Arranging tunes for solo bass

[bandito]

I'm just going to get into this and I want some tips. I'm trying to take Tell Me a Bedtime Story and get the melody and a simple bass line going at the same time. I understand basically how to do it but, does anyone have any tips/things to watch out for?

This is the Idea but on a guitar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-55HaL71vaw
I'm trying to do it on fretless after I get it down on electric.
Any advice would be really apreciated
Thanks,
Ari

[Danny Fox]

I started arranging solo stuff for one instrument by using any lead sheets i could find, the simpler the better to start with. Playing the melody and extending the harmony by playing the bass notes of the chords marked above it. Then it's up to you really how you expand on it. Mike Dimin would be great to ask about this, he's done some great arrangements. One of the last ones i did was Jaco's "three views of a secret", not too difficult at all as it's such a simple (but nice) melody, and you can play around with the bass notes/chord extensions. Approach with an open mind and just enjoy it!

Peace

[Mike Dimin]

Originally Posted by bandito

I'm just going to get into this and I want some tips. I'm trying to take Tell Me a Bedtime Story and get the melody and a simple bass line going at the same time. I understand basically how to do it but, does anyone have any tips/things to watch out for?

This is the Idea but on a guitar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-55HaL71vaw
I'm trying to do it on fretless after I get it down on electric.
Any advice would be really apreciated
Thanks,
Ari

Ari,

take a moment to check out my youtube, www.youtube.com/mikedimin and the youtube site for bass guitar magazine at: http://www.youtube.com/user/bassguitarmagazine

There are some performance videos as well as some that accompany a lesson column that I write for Bass Guitar Magazine. You can also check out my book, "The Art of Solo Bass" published by Mel Bay. I also offer private lessons via Skype and write arrangements for other such as this:

http://www.youtube.com/user/ladybass...10/PO1te_6aq0k

Thanks
Mike

[Mike Dimin]

Originally Posted by bandito

I'm just going to get into this and I want some tips. I'm trying to take Tell Me a Bedtime Story and get the melody and a simple bass line going at the same time. I understand basically how to do it but, does anyone have any tips/things to watch out for?

This is the Idea but on a guitar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-55HaL71vaw
I'm trying to do it on fretless after I get it down on electric.
Any advice would be really apreciated
Thanks,
Ari

I think that you really want to accentuate that latin feel.

[bandito]

I'm "done" arranging it at the moment. It's mostly the melody with a latin style line at the same time. I like how it grooves compared to how guitarists usally do the chords and the melody. I'm writing it out on sort of a piano type sheet but with 2 bass clefs, melody and bassline. I'm not sure if this is the best way to go though because I'm just rewriting the real book melody on the top line and the bass line on the bottom. (my handwriting isn't good enough yet to just stick them on one bar) I've realized that it doesn't help with the fingerings at all though. I was thinking I could also tab it out but I've been off the tabs for a couple of years and I would like to stay that way. Should I just put string numbers on the sheet I've written?
And thank you guys for the help!
I think I'm going to start doing this monthly.
-Ari

[Mike Dimin]

Originally Posted by bandito

I'm "done" arranging it at the moment. It's mostly the melody with a latin style line at the same time. I like how it grooves compared to how guitarists usally do the chords and the melody. I'm writing it out on sort of a piano type sheet but with 2 bass clefs, melody and bassline. I'm not sure if this is the best way to go though because I'm just rewriting the real book melody on the top line and the bass line on the bottom. (my handwriting isn't good enough yet to just stick them on one bar) I've realized that it doesn't help with the fingerings at all though. I was thinking I could also tab it out but I've been off the tabs for a couple of years and I would like to stay that way. Should I just put string numbers on the sheet I've written?
And thank you guys for the help!
I think I'm going to start doing this monthly.
-Ari

Are you arranging it for others to play or just for yourself? I ask this because if it is the former, you might want to get as close to the way you are playing it. If you are just doing it for yourself, it is cool to just use it as a point of reminder. I think this answers the TAB question, as well.

Writing it on 2 staves is probably preferred, in this instance

Mike

[bandito]

I am playing in my sax, upright and drums trio but I'm talking about just on solo electric. I'll post up a video probably in a couple days when I have it down for critique. I'll put up my score to if I can but It's hard to read my handwriting.

[Mike Dimin]

Originally Posted by bandito

I am playing in my sax, upright and drums trio but I'm talking about just on solo electric. I'll post up a video probably in a couple days when I have it down for critique. I'll put up my score to if I can but It's hard to read my handwriting.

looking forward to it

[bandito]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsuYRVyi6HQ

Check it out! I don't have my technique down for this style of playing(I use my thumb sometimes and two fingers sometimes) but It's about as clean of a take as I could get tonight, keep in mind that this started with me thinking "Hey, I can play this lick and this bassline at the same time!" at one in the morning on sunday. I like how it turned out for the most part. I'll arrange another in a couple weeks and post it, hopefully with better technique. I'll definatly study your lesson videos some more too.

