Can you critique my bass solo (video)?

[rkforum]

Hello fellow bassists

I gigged out regularly from late '80's through 2001. I retired from bass playing in 2001 and hadn't played since.

Recently I was asked to play in a "work rock band" thrown together for our company picnic. At the picnic I played the following solo (this is a re-recorded version):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRIb4zQXM6Q

I received mixed reviews- some people liked it alot, others did not like it, said "it didn't sound like bass playing!" A musician in the audience said slap did not sound good on the RIckenbacker.

Would welcome any comments, critiques, etc. I didn't play it completely clean since I had not played in 9 years!

[lousybassplayer]

Well for one thing the camera guy needs a tripod

Sounds good to me, but remember, the bass solo is an outdated hair metal tactic, and was employed so the rest of hte band could go back stage and do some pills and groupies for a few minutes. You probably don't want to get typecast into that role.

It takes nuts to play solos live, espescially incorporating some "oddball" techniques like tapping. I would just work on cleaning up the technique as you had mentioned and keep working some different chords here and there for a little flavor. I can't slap a ric that well and I play all the time, so you must be doing something right!

[rkforum]

Lousybassplayer

I really appreciate your honest feedback.

I have to admit having not played for almost 10 years I think I probably was too over eager to play the solo....but I agree with you that it's a little bit of showing off and doesn't really do much for the song. In the 80's and 90's I played a similar solo live a number of times.

The cameraman is only 9 years old!

Thanks and keep thumping!

[lousybassplayer]

9? Hell he's well on his way to a career shooting cops episodes.

I am a sucker for bass solos so keep at em if for nothing more than expirimentingwith chord structures. I have come up with some neat lines on a basic 12 bar blues I-IV-V by taking little riffs I had in solos and adapting them. Plus we gotta keep that Ric love alive!
Showing off is the domain of guitar players, so why not live a little as a 4 stringer once in a while?