Double Bass Good albums or other resources for learning bluegrass bass?

#21
turf3 said:
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And the real good bluegrass bands don't hesitate to play stuff in Eb or Ab or whatever key suits them, unlike us amateurs who want everything in G or D. So get that left hand technique in order.
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A few years ago I was talking w/ Dave Eubanks (Special Consensus). Our group had been playing a song in something like Bb, with a really aggressive bassline. I was complaining about having to play it in such a key, instead of someplace where it would lay out far easier for me. Far from commiserating, he basically told me, "You're the bass player. Suck it up!" ;)

I'm very fortunate, the 2 women in my band love to play in minor keys, and we simply choose the keys we can best sing in. Bb, F# minor - it is all the same.

And my jam group welcomes folk bringing in songs in just about any key, and far from straight 1/4/5. Has really helped me just think of them all as "songs", rather than songs in comfortable or difficult keys. Instead of worrying about the specific chord changes, I can concentrate on just hearing the song and having my hand move to a note/pattern that fits. I really like settling into that middle ground where I'm listening closely, and thinking enough - but not too much. If I space out, I f--- up. But if I concentrate too hard, I f--- up. :D

Works well for my BG playing. NOT so well when I play w/ my classical ensemble and am trying to read/bow cello parts! Straining my brain in the hopes of staving off Alzheimer's! :D
 
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#23
Here's something that may interest you. It's bluegrass, but sort of non-traditional.
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Old & In the Way
Jerry Garcia, Vassar Clements, John Kahn, David Grisman, Peter Rowan
I suggest you give it a listen. Great stuff!

 
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#25
squeally dan said:
I’m new to upright but not to bass. Meeting with an instructor a couple time a month but am wondering what some good recordings would be for play along purpose. I’m familiar with root-5 but want to get comfortable with doing it in all keys. Also, want to add some walking elements as well.
So what are some good recordings to play along too and what bluegrass-specific lessons, tools, etc. have you found helpful? Thanks.
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One excercise that I used when learning the different keys was to open up the music to a simple song, usually in the key of G, and just go down the list of keys, playing it in each key, mentally transposing it. That got me familiar with learning the 1,4 and 5 of each key.

I highly recommend the Barry Bales course on Discover Double Bass as well as the Bradley Laird course. They both have some good stuff. Barry's course is around $100 and Brad's is around $55 I think. They also both have music tracks to play along with.
 
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#26
Jimbo Williams said:
One excercise that I used when learning the different keys was to open up the music to a simple song, usually in the key of G, and just go down the list of keys, playing it in each key, mentally transposing it. That got me familiar with learning the 1,4 and 5 of each key.

I highly recommend the Barry Bales course on Discover Double Bass as well as the Bradley Laird course. They both have some good stuff. Barry's course is around $100 and Brad's is around $55 I think. They also both have music tracks to play along with.
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Cool. I was wondering about both of those resources.
 
#27
Paul Kowert plays with the Punch Brothers. He seems to have been born with an upright. I once heard him singing the praises of Roy Husky Jr. He suggested these recordings to get the feel for Husky Jr’s movement:


Peter Rowan: All On A Rising Day; Emmylou Harris: At The Ryman ; Steve Earle: Train A Comin; Sweethearts Of The Rodeo: Rodeo Waltz; Allison Krauss: To Late To Cry; and (my favorite) Hartford, Rice and Clements - John Hartford, Tony Rice and Vasser Clements

I made a long playlist on Spotify. Every once in a while I delete a song from the group…

What are Roy Husky Jrs finest recordings?
 
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#30
Sam Reese said:
I'm a big fan of Roy Jr. playing on "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" Nitty Gritty Dirt Band with many all-star special guests...the original release. It really shows his versatility and adaptability.
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I think Vassar Clement played on that LP. Which got me thinking about “Hillbilly Jazz” and “Grass Routes”. David Bromberg played on Hillbilly Jazz, I was surprised to rediscover. Check out the band he’s touring with right now, if you get a chance. Great electric Bass player.
 
#35
Ed S said:
A few years ago I was talking w/ Dave Eubanks (Special Consensus). Our group had been playing a song in something like Bb, with a really aggressive bassline. I was complaining about having to play it in such a key, instead of someplace where it would lay out far easier for me. Far from commiserating, he basically told me, "You're the bass player. Suck it up!" ;)

I'm very fortunate, the 2 women in my band love to play in minor keys, and we simply choose the keys we can best sing in. Bb, F# minor - it is all the same.

And my jam group welcomes folk bringing in songs in just about any key, and far from straight 1/4/5. Has really helped me just think of them all as "songs", rather than songs in comfortable or difficult keys. Instead of worrying about the specific chord changes, I can concentrate on just hearing the song and having my hand move to a note/pattern that fits. I really like settling into that middle ground where I'm listening closely, and thinking enough - but not too much. If I space out, I f--- up. But if I concentrate too hard, I f--- up. :D

Works well for my BG playing. NOT so well when I play w/ my classical ensemble and am trying to read/bow cello parts! Straining my brain in the hopes of staving off Alzheimer's! :D
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Dan Eubanks has a great workshop video up on the YouTubes too that helped me out a ton when I first picked up the doghouse
 
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#37
banjackal said:
Dan Eubanks has a great workshop video up on the YouTubes too that helped me out a ton when I first picked up the doghouse
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Shoot - I called him Dave?! We're SOOOO close! :rolleyes:

brianrost said:
After all this time noone has sugested just geting ahold of some Flat and Scruggs, Bill Monroe...
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When I was first getting ready to jam, I think the only discs I really listened to were two 2-disc "Best of" sets of F&S and BM. The F&S was good and not so good. First, some of the recordings were in weird tunings - up or down 1/2 step. Which we've discussed ad nauseam. And some of the songs were a tad challenging - at least if you wish to work up songs to lead. Like Down the Road. But I'm pretty certain Rollin in My Sweet Baby's Arms was the first tune I called and sang when it came my turn!

Listening to Bill Monroe is great to practice playing off a strong chop. Was a tad challenging as a newbie in that his timing wasn't rock constant.

With both of them, you had to listen thru headphones to really tell what the bass was doing.
 
#38
Ed S said:
Shoot - I called him Dave?! We're SOOOO close! :rolleyes:



When I was first getting ready to jam, I think the only discs I really listened to were two 2-disc "Best of" sets of F&S and BM. The F&S was good and not so good. First, some of the recordings were in weird tunings - up or down 1/2 step. Which we've discussed ad nauseam. And some of the songs were a tad challenging - at least if you wish to work up songs to lead. Like Down the Road. But I'm pretty certain Rollin in My Sweet Baby's Arms was the first tune I called and sang when it came my turn!

Listening to Bill Monroe is great to practice playing off a strong chop. Was a tad challenging as a newbie in that his timing wasn't rock constant.

With both of them, you had to listen thru headphones to really tell what the bass was doing.
Click to expand...
It's ok I knew who you meant :)
I just saw those guys play over the summer too, and was chatting up Dan for a minute before their set. Super nice guy, also he has been apparently breaking a cardinal bluegrass rule by using Spirocore strings :)
 
#39
Jason Sypher said:
Rickie Skaggs - Bluegrass Rules! - The great Mark Fain on bass grooving his ass off. Bela Fleck - Drive. Tony Rice - Manzanita. Not classic recordings as in old but a nice bit of gorgeous bass playing, concepts and tunes.
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Not classics?????
Bluegrass rules is 26 years old, Drive is 35 years old, & Manzanita is 44 years old! ;)
 
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