- Country Road, Music, Bass Guitar - photojb, sxc
Country music, whether new country or some of the old classics, is excellent for beginning bassists in that the structures are often in simple time with little variation, alongside a well defined set of verse and chorus that are normally fairly predictable and easy to play.
Beginning the Harvest, Neil Young – Heart of Gold
Perhaps Neil Young's most famous song from the Harvest album, Heart of Gold is a song that nearly everyone is familiar with. Sure to be a crowd pleaser, Heart of Gold is relatively easy to play on the electric bass guitar, and for those learning how to play it also has the added benefit of being a particularly slow song with a lot of repetition in the rhythm section. While Neil Young as an artist may have a very large repertoire of musical genres under his belt, ranging from bluegrass to southern rock to more experimental concept albums – Heart of Gold is a country music classic that will be popular for years to come.
Pyramid of Cans in the Pale Moonlight, Alan Jackson – Chattahoochie
From 1992's “A Lot About Livin' and a Little 'Bout Love”, Chattahoochie is a classic summertime party song that pays upbeat tribute to the Chattahoochie River – a place of fun, sun, swimming, and a few good beer on a friday night. The song is exceptionally easy on the bass guitar, and should prove a good exercise for bassists looking to improve their timing. The song is in standard tuning and timing and includes very little variation.
The Legend Himself, Johnny Cash – Folsom Prison Blues
Johnny Cash was quite likely the most influential and beloved country-western performer of all time, immortalized not only in song and by his contemporaries but also on the big screen in “Walk the Line”. One of his most popular songs, Folsom Prison Blues, is another easy to learn song on the bass guitar that will allow those learning to play the guitar ample opportunity to nail down their uptempo timing.
Folsom Prison Blues is a great song for gatherings or to jam with a friend in that it is both upbeat and easy to learn for both the guitarist and the bassist – and is a real hit at kitchen or house parties!
Where Can I Find Good Bass Tabs for These Songs?
The best places to look for bass tabs for beginners on the web are www.bassmasta.net, as well as 911tabs.com. Be sure, as always, to review the user ratings bestowed on each individual bass tab and to judge the tab according to how it sounds by ear when it's played!
Other Articles Related to Learning to Play Bass
Interested in learning how to play some easy rock and hard rock songs on the bass? How about learning some punk rock songs just to add a bit of edge? Those looking for a walk on the wild side might appreciate an article on learning to play some heavy metal songs instead.
Nicholas Morine - Nicholas Morine Bachelor of Arts, English Language & Literature Master of Philosophy, Humanities (Candidate) Memorial University ...
