Metalhead needs Country crash course

[JammerMatt]

You might know that I'm a metalhead for the most part. But, I'm in a rut, and I'm thinking of expanding my horizons to learn some country. First, you must know that I am not much of a country fan, but it seems I run into people who say, "play some of this or that" and it's country. So there I am with my pointy-ended guitars and my Gibbie, and going, duhhhhh.....

So, what would you consider to be some good country "standards" of beginning to intermediate skill level? Also, what gear do you use, and what are some good general settings?

Me? I got a LP, a couple of Jacksons, and a Line 6. I don't have boots, but I got a Peterbilt ball cap.

Thanks

-Jammer "country Rhoads" Matt

 

[nuntius]

Re: Metalhead needs Country crash course

Buy the very best of the eagles CD. theres only a few tracks on it i'd consider country but get it for the heck of it anyway, great CD

i respect country guitarists, they have amazing technique on the whole - a country player could probably shred, but i doubt a shredder could do some country stuff.

get a clean sound with that LP and use a bit of compression - should serve you well

 

[Falstaff]

Re: Metalhead needs Country crash course

Butch might see this and answer, but the country standard rig is usually considered to be some sort of Tele and some sort of non-mv Fender amp. A lot of guys use Strats (and non-Fender amps, too). But the standard is generally a Tele into a Twin Reverb. A compressor like an Orange Squeezer clone can give you some fun tones, too. Some good stuff to get going with (looking towards more country-rock):

Johnny Cash - At Folsom Prison/San Quentin

Dwight Yoakum - Hillbilly Deluxe or If There Was a Way

Bob Dylan - Blonde on Blonde

Flying Burrito Brothers

Gram Parsons - GP/Grevious Angel

Byrds - Untitled

Outlaws - Outlaws (very underrated guitar work on "There Goes Another Love Song" and the first couple solos on "Green Grass and High Tides." One of the guy uses a B-bender, so don't think you are doing something wrong if you can cop the licks exactly.

You don't need any particular gear to start playing this kind of stuff. It may not sound exactly the same, but it's still fun to play. I would try the Blackface setting on the Line 6 (or Fender clean, whatever they call it) and start picking.

Have fun!

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: Metalhead needs Country crash course

I used to play in a country rock band. Stuff like Marshall Tucker,Charlie
Danials, Pure prarie league 's(AMIE) All I can say is use a Strat in the
#4 pos. neck/mid PuPs. And use practice your major pentonic scale's

 

[Falstaff]

Re: Metalhead needs Country crash course

I used to play in a country rock band. Stuff like Marshall Tucker,Charlie
Danials, Pure prarie league 's(AMIE) All I can say is use a Strat in the
#4 pos. neck/mid PuPs. And use practice your major pentonic scale's

Toy Caldwell...what a freakin' player!

 

[BS123]

Re: Metalhead needs Country crash course

When I started playing guitar, I was really into Heavy Metal. EVH was my first hero. I moved onto Prog Rock and Alex Lifeson and Steve Howe. Then came Fusion ala Al DiMeola and Allan Holdsworth. Well, then a friend of mine caem to me and wanted to star a Country band. Yes, I could play fast. I could shred but I could not play Country to save my life. That's when Albert Lee came along. He showed me that, while a good Tele, comp, and clean tube amp are important elements, the right hand technique is absolutely essential. I have seen many really good Country players use ES-335s and Les Pauls and sound as good as when they're using a Strat or Telecaster. The reason, a Tele is used over a Strat is due to the bridge pickup. The Tele bridge pickup is connected to a big ferrous bridge with (usually) 3 brass saddles. It's dimensions are a little fatter than a Strat pickup as well. A strat pickup is seated in a plastic picguard. Believe it or not, this is a integral element to the tone.

Bottom line, get a good Country guitar technique CD and work on the right hand technique brfore you spend mucho dinero on a Tele and such. Here's an instructional CD from a buddy of mine. It is excellent...

Spyder Tracks

 

[JammerMatt]

Re: Metalhead needs Country crash course

Thanks guys. Great suggestions, and I even have an Eagles songbook.

I would agree with BS123, that the right hand is sorta where it's at for alot of styles, like country. I don't have the $$ to shell out for a Twin Reverb or a tele, so I'll make do with my LP. Brooks and Dunn do it that way, anyway.

Somone told me that Alan Jackson's guitar player smokes. I know that Brad Paisley smokes because I saw him on a country video once while perusing the channels. I can't smoke like them. I know... "Pop Country." Well, that's what my wife listens to.

I was working in the South for a few weeks, and everyone there was into country. I was saying, "can't get into it... it sounds like pop to me." Well, this one guy says, "you need to hear some classic country." So I say, "well, I'm not into Garth, either." So he says, "no, I'm talking Patsy Kline, old Waylon, rattles off a bunch of semi-familiar names... Buddy Holly." I say, "okay, bring it in." He brings in his collection of Country Gold.

I don't know if it was the sweet tea, the grits, the hot sun, or the humidity... but by the end of the day I was totally digging it. The new pop country guys were not so into it. Funny thing.

-Matt

 

[Hoss]

Re: Metalhead needs Country crash course

now that's what i'm talking about...expanding your musical influences and horizons!!!

since i joined this blues band...even though i've always loved the blues...i'm hearing new stuff and the guitar player loves Jazz as well and i've never listened or played to any thing like that before...i'm liking it alot!!!

 

[Falstaff]

Re: Metalhead needs Country crash course

Another great album with groovy guitar work is the Ernest Tubb live CD (from sometime in the 60's). Leon sounds like he's playing a 335, IIRC.