help w/ a "reasonable" bass solo

pasta4lnch · #1 06-06-2009, 05:07 PM

Lets get the white elephant outta the way . . . I'm a guitar player. Started playing bass a few years back and I think I got a pretty good bead on it. I do a lot of gigs w/ a trio and often want to take a solo. The guys I play with are really good, and if I were on guitar I'd be psyched to jump in at any time. but on bass I'm lacking "tricks".

I'm looking for advice, books, or youtube vids of "reasonable" bass solos. not Victor Wooten or Manring craziness - something that will inspire me for 15 seconds of coolness at the end on "In Your Eyes" or " Late In the Eve" etc... We play a mix of current/classic rock, motown, r & b and acousto/pop/rock originals I play 4 and 5 string Fenders. I just want to be able to hop in w/ a little solo now and then . . . Plus I want to build my chops, right hand especially (oddly, I can't stand playing w/ a pick)

I've learned a lot from playing along w/ tracks - now I just need to get soloing down . . .

pasta4lnch · #2 06-09-2009, 10:24 AM

Nothing huh??

Oric · #3 06-09-2009, 01:59 PM

The Who's My Generation has some cool short solos in it.

Rezlax31 · #4 06-09-2009, 02:08 PM

The Staple Singers - I'll Take You There

nysbob · #5 06-09-2009, 02:15 PM

I'm thinking you mean more of a "break" than a solo. Soloing on bass is no different from soloing on guitar or any other instrument. It's very hard to loosen up your time when it's something you always strive to maintain normally - and unless the other guys you're playing with are ready for that and can provide solid support, so that's your call. Work off scales, the melody, hell... the same stuff you'd do with a guitar.

If you want people to hear what you're doing, you might want to move to a higher register than you've been supporting the song in. If you have some sort of effect to kick in, that doesn't hurt either.

bajistaman · #6 06-09-2009, 02:21 PM

brand new heavies - you are the universe (1997), you can find a small and easy melodic bass solo to get some ideas (At 02:06):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arHPC-q4kFU

pasta4lnch · #7 06-11-2009, 06:59 AM

Thanks guys! I'm going to check out all these . . . the Brand New Heavies thing is cool - kinda what I'm looking for. basically just want a bigger bag-o-tricks.

I think it's just frustrating to me cuz I know how to solo well on gtr - I know the feeling/confidence. like learning to walk again, verses learning it for the 1st time . . .