• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Double Bass What Makes A Great Bluegrass Bassist?

#41
lefty5 said:
i do some recording here at the house for mostly local bands and when i go to mix it is amazing how bad it sounds when you remove the bass track.
i look at it like this
a bluegrass sound is like building house
the bass is the foundation ( nobody gets to see it, but you gotta have it and its gotta be right).


terry m
Click to expand...

Yes but ...There is a lot of great roots and bluegrass that doesn't have any bass.
I've got a bunch of bass-less Doc Watson and the Pizza Tapes are nice too.
The bass-less stuff can be looked at as music minus bass to play along with.
It would make a nice thread to have a list of bass-less recordings.
 
#42
I agree that the bass doesn't need to be walking over the instruments that are doing a lot of runs, walking, etc. Too muddy.

The situation I am in, a bluegrass gospel band, is fun for me since the only other instruments are a guitar (rhythm only, no interest in moving around) and a banjo (takes leads, but no interest in moving around during the vocals). These guys are concentrating on singing and actually want the bass to move around some to liven things up behind the singers.

So if you are anxious to be out of the 1-5 you might want to explore a group where vocal harmony is the main thrust of the band, such that the other instruments aren't that active. (Super bands do it all, of course, but there's lots of fun to be had if you can round up good vocal harmonizers and a dependable rhythm guitar.)

BTW, I just found this site and the wealth of information and civility is greatly appreciated!
 
  • Like
Reactions: michaeln
#43
It's kind of like making friends. The vast majority of the time it is a welcome accident.

It sounds to me that you can hear the diffence between well played music that which is not so well played. If you search out some 'grass in your area you will most certainly find some people looking for an excuse to pick. Now bluegrass being the only music known to man that 90% of its fans also play, (or attempt to play) it will likely take a jam or five to find some decent pickers.

Once you settle in with some friends and get comfortable, when and where to toss in a run or two will just fall on top of your head like the "ton of bricks" you have heard of.

If you don't already own them, go and get any or all of the Bluegrass Album Band releases, especially the first one. Todd Phillips is probably the master of tasteful understated bluegrass bass playing.

Trust me when I say this.......LEAVE THE SLAP AT HOME untill you really know where to put it. Bubb played for years before I started to hear it worked into his style.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back