Bluegrass Bass Lessons - Basslines for Bluegrass - Quick start

In this lesson on Bluegrass Bass we will study the basic elements of playing bluegrass and what the role of the Bluegrass bass player is in the ensemble. This quick start lesson will give you a strong foundation in playing basslines and runs in Bluegrass music.

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[RockerProf]

Thanks for this video. You are absolutely correct. Attended my first bluegrass jam playing bass this past weekend. Honestly, if I had done anything other than simple one fives with a few walk ups, I would have gotten looks. There's no room for flashy rock bass at a bluegrass jam. BTW, I play my electric bass with nylon tape wounds, which sounds very much like an upright.

[ewobh]

The only bass lesson I've seen with POV of the bass. Awesome. Thank you!

[rolfdenver]

This is very helpful for me as an upright bass player, too. Thank you!

[civilbeard]

Thanks for this simple, straightforward tutorial. It was remarkably hard to find something so useful.

[jeffkingery]

Thanks for the lesson. I appreciate the multiple camera angles also.

[serendipity]

This is a great simple lesson. I am a beginner and was invited to jam with my friend and his father. They play mostly bluegrass and I was nervous, but after watching this I realize that I am more than capable of showing up and jamming with them! (:

[susancallhutchisongoodoldtunes]

This is exactly what I needed. Thanks.

[jimwilliams]

Thank you for this simple explanation. I started playing upright bass 9 months ago and just about all the upright bass players on youtube are jazz players and way overcomplicate it for those of us who only play bluegrass and gospel.

[rickkaylor]

Good video! This video is pretty accurate regarding the bass in bluegrass music. Similar in folk music as well. If you really want to fit in it seems like you need to play an upright bass (aka bass violin). Whenever I play an electric bass I get stink eye from some of the other players. Kind of sad because electric bass can sound just fine.

[CodyJames]

Thanks. This helps a ton! I like the simplicity. Mike.

[NemoNepersonne]

Good video. As a mandolin player, in jams and many performance situations, I may not always be able to hear the guitar or banjo, and I count on the bass to let me know where I am and when the chord changes occur. Two notes to the measure. I know one bassist who continually plays quarter note walking patterns, and it drives the rest of us crazy because we don’t know where we are and he steps on my mandolin chops. There’s a reason for that rudimentary bass! It serves a crucial purpose. Transitions between chords are fine, BUT it’s often best to do them as half notes, even over two measures. Eighth notes can work on those transitions, but the half notes still need to be emphasized.

[BlueMoonKeepOnShining]

Thanks for the oversimplified version, I always thought my fifth sound different, now i know why, they go for a low 5th instead to a high 5th xD.

[Ace_Hunter_lives]

Gotta agree with Frank...while bass serves a quasi-percussive function in bluegrass, it's the bass and mando combo that really acts as the "drum kit". Also, in general, it is HIGHLY frowned upon to use slap bass in a bluegrass setting. Bluegrass ain't rockabilly. If you're playing a song, in particular a blues-y number, and the bass player gets a solo, then slap bass can sound really cool, but when holding down the rhythm during the vocals or other instruments' breaks, DO NOT slap.

[timbethea]

Could that be any more perfect?

No. Great perspective. Brilliant.

Thank You

[frankholly]

I agree with most stuff here, but disagree with some of the comparisons. The bass player is not necessarily the "drummer." He/she is the bass drum of the ensemble. Bluegrass music in its mid- and up-tempo forms is primarily working at a 2/4 time measure. The 1-5 note progression is always hitting on the downbeat. It is usually the mandolin doing a muted downstroke that serves as the "snare" upbeat. A good rhythm guitarist works with both of them, doing a boom-chick strum that matches both of the other instruments. Add to that the rolls of the banjo player usually match the hi-hat strikes of a drum set. Thus, the entire band has to work together to create its own rhythm and tempo. Check out a recording of a great bluegrass band such as the Del McCoury Band or Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder to see how all of this works together. Then there's the whole thing about 3/4 time songs which is a different ballgame.

[stevenbridgewater]

1 4 and 5 are the most used chord in bluegrass. 1415

[BMP]

Why is there an octave pedal going on?

[jdbize]

Very good lesson, been playing 20 years I play many styles, this one is too hard

[dannytetreault]

Great lesson but it would be helpful if I could hear the bass notes being played so I could use my ears to assist my learning as I am tending to have to look at my bass simultaneously while trying listen to follow along with the lesson.
Dan P.

[markh]

...and the key of G is more common than C.