorded that arrangement and all he got at the end of four hours was a track. Two weeks later, she came back in and he said she sang it in one take. He said when she got through, neither one of us wanted to do it again."

 

[stringtapper]

I do associate that sound with more of the 1980s—present country sound, fwiw.

 

[Neon Scribe]

Generally, you want short duration notes. There are exceptions, but mainly you need to keep notes short by muting them quickly. You need two basic styles, the 1-5 two-feel on the one and the three, and the basic rockabilly walk, some combination of 1-3-5-6 and 8-6-5-3, repeat as necessary. There are variations, but you'll do fine if you start with these. In either case, you'll have an optional diatonic scalar walk up or down leading up to chord changes. Songs often end with a 1-5-1, going down to the 5 and back up to the 1. Mostly the bass sits on top of the beat, but if you stay locked in with the drummer you'll be fine.

 

[cb56]

Best way to latch onto the feel.
Slap on some headphones and listen to a bunch of classic classic country.
btw, there is no right or wrong way as long as you keep it simple.
Country music is about lyrics and melody

 

[nnnnnn]

When you hear someone say "real country music," run away as fast as possible.

When you hear someone say that "real [any genre] music" does something a certain way you know they're likely willfully ignoring many songs and artists from that genre that don't follow whatever rules they're trying to impose.

 

[Rib 13]

The most important thing about playing country music is the belt buckle........ya gotta have one larger than a small satellite dish

 

[David McIntire]

"Correct"? Heh... Art isn't correct. Do what ya do. If folk like it? They will call.

 

[fhm555]

The correct way to play country is to play the same song as the rest of the band.

 

[Mikhail1]

Just remember a lot of country from the late '50's early '60's was tic tac bass. I've gotten that sound by playing with a pic and palm muting.

 

[filmtex]

Red Blooded Texan Country Music Player here....
I palm mute as needed and use fretting hand muting as needed to match the tightness of the drums, depending on the song, of course. Sometimes I use a pick sometimes I finger pluck, sometimes a thumb pick. Sometimes it's a J and sometimes a P, sometimes a fretless, sometimes an upright. Just depends.
There's no right or wrong though. Do what sounds best for the music you're playing.

"Got here as fast as I could" Texan here. I guess I'm landed gentry now that I own property! And you're right on about different styles and techniques for sure. I use a multi-effects pedal and have a few different patches for different styles. 50's country is certainly different from 70's as it is from 80's and current. Serving the song with your playing as the way to go. Good post, good advice.

 

[808P123]

It really depends on the tune and the drummers pocket. Feel trumps everything sometimes you will mute the note to let the snare speak, sometimes you end the note as the snare ends and sometimes they are just big ol long notes. Listen to as much Bob Moore and Glenn Worf as you can, those two will teach you everything you need to know. Cheers.