Rudolf the Red - deceptively hard

[MVE]

So, yeah.
Playing a bass line under this song is deceptively hard.
Playing an R-3-R-5 polka seems to “almost” fit, but the melody/vocal accents the up beat, ru-DOLPH the red-NOSED rein-DEER.
So it doesn’t quite fit.
Anyone have any ideas of what to play or how to count it to blend with the melody better???

 

[Groove Doctor]

I played

A section
I I I V V V V I
I I I V V V V I7

R - 5 - | R - 5 - | R - 3 b3 (shi-ny) | 2 - 5 |

2 - 5 | 2 - 5 | 2 - 5 |

R (glows) 7 6 5 | 1st time

8 (games) b7 5 6 | 2nd time.


B Section

4 4 R 4 | 3 3 6 6 | 2 2 5 5 | 1 1 b2 b2 |
(forgot the next 4 bars)

A Section

R - 5 - | R - 5 - | R - 3 b3 (out with) | 2 (glee) - 5 |

2 - 5 | 2 - 5 | 2 - 5 | 8 7 8 b9 |


Tag
( V7 V7 I I )
9 8 7 6 | 5 4 3 2 | 1 3 4 #4 | 5678 1 ||

 

[MVE]

Yeah, that’s pretty much what I am playing.
But for some reason the rhythm of the melody is throwing me off.
Thanks

 

[Bob_Ross]

It's an archetypal Country Two-Feel.

 

[AGCurry]

Playing an R-3-R-5 polka seems to “almost” fit, but the melody/vocal accents the up beat, ru-DOLPH the red-NOSED rein-DEER.
So it doesn’t quite fit.

In 2/4, you are playing one note per measure, so I assume your "R-3-R-5" represents the first four measures. Why you would play a third in the second measure? That doubles the melody. For this song, R-5-R-5.

The vocal line's accents - except for "ruDOLPH" - are on the upbeat. Nothing wrong with that.

 

[LBS-bass]

Yeah, that’s pretty much what I am playing.
But for some reason the rhythm of the melody is throwing me off.
Thanks

In my head I am hearing the polka thing. The melody does not need to track the rhythm section in order to work. Syncopation is ok here. The first three notes "Rudolph the" go along with the R and then "red-nosed" go with the five, R is "reindeer" and the next five gets the melodic rest, and so on. I'd be tossing in a few turnarounds but I don't see a reason this doesn't work.

Are you trying to sing along with it as well?

 

[AceOfBassFace]

This version has a great bass line

 

[Slevage]

In 2/4, you are playing one note per measure, so I assume your "R-3-R-5" represents the first four measures. Why you would play a third in the second measure? That doubles the melody. For this song, R-5-R-5.

The vocal line's accents - except for "ruDOLPH" - are on the upbeat. Nothing wrong with that.

In 2/4 time, a typical bass line plays on one and two. If written in 4/4 time, it’s one-rest-two-rest. Rests are on beats three and four.
I can’t guess how many Polka gigs I’ve played in the last 40 years-many with formally written arrangements.
13 recordings in my resume.

 

[DWBass]

I hear straight walking and not a Polka style.

 

[AGCurry]

I hear straight walking and not a Polka style.

Well, you can walk just about any 2/4 song, but it's a different kind of cheese.

 

[Spidey2112]

Well, you can walk just about any 2/4 song, but it's a different kind of cheese.

Welp, bring the pepperjack while you're at it, cause baby... it's cold outside.

 

[LBS-bass]

I hear straight walking and not a Polka style.

You could do that, too. I think the traditional arrangements mostly have the polka 2/4 feel but there's no reason you can't walk it if that's the style you're going for.

 

[Eli_Kyiv]

Here's the walking bass line for the song.

 

[MVE]

Im playing it just bass and vocals.
The written part is 1-r-5–r.
But that isn’t filled out enough without other instruments.
So I was playing 1-3-1-5.
Only the first measure was giving me a problem.
I just couldn’t sing the melody right over that rhythm. It just kept coming out with ‘Dolph on beat 2 instead of 1and. Lol

 

[Groove Doctor]

Im playing it just bass and vocals.

Only the first measure was giving me a problem.

I just couldn’t sing the melody right over that rhythm. It just kept coming out with ‘Dolph on beat 2 instead of 1and. Lol

If in doubt, simplify.

You could add some ghost notes to add some drive.

 

[AGCurry]

Im playing it just bass and vocals.
The written part is 1-r-5–r.
But that isn’t filled out enough without other instruments.
So I was playing 1-3-1-5.
Only the first measure was giving me a problem.
I just couldn’t sing the melody right over that rhythm. It just kept coming out with ‘Dolph on beat 2 instead of 1and. Lol

All that means is that you have trouble singing syncopatingly over nonsyncopated bass lines. If you're playing 2/4, all you have to play is root on "Ru" and five on "red." Don't try to make your bass line make up for lack of other instruments; if you want that upbeat, you should be playing guitar or piano.

 

[AGCurry]

In 2/4 time, a typical bass line plays on one and two.

Maybe in your universe, but not in mine. In Klezmer (not unlike polka in many respects), I play one note per 2/4 measure. Same with Country and Western.

 

[Slevage]

Maybe in your universe, but not in mine. In Klezmer (not unlike polka in many respects), I play one note per 2/4 measure. Same with Country and Western.

Klez- yes. All the polkas I’ve played in 40 + years — one note per beat when written by professional arrangers (with Grammy recordings in their resume). Send me your email and I’ll give you a sample.

 

[AGCurry]

Klez- yes. All the polkas I’ve played in 40 + years — one note per beat when written by professional arrangers (with Grammy recordings in their resume). Send me your email and I’ll give you a sample.

Interesting. I suppose it depends on how it's counted - one-and-two-and (polka), or thinking of the two as the "and" of one.

 

[Slevage]

Interesting. I suppose it depends on how it's counted - one-and-two-and (polka), or thinking of the two as the "and" of one.

Typical polka bass line at double bar.