Showoff piece

mr-mungo · #1 11-12-2008, 03:02 PM

I want to learn a piece thats really good for showing off. I'm only around grade 2-3, I can't tap very well, and i'm not confident playing slap bass.

Anyone got any suggestions?

Thanks, MB

Slax · #2 11-12-2008, 03:52 PM

Just out of curiosity, why do you need a show-off piece?

For fingers style, I'd say Gary Willis has some crazy stuff. Also, I believe Rocco from Tower of Power and also George Porter Jr from the Meters would be areas to look at...

mr-mungo · #3 11-12-2008, 03:54 PM

Ah thanks. I'd like a showoff piece for both auditions and guitars shops. I'll check out some songs

Thanks, MB

Lesfunk · #4 11-12-2008, 03:58 PM

I suggest showing off by playing in time, with tasteful, musical bass lines at a reasonable volume. That's what impresses those that matter.

Jehos · #5 11-12-2008, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr-mungo

Ah thanks. I'd like a showoff piece for both auditions and guitars shops. I'll check out some songs

Thanks, MB

Ugh, please don't be that guy.

I've never been to an audition where chops for the sake of chops mattered one bit. And as for wanking in the guitar shop...

MHensleyJr · #6 11-12-2008, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr-mungo

I want to learn a piece thats really good for showing off. I'm only around grade 2-3...

You're only in 2nd or 3rd grade??? And you want to show off on bass???

mr-mungo · #7 11-13-2008, 11:55 AM

Where to start? I don't want to be seen as a completely incompotent little boy in a music shop. I don't like the idea of wanking in a guitar shop, but a captive audience?

And a showoff piece would be good to improve my playing, in my opinion. In my opinion, it would just be good to have a piece that would make people listen. But thanks for your input

broadblik · #8 11-13-2008, 12:06 PM

No, grade 2-3 means he's probably english, and is grade 2 or 3 on bass guitar...

thombo · #9 11-13-2008, 12:06 PM

1st off, "showoff piece" sounds kind of guitard like...
regardless, i know what you mean. i have had time where family members, friends, etc. want to hear me play something and i go blank- if i slap, they think it sounds like seinfeld and single note groove basslines just don't impress (i get the "you practice that much and can't play a song i know" look).
people are use to chords... imo, things with harmonics, chords and double-stops work best.
-protrait of tracy by jaco
-some stuff off of vic wooten's a show of hands
-harmonic/chord arrangement of pop songs (beatles)

alembicguy · #10 11-13-2008, 12:10 PM

Show off piece is a good way to blow an audition and before you whip out a show off piece in a music store remember that there might be someone close buy with much bigger chops and they might know more than one show off piece

60HzRumble · #11 11-13-2008, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thombo

1st off, "showoff piece" sounds kind of guitard like...
regardless, i know what you mean. i have had time where family members, friends, etc. want to hear me play something and i go blank- if i slap, they think it sounds like seinfeld and single note groove basslines just don't impress (i get the "you practice that much and can't play a song i know" look).
people are use to chords... imo, things with harmonics, chords and double-stops work best.
-protrait of tracy by jaco
-some stuff off of vic wooten's a show of hands
-harmonic/chord arrangement of pop songs (beatles)

+1 for Portrait of Tracy. Tasteful, and impressive to say the least.

FWIW, I have a tap version of AC/DC's Thunderstruck when I get pestered to play something. It's usally accompanied by a look of disgust on my face.

When I go into a guitar shop (or soundcheck for that matter) I usually end up playing scales or small pieces of tunes. I'm there for me, not to show off to the guitards that work there. Wanking is best done in your room by yourself... Uhm, wait a minute - that didn't come out right.

mr-mungo · #12 11-13-2008, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thombo

1st off, "showoff piece" sounds kind of guitard like...
regardless, i know what you mean. i have had time where family members, friends, etc. want to hear me play something and i go blank- if i slap, they think it sounds like seinfeld and single note groove basslines just don't impress (i get the "you practice that much and can't play a song i know" look).
people are use to chords... imo, things with harmonics, chords and double-stops work best.
-protrait of tracy by jaco
-some stuff off of vic wooten's a show of hands
-harmonic/chord arrangement of pop songs (beatles)

Thanks, you've got what I mean perfectly

low-endz · #13 11-13-2008, 12:29 PM

Hey
Get Mel Bay J. S. Bach for Bass (awesome book) and learn Suite #1 in G Major.

The piece is recognizable, tastefull and very pretty.

Somtimes @ Music Shop when a kid starts playing the first 2 bars of a Less Claypool line and then quickly following with a random Flea Lick LOUD. I start to play the enitre Suite #1 in G Major piece and usally gets the other bassist to tone it down a bit.

You can also lay a cool slow groove with great feel. Always impresses me.

thombo · #14 11-13-2008, 12:48 PM

claypool & flea lines = stairway & crazytrain when asked to play something

Erick Lam · #15 11-13-2008, 09:20 PM

Jaco's Continuum.

BigOldHarry · #16 11-13-2008, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jehos

Ugh, please don't be that guy.

I've never been to an audition where chops for the sake of chops mattered one bit. And as for wanking in the guitar shop...

From a one-time salesman at a high-volume store: Totally agreed. Now, if you want to impress chicks, that different...

That said, I'm always kinda impressed when someone either pulls off Donna Lee or Portrait of Tracy (both Jaco - duh!) because both pieces stand alone and don't sound much like wanking - unless they are butchered (which they often are!) So don't pull them out until you KNOW them or every veteran bass player in the store will mutter things you don't want to hear...

This post reminds me that sign in the guitar shop in "Wayne's World" - "No Stairway to Heaven"...

Tenma4 · #17 11-13-2008, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by low-endz

Hey
Get Mel Bay J. S. Bach for Bass (awesome book) and learn Suite #1 in G Major.

+1

Honk'n_down-low · #18 11-13-2008, 09:37 PM

Just Jam Green Onions like you mean it - haha. Or love me two times.

sonic assassin · #19 11-13-2008, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Honk'n_down-low

Just Jam Green Onions like you mean it - haha. Or love me two times.

these are good suggestions haha

once you get into tapping, check out "the horse" by a wilhelm scream.

but if ever i need to be "the bass player" in the room, i start playing anesthesia. just like how you play wish you were here when holding a 12 string, and stairway to heaven whilst holding a double neck.

take 5 is also a good one.

seanm · #20 11-13-2008, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alembicguy

Show off piece is a good way to blow an audition and before you whip out a show off piece in a music store remember that there might be someone close buy with much bigger chops and they might know more than one show off piece

Or worse, somebody from another band looking for a bass player