Solo Bassist Club

Jeff Martinez · #1 01-11-2009, 11:50 AM

It seems to me that there is not a difinitive list of solo bassists here on TB. The time has come to stand up and be counted. Well, I'm not going to actually count y'all, or assign any club member numbers. But, it would be cool to know how many of us are out there trying to give it a go.

I would define a "solo bassist" as anyone who has released a solo bass , or bass-centric, recording; or has performed as such, not just a few bass solos within a band context. If this describes you, I want to hear what you're doing. Post a link to your goodness so that we can all check it out.

Also, if you have any solo bass gigs, post 'em here so that we can get the word out.

BTW, you can hear some of my stuff on my MySpace page, listed in my signature.

Jeff Martinez · #2 01-11-2009, 01:22 PM

Also, list some of the players who inspired you to do your own thing.

For me, it was originally, John Pattitucci and Stu Hamm that planted the idea into my head. In recent years, it was Trip Wamsley, Yves Carbonne, and Michael Manring who finally inspired me to go solo.

funkalicious101 · #3 01-11-2009, 03:15 PM

Sign me up, the evidence is in my signature.

My biggest (bass playing) influences have been Steve Lawson and Michael Manring. I still somewhat see myself as a Steve Lawson clone (with a couple handfuls of defects).

bluesbasshound · #4 01-11-2009, 07:10 PM

www.myspace.com/ronrummage

2 originals both fretless tunes... thanks for listening!

**Bryan R. Tyler** · #5 01-11-2009, 07:34 PM

I've got a bunch of solo looped tunes on YouTube- I don't know if that counts as "releasing" something though

http://www.youtube.com/bryanrtyler

I unfortunately have no idea how to categorize the music I play when I play by myself- something like rock, but it's usually not quite "rockin'." I first got inspired from watching an old Bill Dickens tape a couple months after I started where he played an improvised solo piece on a six-string. I was further inspired (as many were) when I saw the Victor Wooten Bass Day 98 set, which got me into the whole looping thing. Watching Michael Manring do a live solo set knocked me out as well- made me go out and get a Boss VF-1.

The weird thing is that I really dislike a lot of solo bass. Part of the reason I use an advanced multitrack looper is because an unaccompanied electric bass usually doesn't have enough going on to carry my interest for long. There are notable exceptions though, and they inspire me to try playing in that manner sometime in the future.

Murder_Worship · #6 01-11-2009, 07:41 PM

i have a band but i also have some solo bass recordings done and put up on myspace, ive preformed solo bass live 2 times so do i count?

http://www.myspace.com/dakotagerrardambiencebass

Jeff Martinez · #7 01-12-2009, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryan R. Tyler

I've got a bunch of solo looped tunes on YouTube- I don't know if that counts as "releasing" something though

http://www.youtube.com/bryanrtyler ...

Very nice stuff. I like the use of the drum machine to build the beats live as well as the looping.

Jeff Martinez · #8 01-12-2009, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murder_Worship

i have a band but i also have some solo bass recordings done and put up on myspace, ive preformed solo bass live 2 times so do i count?

http://www.myspace.com/dakotagerrardambiencebass

Wow. I totally dig your sound. Nice use of delay/reverb keep is smooth and ethereal.

**Bryan R. Tyler** · #9 01-12-2009, 12:03 PM

Hey Jeff, is The Warrior's Dance all bass as well? You're copping a really good old-school Metallica rhythm guitar sound if it is.

Speaking of solo bass, I worked on recording a new tune for about six hours last night, and failed. The problem with looping and playing everything live without overdubbing is that all takes is one mess-up and you often need to start over again. Unfortunately I kept messing up at about 3 minutes into a song, so I had to keep replaying the same first 3 minutes...... Better luck tonight I hope

Hopper · #10 01-12-2009, 01:55 PM

Here's some of mine from 1998:

Assisted Spoombung

Scent of Eucris

I haven't played solo bass for quite some time.

