Bass solo question...

[Steve Harris Is]

Been playing for about 1.5 years, feeling like on a scale of 1-10 I am maybe a 3, but I play in a band, I am having fun, etc. However...

Virtually every bass palyer I meet or see at the local music shop from 14-60 years old has chops that are way beyond me at this point, and when it comes to soloing like some of these folks I guess I just don't even know where to begin.

For example, many of these players seem to race all over the fretboard and even as I begin to build up good speed/technique, I am not sure what the "building blocks" of these solos really are. Are they just blasting through scales in the same key in different octaves or is it essentially all part of the various modes of a given key? Meaning, what makes a cool solo I guess?

Well, heres an example you can check out, and besides the fact that the dude is playing mainly slap/pop, for those veterans out there who can see this just with a quick peek, what is this solo essentially derived from?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiJfesGhL5I

[justinb515]

It's not necessarily some secret to soloing that they all know and you don't, it's the fact that one and a half years of practice isn't a really long time, especially by the standards you are probably judging yourself against. If you are in a band and having a good time, don't worry about being as good as the hot dog in the music store. When music becomes a contest to see who can solo the best, you have missed the point. Soloing comes with time and PRACTICE. That guy in the video has been playing far longer than one and a half years, and I guarantee you that wasn't something he just made up in front of the camera. Let the hot dogs post their solo clips on youtube, you just keep enjoying the music you play and the chops will come with time and consistent practice.

[Steve Harris Is]

Originally Posted by justinb515

Let the hot dogs post their solo clips on youtube, you just keep enjoying the music you play and the chops will come with time and consistent practice.

Oh trust me, for now that's what I plan on doing! However, I am just really trying to understand the building blocks of some of these solos as I mentioned...the only soloing I do currently is very basic and rooted around whatever scale I am working with as it fits with the song. Not flashy, not awe inspiring but it works well with the tune(s). I would just love to get more insight into writing one of these true "bass solo" pieces.

[-Sam-]

Originally Posted by Steve Harris Is

the only soloing I do currently is very basic and rooted around whatever scale I am working with as it fits with the song. Not flashy, not awe inspiring but it works well with the tune(s). I would just love to get more insight into writing one of these true "bass solo" pieces.

Well thats a great place to start. the type of soloing really depends on the type of music your playing. But in general try to keep it interesting with rythmic ideas and melodic stuff. Dont just try to rip up the fret board but try to create a melody that sounds good and is intersting. In terms of what notes the third and seventh are good notes in every type of music so play around with them. And if your talking about "bass Solo pieces" the most important thing is to keep it interesting and succinct. not short but not drawn out and boring. I dunno if that helps, and you might be playing ultra heavy death speed metal which i have absolutly no idea about. Good luck

[weeding]

I'll throw in my two cents. Soloing (for me) is about using theory as a means to express something. You can solo using the key or modes as a starting point, or the melody of a song. But Try to play something that sounds pretty, along with being techinical, and experiment, try some chromatiscism, some odd rhythms etc.

[mlbarlow]

Hey, someone is always going to to have better chops, but the real deal is holding a groove.

Despite that ... soloing well not only comes from practice and time, but listening ... and not only to bass players.

[Crazyeelboy]

Originally Posted by Steve Harris Is

Virtually every bass palyer I meet or see at the local music shop from 14-60 years old has chops that are way beyond me at this point

Don't worry about people intimidating you in the music store and don't try to build up chops to do the same yourself - focus your attention on doing well with your band.

As for soloing, don't try to force great chops where they don't fit. The solo has to fit into the song, and a simple but tasteful passage will almost always work much better than something with blazing speed or complexity. A lot of bass players feel that their short solo is their "only chance" to show everyone how great they are, but that misses the point. In most bands, the bass sets the tone for the entire sound, so a good bassist is showing their skill throughout the entire performance. I've seen some jazz shows recently where the bassists have done some great work throughout the sets but then at "solo time" they pull out some totally misplaced slap pop thing which, while really fast and all over the place, is melodically forgettable and nowhere near as interesting as the rest of their bass parts in the show.

As for chops, keep up the practicing and playing with the band, learn about music and learn every milimeter of your bass and the chops will come along soon enough.

