Solo bass song: Memories

[geoffkhan]

I arranged one of my original compositions for solo bass:

http://herculeaneffort.adventuredeve...m/memories.mp3

Here's the tab of the entire song in case you're interested:

(copy it all into notepad for correct spacing)

S = slap
P = pop
F = flamenco strum
H = harmonic
x = mute
Z = Slap with fingertips

INTRO:

S S S H S S S S H S S
G||-----|-----x-4------x---|------x-5-----x------|
D||-----|-----x-4------x---|------x-5-----x------|
A||-0-2-|-3---x-4------x-x-|------x-5-----x--0-2-|
E||-----|------------------|-3-------------------|

S S S H S F F F F F (fermata)
G||-----|-----x-4------x---|-12---12--11--11--9----------x-|
D||-----|-----x-4------x---|-12---12--11--11--9----------x-|
A||-0-2-|-3---x-4------x---|-10---10--9---9---7----------x-|
E||-----|------------------|-------------------------------|

[A] MELODY:

Z
G||-4------------5--7--|-9------------x---7-5-|
D||-----------5--------|-----x-6---7--x-------|
A||--------------------|-----x--------x-------|
E||-----x-0------------|-----x-7---8----------|

Z Z
G||-7---x----4--5--4--|-2---x-----------|
D||-----x-5-----------|-----x-2-0-------|
A||-----x-------------|-----x-----2-----|
E||-------7-----------|-------------3-5-|

Z
G||-----x-4------5--7--|-9------------x---7-5-|
D||-----x-----5--------|-----x-6---7--x-------|
A||-----x--------------|-----x--------x-------|
E||-0------------------|-----x-7---8----------|

Z Z
G||-7---x----4--5--4--|-2---x-----------|
D||-----x-5-----------|-----x-2-0-------|
A||-----x-------------|-----x-----2-----|
E||-------7-----------|-------------3---|

[b] MELODY:

Z Z
G||------5--4--5----x--7--|-4---2-4---------|
D||-----------------x-----|---0---------x---|
A||-0---------------x-----|-------------x-1-|
E||-----------------------|-----------3-----|

Z Z Z
G||-----4-2-4---x--2-|-2-0--------------|
D||-------------x----|-----4-5----5-4---|
A||-2-----------x----|----------------5-|
E||------------------|------------------|

Z Z
G||------5--4--5----x--7--|-4---2-4---------|
D||-----------------x-----|---0---------x---|
A||-0---------------x-----|-------------x-1-|
E||-----------------------|-----------3-----|

Z Z Z
G||-----4-2-4---x--2-|-2-4-2-0-----------|
D||-------------x----|---------4-5-4-----|
A||-2-----------x----|---------------5-7-|
E||------------------|-------------------|

OUTRO: (which is actually the intro in the original composition)

(in 7/8)

F Z Z Z H Z Z Z
G||-14----12---11---12-|-14----12---11---12-|
D||-14----12---11---12-|-14----12---11---12-|
A||--------------------|--------------------|
E||----12----0---------|----12--------------|

Z Z Z Z Z Z
G||-17----16---14---16-|-17----16---14---16-|
D||-17----16---14---16-|-17----16---14---16-|
A||--------------------|--------------------|
E||----15----0---------|----15-----------14-|

Z Z Z H Z Z
G||-14-x--12---11---12-|-14----12---11---12-|
D||-14-x--12---11---12-|-14----12---11---12-|
A||----x---------------|--------------------|
E||----------0---------|----12--------------|

H Z Z Z Z Z Z
G||-17-16-16---14---16-|-17----16---14---16-|
D||-17-16-16---14---16-|-17----16---14---16-|
A||----16--------------|--------------------|
E||--------------------|-15----14---12---14-|

Z Z Z H Z Z Z
G||-14----12---11---12-|-14----12---11---12-|
D||-14----12---11---12-|-14----12---11---12-|
A||--------------------|--------------------|
E||----0---------------|----12--------------|

Z Z Z Z Z Z H
G||-17----16---14---16-|-17----16---14---16-14------4------|
D||-17-x--16---14---16-|-17----16---14---16-14------4------|
A||----x---------------|----------------------------4------|
E||----x---------------|-15----14---12---14-12---0---------|

[Wrong Robot]

that's it? I'm sitting here listening to it like "hey, this is pretty fun" and then it was over... That couldn't be the end, it was just picking up momentum. Go put a better ending on it and get back to us later.

[Adam Barkley]

I didn't care for the tone, but the playing was interesting. I like how it's a "solo bass" track and it isn't just a excuse for a wanky solo.

I bet you used your bridge pickup, right? With a little more beef and little less glass in your tone I could listen to a cd of music like that.

I agree with WR about the length though.

Peace,
Adam

[geoffkhan]

Originally Posted by abark000

I didn't care for the tone, but the playing was interesting. I like how it's a "solo bass" track and it isn't just a excuse for a wanky solo.

I bet you used your bridge pickup, right? With a little more beef and little less glass in your tone I could listen to a cd of music like that.

I agree with WR about the length though.

Peace,
Adam

Yeah, it is really short, isn't it? It was late at night when I recorded it, so I guess my brain was telling myself to finish it and go to sleep.

I wish I had a bridge pickup. It's P pickups. Do you have any suggestion on how to put more beef in my tone?

For the solo bass thing, I was just trying to keep lots of things going at the same time - that slap noise on 2 & 4, for example, and portions of basslines between the melody. Listening to it again there's some messy parts and little rhythm displacement errors... also it sounds like my intonation on my bass needs to be adjusted.

[Adam Barkley]

Originally Posted by geoffkhan

Yeah, it is really short, isn't it? It was late at night when I recorded it, so I guess my brain was telling myself to finish it and go to sleep.

I wish I had a bridge pickup. It's P pickups. Do you have any suggestion on how to put more beef in my tone?

For the solo bass thing, I was just trying to keep lots of things going at the same time - that slap noise on 2 & 4, for example, and portions of basslines between the melody. Listening to it again there's some messy parts and little rhythm displacement errors... also it sounds like my intonation on my bass needs to be adjusted.

First how did you record?

My suggestions: Maybe an eq change. Also a flanger (or a phaser for that matter) used correctly can make your tone thick to the point note definition is lost.

Don't let the effects overpower the music, but maybe a short delay could add to the fullness of the track. Careful though, you make a mistake with the delay on and you will hear it very clearly.

Keep at it.

[geoffkhan]

Originally Posted by abark000

First how did you record?

My suggestions: Maybe an eq change. Also a flanger (or a phaser for that matter) used correctly can make your tone thick to the point note definition is lost.

Don't let the effects overpower the music, but maybe a short delay could add to the fullness of the track. Careful though, you make a mistake with the delay on and you will hear it very clearly.

Keep at it.

Yeah, I have experience in those effects. Right now I'm in an experimental phase with the effects on my bass, so the EQ tends to be pretty drastic, and I usually don't apply effects drastically (just enough effects to make a difference, but not audible). I just don't know the specific adjustments of certain effects that are suitable for bass.

I recorded it DI into my Ozone (which has a preamp), in 24 bit which then goes to my computer. My bass is a cheapo Fender Squier, but it's been heavily hotrodded to make the best out of it. So it has active EMGs, etc.