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The Blues

#23

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#24
Whousedtoplay said:
Just a "curveball" question.

Everyone is praising those very simple bass-lines in blues.
Does it mean that, any bass player, even a beginner one, could be good at Blues, because,
It's so easy to play it(?).
Click to expand...
Yes, even a beginner could be good at blues.
Emphasis on "could."
Back when I was a teenager learning guitar I was really into Skip James, and one of the first songs I learned was "Devil Got My Woman." Cool song in open D minor tuning. One day I was hanging out on the porch (as one does on summer days down here in Georgia) with an older, far more experienced guitarist. He listened to my version and said "Wow, love that. You should record before you get any better."
 
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#25
Our band plays blues but not really traditional and we definitely don't stick to original versions. We play more blues rock. It's just what the whole band most enjoys. To me, it's more about the band jelling and "feeling" the same thing and just having the same sound goal. Here's me and my sons playing our version of blues. Just a pre-excuse, not my bass amp, not my son's drum kit, and not My son's number one guitar.
 
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#26
Whousedtoplay said:
Here is the same track but with a different bass player, who plays a different bass-line.
Could you tell me which bass-line sounds more attractive to you?

Click to expand...

I think Shannon’s line is smoother, more step wise and chromatic motion . The other line is more traditional, with bigger jumps. Shannon plays more like a jazz player, which is part of what makes him special.
 
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#27
CallMeAl said:
Duck Dunn was the guy that got me interested in bass. I pretty much like anything Willie Weeks does, especially with Clapton.

I submit for your consideration, Mr Tommy Shannon
Click to expand...


Tommie Shannon was my introduction to blues bass. I was playing guitar for a guy who made CD's for bar bands back when SRV was really big. We normally cut the bass and drums and then added the guitar. The bass player didnt show, so I played the bass part to some SRV songs. I am sure sure Texas Flood was one of them. I had no idea what I was doing but it was enough for me to move on and get my guitar part done. I borrowed the guys bass for the week and got hooked.

The SRV Bass Line Book was the first book I bought to learn bass.

Years later, I played briefly with a guitarist who was a friend of SRV and had Tommy Shannon play the bass on his recordings. He wanted me to copy everything note for note off his CD. Wasnt what I thought the band was about and I moved on.
 
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#29
IamGroot said:
so I played the bass part to some SRV songs. I am sure sure Texas Flood was one of them. I had no idea what I was doing
Click to expand...

Currently, you are an established bass player; therefore, please, don't write that "someone, who had no idea how to play the blues bass, was able to record some SRV songs.
No wonder, those other kinds of musicians are telling us that EVERYONE could easily play the bass.

LOL!

A very cool story. Thanks for sharing it.
 
#30
Whousedtoplay said:
Here is the same track but with a different bass player, who plays a different bass-line.
Could you tell me which bass-line sounds more attractive to you?

Click to expand...


I am in a Blues/Blues Rock band. My playing sounds more like the AK/SRV version than Tommy Shannon's version. I hope to play like Tommy some day, with all of the movement he does.

Tommy is my favorite followed by Duck Dunn, then Willie Weeks, then probably Keith Ferguson (early Fabulous T-Birds).



For blues, it is about the timing and locking in with the drummer, and playing with feeling, than it is playing fast, or complex, or using novelty tricks (slapping, tapping, etc.). There are places for those styles/methods, just not in the Blues.
 
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#31
Whousedtoplay said:
Just a "curveball" question.

Everyone is praising those very simple bass-lines in blues.
Does it mean that, any bass player, even a beginner one, could be good at Blues, because,
It's so easy to play it(?).
Click to expand...

Not only can it be difficult for a beginner bass player to play the blues well, even established professionals do not always play blues well. This video remined me how great Dusty Hill (R.I.P.) and Frank Beard truly were. The bass and drums on this video ain't doin' for me.



Edit: I re-listened to the song again and the bass player is OK, it is the drummer that can't play the groove like Frank. Sorry Kenny....
 
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#34
Polish Thunder said:
Not only can it be difficult for a beginner bass player to play the blues well, even established professionals do not always play blues well. This video remined me how great Dusty Hill (R.I.P.) and Frank Beard truly were. The bass and drums on this video ain't doin' for me.



Won't be the first time Kenny has gotten the boot. Amazing drummer, but not everyone's cup of tea. Now Vinnie.....

Edit: I re-listened to the song again and the bass player is OK, it is the drummer that can't play the groove like Frank. Sorry Kenny....
Click to expand...
 
#38
Whousedtoplay said:
Everyone is praising those very simple bass-lines in blues. Does it mean that, any bass player, even a beginner one, could be good at Blues, because, It's so easy to play it(?).
Click to expand...

There's a difference between Simple and Simplistic.
There's also the skill/talent/wisdom/what-have-you of knowing when a musical situation calls for a Simple solution...beginners rarely have that.
Ergo...
 
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#39
Let’s not forget the great Gerald Jemmott either. His playing with BB King on "Live and Well" and "Completely Well" and with Freddie King on "Freddie King is a Blues Master" and "My Feeling For the Blues" are excellent. Definitely a bit busier and leaning almost into funk at times but great nonetheless IMHO.

I’ve never really dig into John McVie. Please share some more recommended albums or tracks either here or via PM if you’ve got them!
 
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