Cantaloupe Island Bass Solo

[edgewise]

I am working on the Jamey Aebersold play-a-long version of Cantaloupe Island (Book #54).

The chords are F-7 | Db7 | D-7

He recommends using a Blues Scale for soloing. I have messed around with that, but haven't come up with anything I really dig.

Does anyone have any tips or examples of a Cantaloupe Island bass solo?

And yes I have heard Brian Brombergs solo.

Thanks for your help!

[beggar98]

Have you transcribed anyone else's solos? Not just bass players, but horn and keyboard players, too. This is a great way to learn a tune front and back and see different approaches to changes.

[edgewise]

Yes, I have transcribed a few other solos, but they were all bass.

I didn't consider transcribing other instruments.

I will try that, thanks.

[BahamaBass]

is that Fmin7 or F7?

[Dogbertday]

I go modal on it.... Dorian or Mixo... then step outside those scales and back in.... that's one of my favorite ways to approach this tune

[Rudreax]

F-7 = F Minor 7. Otherwise, it would just be written as F7. You can tell, though, since there's a Db7 that follows it.

[edgewise]

Originally Posted by Dogbertday

I go modal on it.... Dorian or Mixo... then step outside those scales and back in.... that's one of my favorite ways to approach this tune

Yeah, Aebersold recommends blues scale but I see how Dorian or Mixolydian work as well.

Obviously I am pretty green w/ jazz improv so when you say, "step outside" do you mean chromatically? Example?

Thanks for your help!

[Earthday]

You have a good idea of the notes you could use. Blues scale, Mixo, Dorian, chord tones, and chromatic notes. Use those to guide you and play from your ear. Try to think of something that would sound good, THEN play it.

[Phil Smith]

I'd recommend simple melodic motifs using the notes of the chords starting on the 3rd, 5th or 7th of the chord as a starting point but you need to hear the tune in your head i.e. KNOW the melody which is only two simple riffs, one played over F-7 and Db7 the other over D-7..

[Chris K]

C'mon guys, THREE chords... how much damage can you do? Don't use your brains, blow them.

[HaVIC5]

You made the first mistake in transcribing bass players. Never transcribe a bass player's solo (well, not never, but probably not when you're first starting to transcribe). You get the best melodic ideas from the horns. Bass players often have issues with phrasing while soloing, so they're not the ideal source of material.

[TheFrogPrince]

Learn the melody and work off of that. Play bits and peices of it and throw in chord subs and inversions to sound fancy if you like. Just don't start on the root note and perhaps write out a few of your first solos, plan ahead and such. It helps me when walking over an unfamiliar or difficult tune.