What to play for friends/girlfriends

[rivmiquiv]

I just wanted to see what everyone likes to have up their sleeve when a friend or girl you are trying to impress asks you to play for them. It's kind of a tricky situation for me seeing that the bass is what it is.

Any ideas on songs/melodies/grooves to learn would be great.

[Cannabass]

I just figured out the bass line for 'what is and never should be' or whatever that Led Zep song is called. its a pretty nice and recognizable line to drop...just wish i could do the vocals at the same time

"...and if i say to you tomorrowww.." is bout as far as i get XD

[Floyd Eye]

Sir Pyscho Sexy, but you need to sing along.

[pklima]

If you can't sing, playing any recognizable vocal melody will do. Doesn't matter if it's "Folsom Prison Blues" or the Habanera aria or whatever, as long as it's popular enough for people to recognize. Whatever you do, don't play a bass part.

[upandb]

Hysteria by Muse works pretty well.

[Floyd Eye]

Apache Rose Peacock is good too. Again, you need to be able to sing this and play it simultaneously for it to be effective. lol

[Bassamatic]

May favorite example of solo bass performance is the lovely Lydia playing and singing "Free". I never get tired of watching this and really want to learn how to play it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5Mam6qsF3M

[Winnb]

Learn a bunch of world famous bass lines and intros. Or just learn the main melody to the song and play it on the bass. They can be songs, theme songs from movies, from TV shows, etc. That kind of crap. There are thousands of them. Way more than you think.

Of course a lot of this depends on how old you are?! And how old your audience is. :-)

My generation (I'm 46). I play stuff like:

Super Freak
In Cars (Gary Newman)
99 Red Balloons
The Pink Panther theme
Down on the corner (that CCR song,whatever it's called)
Money (Pink Floyd)
Barney Miller theme
Night Court theme
Batman theme
Mission Impossible theme
Sweet Home Alabama (believe it or not everybody recognizes that simple bass line)
Wayward Son (Kansas)

And about a hundred more. You get the idea. It's great at parties when people put you on the spot and want to hear you play. You can just whip off a bunch of riffs and turn it into a game. See who can guess the songs first. Winner gets to make someone else take a drink. Or some crap. :-)

[PaulNYC]

Originally Posted by Cannabass

I just figured out the bass line for 'what is and never should be' or whatever that Led Zep song is called. its a pretty nice and recognizable line to drop...just wish i could do the vocals at the same time

"...and if i say to you tomorrowww.." is bout as far as i get XD

+1

[geoff_in_nc]

Sly And The Family Stone - Everyday People. That never fails to impress the ladies.

[Staccato]

Short answer: Your best work!

[M0ses]

Everyone ALWAYS wants me to play Seven Nations Army.

[EdHunter]

Orion - Metallica

[redburp]

Anything I can play with my teeth

[Valerus]

Originally Posted by EdHunter

Orion - Metallica

its a fun one for sure

[Emre Hanli]

If a girl digs you, you don't have to play anything hip to get her. If you're not her type it doesn't matter if you can play anything.

Edit: Just realized that what I've said sounds kind of negative. So here is my suggestion for the op to make it up to him: Human Nature by M. Jackson. People like it a lot if you do it the way Uriah Duffy does it.

[bassteban]

Not so much a *bass-impressive* tune, but I did Some kind of wonderful once and my then-7-yr-old daughter LOVED it. The wife *liked* it. I haven't done the tune since- oh, nevermind...

[AltGrendel]

Don't Give Up - Peter Gabriel.

Fairly simple, actually, but very impressive.

[sgtpepper]

Originally Posted by Gio S

May favorite example of solo bass performance is the lovely Lydia playing and singing "Free". I never get tired of watching this and really want to learn how to play it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5Mam6qsF3M

I love this girl Lydia. She's amazing.

[colcifer]

Bach. Cello Suites are a good choice.