[Mike Dimin]

Originally Posted by bandito

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsuYRVyi6HQ

Check it out! I don't have my technique down for this style of playing(I use my thumb sometimes and two fingers sometimes) but It's about as clean of a take as I could get tonight, keep in mind that this started with me thinking "Hey, I can play this lick and this bassline at the same time!" at one in the morning on sunday. I like how it turned out for the most part. I'll arrange another in a couple weeks and post it, hopefully with better technique. I'll definatly study your lesson videos some more too.

Ari,

There is some really hip things going on. I think you really can get a good sense of both the melody and harmony and times, when you really nailed the feel

Nice job
Mike Dimin

[bassandbeyond]

That's a really good effort, especially for your first solo bass piece. You picked a challenging tune, too.

I'd like to offer a couple of suggestions for you. First, since the register of the bass is quite low, I think you'll find that keeping these arrangements up above about the 10th fret or so will usually sound less muddy generally. Using a bass with more frets opens up more usable range, but remember you can also use harmonics to get high notes.

I'd also recommend, once you have the notes under your fingers, that you try practicing with a metronome or at least tapping your foot to get the time solid. When playing solo, you can take some liberties with the time, but it's an extra challenge to make the music feel good while pulling off technically difficult moves. The click will reveal any trouble spots.

Nice work, and keep at it!

[dpbass66]

General question:

Do you guys usually work out an entire arrangement before hand, get every nuance of it down as if it were a composition, or is there some improv going on?

[Mike Dimin]

Doug,

I know wheer you are coming from, but I respectfully disagree with some of your recommendations. First, a strong NO to the dreaded metronome. Stay away!. Time is an internal thing. Ari, you have a nice sense of time and feel, you don't need it. The feel is more important than the time, especially when playing solo.

Also, in my books I often talk about the muddiness in the lower register. In fact I think Doug might have taken that text right from my book. However, listening to your arrangement, I did not feel that it was muddy at all. If, and only if, you feel you need more clarity should you move it above the 10th fret. There is a beauty, as well, to play solo bass lower registers

BTW, I've posted 6 more videos, bass and percussion, chord melodies with and without looping.

Mike Dimin

[bandito]

Thanks for the feedback! My timing is not super tight I'll admit but there's a pulse in there. I do have a six string with 24 frets that I could arrange something for next in a higher range. I think I'll try something latin again before I try something else, then maybe a swing tune.

[bandito]

Originally Posted by dpbass66

General question:

Do you guys usually work out an entire arrangement before hand, get every nuance of it down as if it were a composition, or is there some improv going on?

I did some slight improv just mainly in the bass line. It's pretty loose except for the melody.

[anonymous122511]

Originally Posted by Mike Dimin

First, a strong NO to the dreaded metronome. Stay away!. Time is an internal thing. Ari, you have a nice sense of time and feel, you don't need it. The feel is more important than the time, especially when playing solo.

The time can be found in the harmonic resonance of the music....no metronome required.

[Mike Dimin]

Originally Posted by dpbass66

General question:

Do you guys usually work out an entire arrangement before hand, get every nuance of it down as if it were a composition, or is there some improv going on?

my arrangements are "skeletons" I then have many options in performance including feel, tempo, reharmonization, melodic embellishment, etc. Even when I loop, I will not use anything prerecorded (MY Boomerang looper does not save loops). I do not want anything sounding stale. I want the opportunity to discover something new each and every time I play a tune. I want to be, at times, on the edge. I would rather take the chance of making a mistake than miss the opportunity of discovery.

The thing is, in my video recordings for the companion piece to my Bass Guitar Magazine lesson columns, I try to play it very close to the written part. I think those recordings suffer for it.

Mike

[Setebos]

Bandito, I liked you video. I think is a good way to start. Suggest not to leave this tune aside. Keep on working on it until it gets more fluid. Keep it simple in the beginning. With time you can add more things.
I also thought that at some points it sounded too thick. How do you set your tone knob? Besides playing higher on the fretboard opening your tone knob might help getting clearer notes.
I'm also starting to play some tunes solo. I put up some videos not long ago. Of course they still need a lot of work but its a start

http://www.youtube.com/malcolmworld#p/u/7/qv9rSjsTppU

This is one of them. Then you can check "so What" or " the chicken".

So background sound is my foot tapping on the floor.

[onosson]

Hey, that was really nice, Avi! Keep it up ... lots of good suggestions here already, I won't add anything. I think you have a great foundation, just keep working.

I'd be curious to see how it would sound on that Jazz Bass hanging on the wall behind you...

[Mike Dimin]

I have spent some time checking out many of the pieces here as well of tons of solo bass stuff on the internet. I have one piece of advice for everyone

Think like a musician, not like a bass player!