Giving up soloing Focus more on GROOVE?

cire113 · #1 07-04-2010, 04:11 PM

Ive been playing for about 2 1/2 years.. I'd say im pretty good for that short time.. But i would say the last few months ive been so obsessed with becoming good at soloing like all the "top" bass players today..

However i feel like i should just give up on this concept and focus more on groove....

Im gonna join a band to groove not solo... When am i ever gonna solo?

Also whenever i solo i just keep using the same phrases over and over again.... im getting discouraged..

Its like i need to smash the idea in my mind im gonna be a "solo" bassist and i should just focus on nasty groove... Thoughts?

bassbrad · #2 07-04-2010, 04:26 PM

Focusing more on groove and fundamentals is a bassists job, but that does not mean that you don't get to solo. Being a better soloist has also made me a better at supporting and following other soloists.

**Pacman** · #3 07-04-2010, 05:11 PM

Let me quote Marcus Miller here...

Groove or solo? Who says you get to choose?

MalcolmAmos · #4 07-04-2010, 08:51 PM

Our job is the groove until we are given the lead break. When we are passed the lead break then we can solo.

What do we solo? The melody. What's melody? The tune, yep, the tune.

Let the vocalist, lead guitar, keyboard, horns, etc. grab the melody, I've got enough going right now just furnishing the accompaniment rhythm than to worry with a lead solo. One of these days I'll get around to taking a lead break, but, for now my job is the groove.

cire113 · #5 07-04-2010, 08:55 PM

How do i build up my soloing vocabulary? by transcribing the greats?

recreate.me · #6 07-04-2010, 09:00 PM

These are right as always!

Im in a spot like the OP, and realized that solos are fun an all but in my mind thats better left to the guitarists, on bass the groove is the glory.

If you want the solos, just toss out a really cool version of the melody thats youve been playing, fancy it up a bit but make sure its noticeable, then fade back to where you were and let the song come back.

For learning solos a good start is on learning scales and good melodies, and keeping them all in time with what your playing.

MalcolmAmos · #7 07-04-2010, 09:00 PM

Quote:

How do i build up my soloing vocabulary? by transcribing the greats?

Soloing is playing the melody. Melody is the tune. Learn how to play the tune. It's ear stuff, can you pick out Somewhere over the rainbow? Don't worry with transcribing the greats, get Happy Birthday down first.

**Pacman** · #8 07-04-2010, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MalcolmAmos

I say again. Soloing is playing the melody. Melody is the tune. Learn how to play the tune.

That's a great place to start, but that's not the end, at all.

Thunderthumbs73 · #9 07-04-2010, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cire113

Ive been plathe last few months ive been so obsessed with becoming good at soloing like all the "top" bass players today.. However i feel like i should just give up on this concept and focus more on groove.... Im gonna join a band to groove not solo... When am i ever gonna solo? Also whenever i solo i just keep using the same phrases over and over again.... im getting discouraged.. Its like i need to smash the idea in my mind im gonna be a "solo" bassist and i should just focus on nasty groove... Thoughts?

If you're lucky, you'll play some groove stuff that doesn't "require" any solos, and then you get called to do some jazz gig...

And then what?

MalcolmAmos · #10 07-04-2010, 09:08 PM

You are correct, there is never an end there is always something else just over the horizon.

cire113 · #11 07-04-2010, 09:11 PM

I just seem to always run out of "ideas" when soloing or repeat my favorite licks over and over...

**Pacman** · #12 07-04-2010, 09:14 PM

transcribe, transcribe, transcribe.

Then analyze.

cmewhinney · #13 07-04-2010, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cire113

How do i build up my soloing vocabulary? by transcribing the greats?

Yes! It's also vital to know the changes and melody like the back of your hand. But you can never go wrong with learning the language by transcribing the great players.

cire113 · #14 07-04-2010, 09:19 PM

ive noticed there are no real short cuts to getting good.. just lots of time and practice..

I want to be a bass god after 2 years but thats not reality

bigtiny · #15 07-04-2010, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cire113

Ive been playing for about 2 1/2 years.. I'd say im pretty good for that short time.. But i would say the last few months ive been so obsessed with becoming good at soloing like all the "top" bass players today..

However i feel like i should just give up on this concept and focus more on groove....

Im gonna join a band to groove not solo... When am i ever gonna solo?

Also whenever i solo i just keep using the same phrases over and over again.... im getting discouraged..

Its like i need to smash the idea in my mind im gonna be a "solo" bassist and i should just focus on nasty groove... Thoughts?

I think you should stop viewing it as an 'either or' and focus on becoming a 'complete' player. You want to develop into a player who can groove, solo, play whatever technical stuff you need to handle, maybe be able to handle different idioms (this one's up to you)...

So, there's no such thing as being a 'solo bass player' or being one that 'grooves'....you should work on doing it all.......well........

bigtiny

JimmyM · #16 07-05-2010, 12:21 AM

is there more money to make by grooving and playing simple parts? absolutely. but i've found that the best players at grooving could also pull off a good solo and have lots of facility there, too. not always the case...i'm not especially known for my great solos. i can pull one off pretty well if i rehearse it but i know of many better than me at soloing. but generally, if they can learn to control themselves, great soloists can usually play a great groove.

notice i said "great soloists." don't mistake that for wankery.

**lowfreqgeek** · #17 07-08-2010, 05:46 PM

In my main gig, I almost always get tossed to the sharks a couple times a night for a solo. Usually on a bluesy thing, but not always. Sometimes if our main soloist isn't there (mandolin), the band leader/singer/guitarist turns to me and expects me to solo. Sometimes we have an excellent drummer, sometimes it's the trio without drums, sometimes it's a duo, and occasionally it's a trio with drums and without our main soloist (who is absolutely amazing). That doesn't even cover the jazz gigs I do where I end up getting a solo on more tunes than not.

Groove is first and foremost, but having the ability to play a competent, even "good", solo has been a nice tool in my bag of tricks. Sometimes I get to be very melodic, but usually my solos have to maintain the groove. I NEVER take a slap solo, so my solo spots end up being a fairly heavy groove-laced melodic jaunt through the changes, with or without reference to the specific melody. It really depends on the particulars of the gig. It's not always jazz, but my soloing reflects my study of jazz.

Groove is absolutely key, though, and without it, even your solos will be meaningless and useless. On the flip-side, being able to take a melodic solo will be a pretty valuable tool for you.

Focus most on groove. Learn to solo. Do both. Do both well.