Dust Country

Modern country song, 92 BPM; a steady road-worn 4/4 pocket and a calm forward pull. Drums: a compact kick, dry cross-stick snare, brushed hat eighth notes and a restrained tambourine lift only in the chorus. Bass: a warm electric bass hold simple root-and-fifth movement, slightly behind the kick. Core: a close-miked steel-string acoustic guitar carry a two-chord verse figure, answered by short clean electric-guitar bends and a low pedal-steel shadow. Arrangement: the verse stays sparse, the pre-chorus adds bass movement and the chorus widens through doubled guitars without adding glossy pop layers. Mix: dry, warm and human, with audible pick texture, controlled low mids and a vocal-sized opening in the centre. Keep one groove and tonal identity; vary performance, dynamics and layers. Avoid trap drums, arena-rock guitars, synthetic claps, oversized cinematic swells and polished pop-country sheen.