Country help needed

[televiking]

Hi all.

As I am not a c&w player and have only limited experience in different country styles, I turn to you all for help.

I am going to play a few gigs with a countryish band, and I am trying to learn some basic, but cool sounding old-time-countryish ACCOMPANIMENT licks. I find my brain is in a permanent blues-mold, and everything I play sounds too bluesy for this occasion.

Internet of course could provide me with information, but the millions and millions of "lead guitar licks" -sites that pop up on searches is too much for me to handle.

If you are wondering what I mean by accompaniment licks, check out what Keef plays at the beginning, before he starts to sing.


I of course could use lots and lots of time to listen to a lot of c&w, but I ust need a quick fix of basic comping licks.

Any help, fellow bluesters?

[Michael Messer]

That's a great clip of film! Keith has known Norah since she was a baby.

Lauri, I am not sure I understand what you are asking?

If you can't play a style of music, be careful, because you can't fake it. You have either absorbed it and are able to play it, or you haven't and you shouldn't.

Shine On
Michael

[televiking]

Then perhaps I shouldn't. Valid point.

I was asked to fill in as a temporary rhythm player, but the more I think about this, the more I feel I am out of my comfort zone, and not in a good way.

So I will graciously decline the offer and stick to what I feel is natural for me to do.

[Michael Messer]

Hi Lauri,

I was not trying to be negative, but my advice was honest and from my heart. I would not take on a gig that I did not feel comfortable with, either musically or socially.

Best wishes,

Shine On
Michael

[mitchfit]

televiking,

go with your own instincts. usually the best bet.

however, you didn't specify what flavor of C&W the band plays...

at the risk of inciting mass civil unrest here in N.E. Texas, the stuff i currently hear played on TOP-40 format C&W stations in this here "good ole boy" neck of the woods is more re-fried R&R than country. my apologies to hard core C&W fans, ~please~ don't kill the messenger.

brought that up 'cause old school country [when "C" and "W" were still on their honeymoon, or only courting] with its Appalachian roots also growing in the blues hotbed can be surprisingly similar in many aspects.

mitchfit

[mitchfit]

$0.02

[Deleted]

I reckon you could do it - the guy has seen what you can do and thinks you can do a job.
If you have a set list, you should be able to knock something together.
FWIW, two highlights of my recent career were being asked to play drums for a great local funk / blues band at a gig on the spot - no notice, didn't know ANY of the songs (including one in 10/4); and being asked to play bass for a blues / rock band with 6 hours notice - only decided on the set 15 minutes beforehand. Extremely nerve racking, extremely rewarding too. What the worst that could happen?
TT

[triconehead]

nice uploads mitchfit
televiking: the basslines on the guitar for Hank´s "so lonesome..." you can easy pick up on, and a couple more bluesy licks in the same song can be useful as a guide.
Keith plays a very simple "countrypop" lick, which you can modify anyway you want and since you said it´s a "countryish" band, I guess you don´t have to play like Scottie Moore?

Good luck!

[slide496]

Apr 1, 2014 20:26:07 GMT @deuce said:

I reckon you could do it - the guy has seen what you can do and thinks you can do a job.
TT

I kind of am in MM's corner on this.

Sometimes people aren't accurate or fair, even when they see what you can do, especially under the circumstances of needing a temporary replacement.

I know from many experiences in the commercial art field that when I was asked to work in a style I wasn't familiar with as a professional, I would have to make an independent decision as to whether I could do it or learn it quickly enough to do a satisfactory job, and sometimes I would say I was booked, or straight up it was something I didn't do, thank you and refer elsewhere, not wanting to be in a position where I found I couldn't do the job and then the client would have to scramble to find someone who could.

If the playing tests said it was not for me or I had reservations I would pass, but I would not waffle on it so they could move on quickly to get someone else. And frankly it was usually a relief to get off the hook in those cases.

Hope which ever way Televiking chooses to handle the situation works out for all involved.

Harriet

[washboardchris]

Hi, I have found over the years that playing out opdf yout comfort zone is a great learning tool.I have play'd in a dance band with chord charts in front of me(learnt a lot about chord movement from that)an Irish band for a while (helps playing in some odd time sig's) I think the only one that gave me grief was turning up to a gig with a singe who play'd guitar had no set list ,didnt let me know the key before he started the song & told me to watch his hands for the chords (it was dark)it was not good but it went down very well,pay'd well & as a gig was rebooked for four years. If you are playing old time country stuff then it will probably be a lot of boom chinga rythm with some bass runs or some waltz time stuff in mostly natural keys(fiddle players seem to like A,G,D a lot. Its not as if they are expecting you to be Albert Lee over night. Sit in on a rehearsel or two you may enjoy it.

[televiking]

Apr 1, 2014 17:55:20 GMT Michael Messer said:

Hi Lauri,

I was not trying to be negative, but my advice was honest and from my heart. I would not take on a gig that I did not feel comfortable with, either musically or socially.

Best wishes,

Shine On
Michael

MIchael, you absolutely were not being negative, quite the opposite.

You made me realise that I really did feel uncomfortable in the situation, and felt a huge wave of relief when I realised I did not actually want to play in that band. Even if it was just to help a friend who had injured his hand.

The best thing to do was to openly say that I feel uncomfortable playing something I do not feel. And as it hapens, they got another guitar player to substitute my friend.

So all is good. No, all is GREAT. And I am very thankful for your reply, as it saved me a lot of trouble and bad feelings.


Lauri

[slidefever]

Apr 1, 2014 14:15:08 GMT televiking said:

Hi all.

As I am not a c&w player and have only limited experience in different country styles, I turn to you all for help.

I am going to play a few gigs with a countryish band, and I am trying to learn some basic, but cool sounding old-time-countryish ACCOMPANIMENT licks. I find my brain is in a permanent blues-mold, and everything I play sounds too bluesy for this occasion.

Internet of course could provide me with information, but the millions and millions of "lead guitar licks" -sites that pop up on searches is too much for me to handle.

If you are wondering what I mean by accompaniment licks, check out what Keef plays at the beginning, before he starts to sing.


I of course could use lots and lots of time to listen to a lot of c&w, but I ust need a quick fix of basic comping licks.

Any help, fellow bluesters?

I've tried this and found the best thing is to stick to what you know and adapt your slide technique with some double string dobro style licks. Keep it simple and just play a slide lick at the end of some of the vocal lines as a well as sliding in to chords on the changes. You can play some 6ths (Hanks Williams) 7ths and emulate a few pedal steel type licks as well using your slide technique. Use an alternating bass pattern, that kind of thing.

You should rehearse with them, you'll know instantly if it is going to work.

[Michael Messer]

Hi Lauri,

Thank you for your response to my advice. You are a professional musician with a reputation to protect and you should not do anything that could damage what you have worked extremely hard to achieve.

I agree with the comments about pushing oneself out of our comfort zone. I love to push myself into those areas, but there are limits and musical areas that I will not put myself into, especially on a stage in front of an audience.

Shine On
Michael.

[slidefever]

Hi TV,

My post has overlapped with others. I have to ultimately agree with Michael, you could potentially do a lot of damage to your credibility.