Bass Solo's

lawsonman · #1 01-30-2009, 06:07 PM

I've played Bass for so many years now it's hard to remember back when I first started. Now that I've gotten older I've learned to appreciate music more than ever.Gigging now at age 56 is more fun than ever.

Here's my question though.Since I first developed a interest in music in about first grade ( Yes,music was around then

) Bass solo's have never done a thing for me.It doesn't matter who it is or what style of music I get bored listening to a bassist after about a minute.Great bass lines within a song makes me smile but let that guy break into a solo and they lose my attention.

Anybody else feel like me ?

ClydeMcAllister · #2 01-31-2009, 12:17 PM

I know exactly what you mean. I like a good, powerful bassline that adds impact and depth to a song, not someone noodling around. Everytime my band wants me to solo I just pass that along to the keyboardist. Ha.

Baryonyx · #3 01-31-2009, 12:29 PM

I can see this one probably going downhill. Someone starts a thread about their irrelevant and inflammatory opinion and the flaming starts...

Mcfunkinstein · #4 01-31-2009, 12:41 PM

im doubting you like punkmusic but matt freeman has a couple pretty cool solos in racid's songs maxwell murder,axiom and white knuckled ride i would check them out

lawsonman · #5 01-31-2009, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baryonyx

I can see this one probably going downhill. Someone starts a thread about their irrelevant and inflammatory opinion and the flaming starts...

It shouldn't go downhill at all.I'm not bashing anyone for liking to listen to solo's or if they enjoy playing them.All I'm saying is they don't do a lot for me and I lose interst in them quickly.Why is that a irrelevant and inflammatory opinion?

rapturebass · #6 01-31-2009, 02:33 PM

+10000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Bass solo's are really boring to me, like Vic Wooten's solos, where its 12:00 min., between a song. I'd rather listen to a short 20 second solo that's IN a song.

XephonXIII · #7 01-31-2009, 02:50 PM

Yeah, Vic's 12-minute improv-solos can get really boring.

However, I LOVE Stu Hamm's bass solos. They're actual songs, or occasionally medleys.

During a song, a bass solo is fine for a few measures, but I think they're overdone way too often.

xgator4u · #8 01-31-2009, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baryonyx

I can see this one probably going downhill. Someone starts a thread about their irrelevant and inflammatory opinion and the flaming starts...

YUP, I'm outta here, you guys stay here and play all the root notes you want.

millsbass5 · #9 01-31-2009, 04:23 PM

It all depends.I definitely love hearing another players chops.Answer my question on this thread along with the OPs:Why aren't bass solos accepted like,piano,guitar,vocal,etc.,etc.??

cnltb · #10 01-31-2009, 04:33 PM

I like bass solos, just as much as solos by any other instrument.
It is however a few PLAYERS whose solos tend to leave me rather uninterested. It's the land-speed-record-breakers whom I tend to prefer not to listen to,whereas the more melodic players,those who typically play fewer notes, steve swallow being one example, I like very much.
It's the old to each their own.

...And no need to go down hill at all.

infamusblkdeath · #11 01-31-2009, 04:47 PM

im sure you probably not the only one.personally,i like bass solos,mainly cause alot of people disreguard bass players and say that they dont do anything for the band,so when i see someone just come ripping out with a bass solo,its kinda like an "in your face" thing to them.also,i think bass players deserve more spotlight.but thats fine you see it that way,i wouldnt think any less of someone that didnt care about bass solos.

Tyler C. · #12 01-31-2009, 04:51 PM

I think there just like a solo on any other instrument. When someone is wanking around on bass it is just as bad as someone playing a scale at 600bpm on guitar.

jmorbita · #13 01-31-2009, 05:23 PM

What exactly do you consider a solo? For example, entwislte on "my generation", is that a solo? It's just a few seconds, but it totally adds to the song i think... I'm sure there are lots of other examples of the kind that might be considered bass solos and you really dig...
maybe it's the wanking you dislike? (and most people would...)

Kenny Allyn · #14 01-31-2009, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xgator4u

YUP, I'm outta here, you guys stay here and play all the root notes you want.

The OP was not inflammatory ... but now we are getting there.

It's a long way from root notes to 12 minute solos!

I kinda dig a short solo that works the groove and melody line of the song into it. Leo Goff from the Barker Bass forum is a buddy of mine and when he wants to he can make that Barker bass talk and moan with some very tasty solo interludes.

Not much of a solo guy myself, I'll usually kick in my ocatve pedal and double some of the organ/horn lines on Steve Winwoods GIMME SOME LOVIN and noodle off some of the B-3 solo line on the bass, but that's about it.

... Still a long way from just playing root notes

lawsonman · #15 01-31-2009, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmorbita

What exactly do you consider a solo? For example, entwislte on "my generation", is that a solo? It's just a few seconds, but it totally adds to the song i think... I'm sure there are lots of other examples of the kind that might be considered bass solos and you really dig...
maybe it's the wanking you dislike? (and most people would...)

I don't consider the Bass part in "My Generation" a solo at all.I guess for me anything over about a minute or two makes me lose interest.

cnltb · #16 02-01-2009, 04:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyler C.

I think there just like a solo on any other instrument. When someone is wanking around on bass it is just as bad as someone playing a scale at 600bpm on guitar.

It's just that bassists often seem to think that they need to prove someone wrong.
who may not regard the bass as a valid solo instrument.

I think that there is no need for that at all.

DreadyDiggs · #17 02-01-2009, 04:36 AM

I listen to reggae mostly, which doesn't have many bass solos. We have dub, which emphasizes the drum and bass of the song, but not many solos (come to think of it, very seldom does a reggae song have a bass intro, and I wouldn't even count them as a solo). Being so, when I first saw solos, stuff like Billy Sheehan, Vic, Geddy, Claypool etc, I like that stuff, but I don't expect to be a soloist and don't prefer soloing over a traditional reggae groove.

But that's just me. Nothing wrong with solos. FamilyMan said, "Drums are the heart, bass is the backbone." That's all I'm gonna try to be, just a stable, strong backbone, nothing more.

sound of bass · #18 02-01-2009, 05:02 AM

I dont really dig lonnnng solos either, when they're quick and done through the course of a song its more appealing to me. But I can listen to a nice bass melody, classical type music much easier and longer...when the bass really sings by itself. Make sense?

jerry · #19 02-01-2009, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreadyDiggs

I listen to reggae mostly, which doesn't have many bass solos. We have dub, which emphasizes the drum and bass of the song, but not many solos (come to think of it, very seldom does a reggae song have a bass intro, and I wouldn't even count them as a solo). Being so, when I first saw solos, stuff like Billy Sheehan, Vic, Geddy, Claypool etc, I like that stuff, but I don't expect to be a soloist and don't prefer soloing over a traditional reggae groove.

I know it's rare but, one of the most memorable bass solos I've seen was by bassist Tony Gad at a Aswad show.

Baryonyx · #20 02-01-2009, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lawsonman

It shouldn't go downhill at all.I'm not bashing anyone for liking to listen to solo's or if they enjoy playing them.All I'm saying is they don't do a lot for me and I lose interst in them quickly.Why is that a irrelevant and inflammatory opinion?

The fact is, the forum didn't need you to state your opinion on this matter. It's like the old "I don't like jaco" threads. Fair enough, thats how you feel, but you're asking for an argument over a sensitive subject.