Half-Note Rhythms & 'Johnny Cash'

Understanding rhythm is a crucial element to playing the bass guitar and to groove. So, let’s continue our look at rhythms, this time with the half note (also known as a minum).

Your study piece in this course is a song based off of the classic Johnny Cash classic “I Walk the Line,” which will not only give you practice playing half notes, but also give you an opportunity to play some ‘outlaw country’ music.

Johnny Cash was a pioneer in this style of music, along with Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Merle Haggard. And while the bass lines may seem simple, it’s important to understand how these ’simple’ bass parts support the songs in just the right way.