Jeff Martinez · #11 01-12-2009, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryan R. Tyler

Hey Jeff, is The Warrior's Dance all bass as well? You're copping a really good old-school Metallica rhythm guitar sound if it is.

Speaking of solo bass, I worked on recording a new tune for about six hours last night, and failed. The problem with looping and playing everything live without overdubbing is that all takes is one mess-up and you often need to start over again. Unfortunately I kept messing up at about 3 minutes into a song, so I had to keep replaying the same first 3 minutes...... Better luck tonight I hope

Thanks!

I'll take that as a huge compliment. I love that Hetfield rhythm style. Yeah, it's played on my Schecter Omen-5, tuned high (DADGC).

Loopers intimidate me the crap out of me. I would like to get one someday, but for now, I'm really into multi-tracking without one.

Jeff Martinez · #12 01-12-2009, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hopper

Here's some of mine from 1998:

Assisted Spoombung

Scent of Eucris

I haven't played solo bass for quite some time.

Cool stuff. Reminds me of old-school industrial music, like Einsturzende Neubauten.

Hopper · #13 01-12-2009, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Martinez

Cool stuff. Reminds me of old-school industrial music, like Einsturzende Neubauten.

Thanks, but I'm not sure you've got that quite right. It's coming more from a Steve Reich thing - gradually changing tonality and loaded harmonics played in rhythm - rather than bits of metal being thrashed in a big space!

SmittyG · #14 07-03-2009, 09:25 AM

I am falling into this quite backwards. My original goal was to use my loops and layers just to compose the songs for improvisational treatment by a group in a live performance. However, thus far, that has proved hit-and-miss at best. Several of my friends have said the tunes sound much better as I recorded them and have pushed me to get a looping pedal (I have a Digitech Jamman on the way) and just do the shows myself. I've never thought of myself as a solo bassist before so it is a new concept for me. Been doing a lot of searching on the 'net to see how others are doing this stuff and that's how I found this thread.

So Low Bass · #15 07-03-2009, 02:06 PM

Here are about 20 0f my arrangements or compositions for solo bass guitar. That means solo; no looping, karaoke, or accompaniment. I do not use any effects on these tunes, and are all on the P pup.

I add another about each month.

http://www.youtube.com/user/solowbass

SmittyG · #16 07-06-2009, 10:43 AM

Very cool. Enjoying your music this morning.

soong · #17 07-07-2009, 02:51 AM

Heres a solo bass composition i recently starting performing.

Do give feedback guys!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_TG6otY64M

Heres a Steve Lawson cover i did as well:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOC7za-RF6I

Cheers all.

Fred19137 · #18 07-07-2009, 03:20 AM

This is cool, I like this thread! I probably don't fit the bill though. I am almost completely a band bassist and my only solos are durring concerts with my band. However, not to be mean at all, but we as solo bassist must work harder than this. I personally do not like the loop tracks they divert from the song and if you cannot play it then you should have got a band to play it. I don't know why, but for me the value of the song goes down with loops and over dubs. I really enjoyed most of the music everyone has shown, Most of you can school me anyday, but just work on your ability to reproduce on stage what you have reacorded. If it can't be done get a band to help you out.

Mike Dimin · #19 07-07-2009, 08:01 AM

It is a real; pleasure to hear everyone's approach to solo bass, it just shows how varied the range of our instrument and the artists who play it are. For any aspiring bassists out there ... just wanted to let you know fo the release of my new book, The Art of Solo Bass (Mel Bay):

http://www.melbay.com/product.asp?ProductID=20845BCD

Peace
Mike Dimin

soong · #20 07-07-2009, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fred19137

Most of you can school me anyday, but just work on your ability to reproduce on stage what you have reacorded. If it can't be done get a band to help you out.

Are you disregarding the use of loop pedals live? We are easily capable of playing our solo bass songs with looping live with no problem.

...Or have a misunderstood your statement?