Approach to playing new country bass (moving from rock bass)

[Holdsg]

I'm sure I'm in the minority here, so I know that already.

I've been hankering for a while to get into a country band playing bass.

Now the kind of country I'm thinking about has more rock in it than traditional country. (Zach, Kenny, Blake, Brad, Carrie, Lady A, Rascall Flatts, etc.)

Some of the country people hate that kind of music.

Some of the new country people hate the old twangy stuff. (Merle, Hank, Loretta, etc)

And the rockers hate it all, I get that.

So I already know enough about the new country, and what people feel about it.

My question, for any of you out there in bass-land that play new country, is I pretty much assume that what will work in a classic rock setting, as far as gear, technique, tone, etc., will work for new country.
I am not talking heavy/alt/post whatever core, but if you can follow my logic, if someone can stay well within a rock song's pocket, I have to think he'll do just fine in a country pocket, he'll probably just play more I - V than anything else.

If Craig were still around (miss that dude! he was always hilarious), I would ask him, but he's not, so I'm asking y'all.

Oh, and while I'm at it, what kind of boots should an aspiring country bass player wear to his audition?

 

[ivbenaplayin]

Play a bongo and wear Ariats...

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[Holdsg]

Thanks, checked out some Ariats tonight at Boot Barn. Very nice boots.

 

[OldManMusic]

I see that Jack is wearing Converse in the last gig picture. If it works for Jack, that's good enough for me.

 

[Holdsg]

I hear you, but isn't wearing Converse in Texas kinda like wearing cowboy boots in Cali?

 

[Holdsg]

I liked these:

 

[Yango]

I wear these, they're made by Boulet, and man are they ever comfortable. Not exactly a cowboy boot, but I thought I'd throw it out there anyhow.

You might get some flak about your pointy bass, but when they hear how nice it sounds, that might shut them up. I know I took a ton of flak for playing my little square headless Steinberger bass in one of my blues bands (I hadn't discovered the awesomeness of Musicman back then...).

 

[Freddels]

When I lived in TX, ropers were always an acceptable boot to wear.

 

[Holdsg]

I wouldn't necessarily bring the "pointy bass" to the audition. Probably one of my P-s. Some people just aren't ready for the pointy bass.

 

[five7]

pointy bass/pointy boots Live a little!

 

[lpdeluxe]

I've played country and rock with the same amp, bass and chops. I leave the boots, hat and cowboy shirt at home when I'm at a rock gig, but everything else is the same. Now that I finally have an SR 5, I'll see how that translates between genres.

I don't see a lot of conflict between traditional country, new country and rock. On some material ("He Stopped Loving Her Today") you don't have a lot of room for rocking out, but most country songs allow as much freedom as you can handle -- and the same case can be made for rock. Some songs have to be played pretty much as written and others let you, if you will, "rock out."

 

[Psycho Ward]

Just think of the simplest bass line you can imagine, then play half of that. You can thank me later.

 

[Holdsg]

nice, and I will

 

[ivbenaplayin]

One thing i will say about the bass lines in new country rock music is that there really is a lot of stuff going on in the pocket melodically as well as rhythmically that really needs to be articulated properly or it just sounds bad... If you're gonna play stuff like Lady A or Jason Aldean you've got a ton of stuff to lay down... Guys like cyoung & tully kennedy are monster players and their parts really make the songs imho...

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[Golem]

Just think of the simplest bass line you can imagine,
then play half of that. You can thank me later.

That makes reeeeal good sense. Plus it opens up
a lotta time and space for posturing and spitting.

 

[T-bone]

Just think of the simplest bass line you can imagine, then play half of that. You can thank me later.

Spot on Chuck.

I play in this cajun/zydeco band with many of us doing honky tonk tunes on the side. 1,5 with the kick. Sometimes a walking bass line. It's as simple as that and doesn't step on vocals or guitar wankers. They like us pocket players.

Have fun and let's hear something. Vids? Recordings?? I know you have something.

tbone

 

[LawDaddy]

I play guitar in a modern country band. The newest type of country, like Jason Aldean, is straight up '90s post-grundge Nu Metal. Tuned down a 1/2 step, and in drop D, so the E string sounds C# concert, pure metal tunings. Lots of bass and guitar lines played in sync, right out of '90s metal.

Some artists like Blake straddle traditional lines and pop. I hear a lot of 5-string on Blake's material.

But then we'll throw in a couple of classics, so through the night you gotta cover it all.

If you can block the insanely trite lyrics coming out of Nashville these days, it's actually a fun gig, and they are booking it everywhere.

 

[Holdsg]

actually, finding country bass has been more of a challenge than country keyboards. I have my pick of bands that need keys right now. So no set gigs yet for vids, but if and when, you know you'll get something.

 

[tbonesullivan]

depends on the type of music they play, and instrumentation. In some cases it'll just be a lot of root, with a 5th thrown in. But other times you may have play more complicated lines, especially if they want to cover charlie daniels' songs.

 

[tkarter]

Simple lines are best in country. If you can't 1 5 it then go root only. Or when you need to walk R35.

Bongo best bass for country music ever.

tk