Bass as a solo instrument?

[Roy Vogt]

And in related news.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N92bt6W30UI

[bassfran]

Roy, you've nailed it again, Sir.

Colin Hodgkinson/thread.

[Jazz Ad]

Originally Posted by Clef_de_fa

they seem perfect instrument for your melodic and harmonic need.

No sir, not for MY need.
What Larry Graham does here is playing the bass within a band. I do that, although with less talent. It isn't solo work.
I'm no Manring, what he does is perfect but way out of my range.
Steve Bailey is demoing here and Pattitucci is playing a chorus as part of a bigger band show. They don't play fully solo shows, which is the topic of this thread.

I couldn't imagine playing a whole show with just bass. As I wrote earlier, it takes exceptional talent to make solo bass work interesting.
I'm a practical guy, not some kind of bass monk soldier. Using a guitar, keyboard or in my case, mandocello is simply more convenient and efficient for solo work, so it's what I do.

[Clef_de_fa]

Originally Posted by Jazz Ad

No sir, not for MY need.
What Larry Graham does here is playing the bass within a band. I do that, although with less talent. It isn't solo work.
I'm no Manring, what he does is perfect but way out of my range.
Steve Bailey is demoing here and Pattitucci is playing a chorus as part of a bigger band show. They don't play fully solo shows, which is the topic of this thread.

I couldn't imagine playing a whole show with just bass. As I wrote earlier, it takes exceptional talent to make solo bass work interesting.
I'm a practical guy, not some kind of bass monk soldier. Using a guitar, keyboard or in my case, mandocello is simply more convenient and efficient for solo work, so it's what I do.

ok, that's fine. Did you look at Zander Zon and Jeff Schmidt ? Both only play bass as a solo instrument with nothing else. They don't think like a bass player and their way of playing remind me of what a classical guitarist will play, so it isn't like it is out of reach.

[eee]

A good rock band with no guitar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmtbsZIYSJs

[HolmeBass]

Originally Posted by backup

i absolutely hate the sound of solo bass guitar. those six string bass players playing melodies like guitarists. it sounds awful to me

but if youre talking about playing regular bass parts but as the sole instrument. well thats better.

however, bass is an instrument designed to be played in a collective.

Your post is a total downer of closed-mindedness. That is to say, I disagree.

[swspiers]

Bryan Beller and Kira Small, anyone...?

And with a looper and effects to boot!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmz7Wgql22I

[HolmeBass]

Originally Posted by bassguitarthund

Bass player "Lydia on Bass", does it all the time on YouTube. Here is just the first video I pulled as an example.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5Ma...e_gdata_player

Edit: realized this one has a drum track on it, but you get the point. She is pretty cool!!

It also has a pre-recorded backing vocal for the chorus, but damned it's cool! She has a great feel and a fantastic voice.

[GokceKacmaz]

This is my first video in the channel of architecture of sound. This is a video of an instrumental song...

Here is the link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vLi7LXiITU

[AuntieBeeb]

Originally Posted by eee

A good rock band with no guitar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmtbsZIYSJs

Similarly, check out Clatter:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kT-Un3PX0uk

(I could have sworn there was also a video of them covering Rush's Limelight somewhere...anyone know where it's gone?)

PS THANK YOU to everyone who's posted a Colin Hodgkinson clip - I'd never heard of that guy before, he's superb!

[Wootie]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXImi2etl7I

[the_stone]

More proof:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fW8U_coQxLc

Sarah Vaughan singing "Body and Soul", accompanied by Ray Brown himself.

[basskidd]

Gianni Serino... Don't know much about him, but this video wows me every time

https://www.youtube.com/watch?featur...v=0dCCc5rT_Dg#!

[spindizzy]

Gianni is brilliant...period.

[groooooove]

any competent bassist could, im sure.. the extra-string chord-playing ones would do a particularly nice job i think

when i was writing a research paper on Dragonetti i read that he often would play around town accompanying a soprano, just the two of them. sometimes a violinist would play with them as well.

if an acro double bass can do it, a modern electric bass should have no trouble.

[ersheff]

Originally Posted by backup

i absolutely hate the sound of solo bass guitar. those six string bass players playing melodies like guitarists. it sounds awful to me

but if youre talking about playing regular bass parts but as the sole instrument. well thats better.

however, bass is an instrument designed to be played in a collective.

On my grumpier days, I agree with you 100%, good sir.

To be fair, I play instruments other than bass, so I think that affects my mentality. When I pick up a bass, I just want to blend in and support as much as possible while making the whole ensemble groove as hard as is appropriate to the situation.

[Signs]

It's not my thing to listen too. There are no doubt some very talented people who do it, but it just doesn't sound like music to me. When the bass emphasizes the chords of a song, whether they are being sung, guitar, sax or keyboards, and the bass line is fleshed out I love it. I can't stand listening to bass solos as that isn't what the instrument was ever meant for in my opinion. 4 or 5 strings are great, 6 is one too many. If you dig it good for you, it's not for me!!!

This guy got it right in 1722, and many great bassists follow this structure to construct basslines.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Root_%28chord%29

I love classic rock, but I could listen to basslines like this any day...

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

[casper_morgan]

I have written many songs with just me playing my bass and me singing... works just as good as anything else.

[bassinplace]

When I saw Tal Wilkenfeld she did a portion of her show this way and she owned it. It was awesome and inspiring.

[Mr_Music90]

If you have a Ibanez Ashula bass, you can be a very unique solo bassist Then you can combine fretted bass lines with fretless bass lines