Country and western helped to give birth to rock-and-roll. Country and western (C & W) is a pat term used to describe many different substyles of music. Most of these styles are regional. For example, Texas swing and Appalachian mountain music are two distinct genres found in the west and east respectively. However, despite regional distinctions, there is a lot of cross-pollination between such substyles as honky-tonk, Bakersfield sound, Nashville sound, outlaw country, and especially alternative country and country rock.

Country and western is one of America's truest art forms, though it has roots in European folk music, especially Anglo-Celtic fiddle music and ballad singing. Country is also influenced by blues and African American gospel music. (For more information on the blues see Chapter 8.)

Key innovators in country and western include cowboy crooners Roy Rogers and Gene Autry, bluegrass virtuosos Bill Monroe and Earl Scruggs, Texas troubadour Ernest Tubb, swing bandleader Bob Wills, guitar legend Chet Atkins, outlaw stylists Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, and Waylon Jennings, and female vocalists Patsy Cline, Kitty Wells, Loretta Lynn, and Dolly Parton. However, the two biggest pioneers in country are Jimmie Rodgers, an early folk singer and yodeler, and Hank Williams, Sr., a legendary honky-tonk singer-songwriter.

Early country music used upright or acoustic bass. Today the electric bass is used in many styles of country. (The most notable exception is neo-traditional country spearheaded by Alison Krause, Ricky Scaggs, and others.) So much of country bass playing is founded on roots and fifths. Many of these types of bass lines are featured throughout this book. Sometimes the standard four-string bass is supplemented or replaced in recordings by a baritone guitar, also called a tic-tac bass. Modern electric country rock uses the same pop bass lines you will find in other Top 40 genres. Be sure to see Appendix A for information on essential country bassists.