[Steve Harris Is]

Originally Posted by Crazyeelboy

As for chops, keep up the practicing and playing with the band, learn about music and learn every milimeter of your bass and the chops will come along soon enough.

Thanks...I am hoping so, and I do feel in the context of the band I am doing pretty well. I think a lot of what I am seeing/hearing are guys who have learned the slap/pop method really well and honestly I have not even delved into that yet and still not sure if I want/need to, though it certainly sounds cool enough!

[hunta]

I think there are a lot of different ways to approach soloing, but what I find works best is trying to visualize in your head the "ideal solo" for a song. The next step is figuring out how to translate that into playing it. If you can't play it, then you need to figure out what aspect of your technique or theoretical knowledge is holding you back.

If you are interested in working up your dexterity and developing "blazing chops," I would suggest doing some simple exercises up and down the neck. Get your metronome going at a comfortable tempo, start on the E string, and employ a fingering pattern like 1-2-3-2-3-4 starting on the 1st fret, then repeat the pattern starting on the 2nd fret, and so forth until you've reached the end of the neck. Then walk back down using the opposite pattern, 4-3-2-3-2-1, and keep going until you're back at the beginning. Then move onto the A string, D string, and G string, doing the same finger pattern. Pay special attention to your intonation and to play each note evenly and smoothly.

Once you are comfortable at a slow speed, take the tempo up a few notches, and so on and so forth. It may be a little boring, but if you work something like this into your daily practicing routine, you may be surprised at the results. You can do similar exercises jumping across strings, playing arpeggios, whatever.

Then you have to translate your newfound dexterity into meaningful solos... But that's another story.

[Steve Harris Is]

Originally Posted by hunta

Then you have to translate your newfound dexterity into meaningful solos... But that's another story.

Yeah, tell em about it! However, I really think the secret is just what you said, as I am actually getting pretty comfy with the whole scales thing and where they are and how I can effeciently use them in certain songs, etc. I am sure if I just build my dexterity and speed the soloing will almost start to develop on its own.

[jimbob]

Originally Posted by Steve Harris Is

Yeah, tell em about it! However, I really think the secret is just what you said, as I am actually getting pretty comfy with the whole scales thing and where they are and how I can effeciently use them in certain songs, etc. I am sure if I just build my dexterity and speed the soloing will almost start to develop on its own.

It will. May I add you should get together with some OTHER musicians too, not just the ones in your band, and apply what you are learning there as well. Get together with some Blues, jazz, country and other bands you normally wouldn't play with and see how you do. Playing as often as possible in a group setting will get you better at everything quicker if you apply what you are practicing.

My 2cents on the slap/pop thing...it is overrated...or maybe I'm annoyed with it....I have kids I teach who can slap and pop but can't play in the pocket with a live drummer...not yet anyway....because they don't "listen" to the drummer....they are too concerned with being a great soloist...I'm working against a soloist mindset everyday.

[Three Corvettes]

Originally Posted by jimbob

My 2cents on the slap/pop thing...it is overrated...or maybe I'm annoyed with it....I have kids I teach who can slap and pop but can't play in the pocket with a live drummer...

Good advice here. Totally agree!

I never even tried slap/pop, but nevertheless, when I started playing bass I avoided playing with a band for a long time, thinking that I needed to be able to do lots of cool fills. I wanted to be way beyond playing just the basics.

But when I started playing with bands I quickly realized that most need just the basics. Most of the time, the very best thing you can play is a simple groove that creates a strong link between the drummer and everyone else.

One time I told my bass teacher that I felt like I was cheating by playing so few notes and his answer was that if I wanted to play more notes, take up some other instrument because bass playing is not about how many notes you can play and how fast you can play them. You're a bass player!

[steveb98]

Start doing some transcribing, or download buy some transcription book. What is key don't just learn someone elses solo. Take the time to analyze what they are doing over each chord. Learn the solo chord by chord. Figure out what notes as related to the chord they are using, which ones do you like. The rhythms being used and so on.

Having a pocket full of good motif's and understanding how they are used will lead up to coming up with your own solo. Then analyze your own solos the same way. Its a building and self education process.