What do you play when a non-musician asks you to play something?

[sotjian]

I had a friend pop by the other day. Upon seeing my Precision she made the ubiquitous "Oh, you play guitar" comment. I indicated it was a bass and she said "Play something".. so I started to play the opening riff to Tom Sawyer. Blank stare from friend. I though to myself I sure wished I could slap and pop or play "Linus and Lucy" or "Portrait of Tracy"..

So what do yo do when a non-musician asks you to play something?

[Deacon_Blues]

I pick up one of my guitars. Bass is not really a solo instrument, at least I don't use it as one.

[fenderhutz]

Originally Posted by Deacon_Blues

I pick up one of my guitars. Bass is not really a solo instrument, at least I don't use it as one.

[Deacon_Blues]

...but if I pick up a bass, I'm probably playing a random funk riff or something utilizing chords made up of harmonics (like Portait of Tracy, although I've never learned that one).

EDIT:

Originally Posted by Deacon_Blues

I pick up one of my guitars. Bass is not really a solo instrument, at least I don't use it as one.

But I do like to play melodies on my fretless though.




Can of worms closed again?

[heroincredible]

Mostly just something I wrote, unless I get a request that I know how to play.

[Darkstrike]

Fly Away, or Another One Bites The Dust.

[rezin]

it really is pretty funny that this situation is a little terrifying for a lot of us

[msquared]

The riff from that song that was played in the Mos Eisley cantina in Star Wars is always a hit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YSF5SfqF2o

Usually though, non-musicians are expecting something they can instantly connect with. You can't play "Brown Eyed Girl" or anything like that and have them relate to it so I try to at least get something grooving going.

Ben Harper's "Steal My Kisses".

My 3yo son likes the bass part from Miles Davis's "So What" and will sing it if I'm playing it so I'll play that if he's around.

A lot of Meters stuff translates well when played solo on the bass.

[selfblessed]

Originally Posted by msquared

The riff from that song that was played in the Mos Eisley cantina in Star Wars is always a hit

That song drives these guys at work nuts.

I love it!

[manicbassman]

get low down and dirty with "The Thrill is Gone"...

[the evil]

i guess this could have gone under the "most recognizable bass line" thread as well.

People don't usually ask you to "play something" on the bass because really they know there is very little they would know "off hand", unless your playing the sienfield theme or something.

But IF i had to..... i would probably play "Superfreak" cause everyone knows that song and it is prob the most recognizable bass line. "Another one bites the dust would be an awful example, its WAY to easy.

It kind of sucks tho, most average people (from today 18 to 25) would not know a technical bass song, because most of them are from the classic era during the 70's. And any song you would play they would know, you would play two riffs and then stop or you would be playing the same thing ALONE for like an hour. I used to play master of puppets (the les claypool slap and pop version) for people cause most metal heads would know it and be slightly impressed. It also made a good solo piece.

[Phalex]

I usually run through the Popeye theme song if pressed to play. It works well as a solo piece, and everybody should recognize it.

[Depth_Charge]

These are the songs I usually run through once I get the classic "thats a song?" look from people after being asked to play:

Long View - Green Day
Sunshine of your love - Cream
Another One Bites the Dust and/or Under Pressure - Queen
Seven Nation Army - White Stripes

And in my thrash days:
Dawn Patrol - Megadeth
For Whom The Bell Tolls - Metallica

Cheers,

D_C

[duff beer]

The theme from Barney Miller and/or Under Pressure.

[fenderhutz]

One that always draws a crowd is the Charlie Brown theme with your left hand doing the bass part and right hand doing the melody.

Here is a TAB for the Charlie Brown theme. YES you need to use both hands independent.

Low Part
G--------------
D------5--------
A----5-----5-7---
E--3-----3------

Higher Part (Tapped)
G--12-14-16-16-14-12-14-12--12-14-16-16-------
D---------------------------------------------
A---------------------------------------------
E---------------------------------------------


Break down

G--5-5-5-7---12----12
D--5-5-5-7---12h14-14
A--3-3-3-5-----------
E--------------------

[Matt Till]

My personal favorite:

Ring mod and playing a tritone chord: diabolus in musica indeed. I hate people asking me to play stuff.

[kevteop]

I ask them what they want me to play, then I play it wrong.

My 4-year-old nephew pulled me up for a bum note in Twinkle Twinkle Little Star the other day. And when I corrected it he said "That's better". Little *******...

[Baryonyx]

Usually a bit of Continuum by Jaco Pastorius or if they ask if I can "slap like Flea" I'll do a few Stuart Hamm or Mark King licks.

[fdeck]

"In a sentimental mood" is a nice easy one.

[Bard2dbone]

Originally Posted by Chris2112

Usually a bit of Continuum by Jaco Pastorius or if they ask if I can "slap like Flea" I'll do a few Stuart Hamm or Mark King licks.

I fall back on Stu Hamm all the time. Usually either Sexually Active or Black Ice.