Soloing on bass

FenderGibson · #1 02-27-2009, 11:02 PM

could someone help me on how to come up with a great bass solo for metal?

santucci218 · #2 03-05-2009, 10:46 AM

give us examples of what you are going for please. i never really heard a bass SOLO in metal, just fills...

JTE · #3 03-05-2009, 11:48 AM

A. Sit down with part of the song you'll be soloing over. Play it over and over again listening to it. Do this with your bass safely locked away in its case. That way you'll have the MUSIC leading you, not your fingers or the bass.

B. SING what you think is a great bass solo for that song, still with the bass in its case.

C. Record the singing of the solo (so you'll remember it and so you won't cheat and put your favorite finger patterns into it).

D. Now, get your bass out and painstakingly learn to play the solo exactly as you sang it.

The point is that any great bit of music starts with the idea and the sound. Giving you some scale, arpeggios, licks, etc. won't mean squat for creating a great solo, and probably won't even help you come up with a lame one eitehr.

jte

Projectile · #4 03-05-2009, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTE

B. SING what you think is a great bass solo for that song, still with the bass in its case.

I can't sing worth a damn. I've taken ear-training courses, voice classes, everything. The fact remains that I just have poor control over the pitch of my voice.

Does this mean that I will never be able to write a good solo?

WJGreer · #5 03-05-2009, 12:01 PM

Suggestion - start by learning to play the notes the singer would be singing if there were a verse going on instead of a solo. In other words, learn to play the song's melody.

Then, write a solo that is very close to that melody, but expands upon it a little here and breaks away from it a little there. The result will sound less like a copy of what the singer already did than you might think.

If you are inclined, pick up a jazz CD by one of the big names - Miles, Coltrane, Bird, etc. Notice how often the first chorus of every soloist's blow quotes the head a lot. This is the idea. I really do think it would translate fine into a metal situation - as long as the melody is a good one.

Best luck!

JTE · #6 03-05-2009, 02:45 PM

My own singing has been described as "... a duet with Yoko Ono and Linda McCartney". The point is that if you do this stuff without the instrument in your hands, you'll get to the MUSIC instead of just wiggling your fingers.

Come up with some stuff that sounds like good ideas, then learn to play it!

jte