New Bluegrass Bass DVD Announced
AcuTab is especially proud to announce our latest DVD project, our first bass video and the first instructional release of any kind from Barry Bales. This DVD, A Solid Foundation To Acoustic Bass, is designed for upright bass players at any skill level – from serious professionals to pickers who occasionally grab the bass at a jam.
Barry has been among the most celebrated upright bassists in bluegrass and country music this past 20 years. He has multiple Grammy awards, plus trophies from the International Bluegrass Music Association and the Country Music Association. His bass is featured in recordings from Alison Krauss & Union Station where he is the full-time bass player, and in films like Walk The Line and O Brother, Where Art Thou.
In this two hour and 20 minute DVD, Barry shares his thoughts on the appropriate role of the bass, and demonstrates many of the techniques that have made him a first call musician in both bluegrass and country music. AcuTab’s John Lawless leads Barry through a discussion of his background and influences before they move on to songs. Barry also covers important topics like tone production, walking bass, percussive ‘ghost’ notes, and more.
After some talk about basic left and right hand technique, Barry presents 3 versions of the familiar song, Fireball Mail. He starts with a simple, traditional approach, moving with each new version into ways to add interest and dynamism to the bass line. For each version, Barry explains and demonstrates the line he plays, why he chose to include it, and where the viewer might want to use it in their playing. Many of the techniques are quite simple, and yet add variety and spice to the band sound.
From there, Barry presents another 8 familiar songs, in a variety of keys, tempos and styles: Banks Of The Ohio, Kentucky Waltz, Wayfaring Stranger, Groundhog, Rebecca, East Tennessee Blues, Blackberry Blossom, Everytime You Say Goodbye. With each song, Barry explains his approach, often showing more than one, and then demonstrating the deviations from a standard one-five pattern.
He is assisted in the studio by Adam Steffey on mandolin, Jim Mills on banjo, and Kenny Smith on guitar. The bass is up front in the audio mix to ensure that the viewer can catch the subtleties of the material Barry presents. A printed booklet with tab and standard notation of the bass lines played is also included.
The DVD and booklet carries a price of $35 (USD).
Get your order in now to ensure that you receive a copy of the Barry Bales DVD right away, before they hit the stores!
Moving Sale! AcuTab is moving our office and warehouse this Spring, and offering huge closeout specials on most of our bluegrass tab books. We have begun to focus almost exclusively on instructional DVDs, and intend to liquidate our inventory of tab books prior to this move on June 1.
None of these titles will be reprinted, so don’t wait until they are selling for collector’s prices on eBay!
The following AcuTab books are available for $10.00 or less, while supplies last, until June 1.
Steve Dilling banjo book – Regular price $25, closeout $10
Wayne Benson mandolin book – Regular price $25, closeout $10
Kenny Smith guitar book – Regular price $25, closeout $10
Sammy Shelor banjo book – Regular price $20, closeout $10
Tim Stafford guitar book – Regular price $20, closeout $10
Butch Baldassari mandolin book – Regular price $15, closeout $8
Joe Mullins banjo book – Regular price $15, closeout $8
Scott Vestal banjo book – Regular price $25, closeout $10
Herschel Sizemore mandolin book – Regular price $25, closeout $10
Terry Baucom banjo book – Regular price $15, closeout $8
VERY IMPORTANT: You must order from this link in order to get the closeout prices (www.acutab.com/closeout.html). Existing AcuTab customers are being given first shot at the remaining inventory, so save this link and place your orders from the closeout page. That page is not found in the online navigation at acutab.com.
Closeout order page: www.acutab.com/closeout.html
Thanks for your ongoing support of AcuTab! Visit AcuTab.com to see our complete catalog of instructional books and DVDs for banjo, fiddle, guitar, mandolin and resonator guitar.
Posted in Bass Techniques
