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11-23-2011, 11:39 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Ipswich, England | | | Why do people think you can only solo on a lead guitar?
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Bass solos are the tits!
I'm trying to start a band right now. As soon as we have members and start writing songs...plenty o bass solos.
Do you guys write solos for your songs? Or maybe improvise a solo on stage every now and again? |
11-23-2011, 11:48 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada | | | I am not a big fan of bass solos at all even as a bass player, I think you will find most audiences do not respond well to bass solos.
If you really want to solo, keep it short and minimize it to one per show. |
11-23-2011, 11:50 AM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Twin Falls, Idaho | | Depends on the type of music. I try to solo (usually poorly  ) in a jazz context, but wouldn't think of it when playing moder / indie rock. Solos are great when played tastefully in the right places.
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11-23-2011, 11:50 AM
|  | Total Hyper-Elite Member | | Join Date: May 2000 Location: Groom Lake, NV | | | If you're Nathan East, I might be able to dig a solo.
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11-23-2011, 11:55 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Parts Unkown | | | I enjoy the odd solo, but where I find my bass playin most effective when I write songs is in the insane little fills I put in.
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11-23-2011, 11:56 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Ipswich, England | | | Personally, i think there should be more bass solos in rock music.
What is it about them you don't like DiabolicLow B? |
11-23-2011, 12:02 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rockville MD | | | Done tastefully, they can be a lot of fun. The Who's My Generation and Guns 'n' Roses' Sweet Child o' Mine are both well-known examples of good bass solos, partially because they don't sound like the bassist is "trying to solo like a guitar," but simply sound like an integral part of the song.
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11-23-2011, 12:05 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Mukilteo, Washington. USA | | | I've played solos now and then within the context of certain cover songs (jazz and electric blues) but always improvised them. Personally I'm not a fan of solos, the poor audience usual gets enough abuse from guitar and horn players in that area. There's no way I'd write a song featuring a bass solo, but that's just me.
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11-23-2011, 12:07 PM
|  | Life is Tough. Laugh more. Moderator | | Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Warwick, Rhode Island, USA | | | I sometimes solo on rhythm guitar.
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11-23-2011, 12:12 PM
|  | Bassman7654 | | Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: North Las Vegas NV | | Victor Wooten puts it out there a to why people don't like bass solo's. why people don't like bass solo - YouTube
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11-23-2011, 12:16 PM
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Hi-fi into an old tube amp | | Join Date: May 2005 Location: SW | | | A cheesy guitar-style solo, but on bass? No thanks! Guitar solos are bad enough (I have poor taste in music though, modern proggy metal). If you are passionate about it, solo away. I'd go with bass features or bass-oriented writing in general and just more up front playing in general.
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11-23-2011, 12:17 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada | | | A bass solo in the context of a song can be good but if it is only the bass player alone with no other musicians (at least a drummer) then I am not interested in listening unless the player is truly phenomenal and not just wanking.
Most of the audience does not really care about the bass let alone a solo! |
11-23-2011, 12:21 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Ipswich, England | | Quote:
Originally Posted by DougD  | Never seen that before; it's interesting.
I think what he's trying to say is that the solo has to fit the song. But that goes without saying doesn't it? The rules are no different for guitar solos. |
11-23-2011, 12:23 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Ipswich, England | | Quote:
Originally Posted by chaosMK A cheesy guitar-style solo, but on bass? No thanks! Guitar solos are bad enough (I have poor taste in music though, modern proggy metal). If you are passionate about it, solo away. I'd go with bass features or bass-oriented writing in general and just more up front playing in general. | Who said anything about that? I'm talking about creating and playing bass solos. Not playing guitar solos on bass... |
11-23-2011, 12:24 PM
|  | Supporting Member | | Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: CT | | | Depends on your genre.
If you guys are playing jazz-type stuff, then yes, a few solos would not be out of place over the course of a night.
But if you're in the rock/metal area, my inclination is to say no. Think of how few rock/metal songs contain actual bass solos- there's a reason for that. While bass lines can be truly dominant, actual bass solos are very few and far between.
Ever see Iron Maiden live? While there is no doubt that Steve Harris' playing literally propels most of their songs, he rarely steps out in front and just solo's his head off. I've seen them on 8 different tours over the years and I think I remember one or maybe 2 semi-solo's.
I only remember 2 bassists playing solo's at shows. On VH's 1984 tour, Michael Anthony took an extended solo with his Jack Daniels bass. Then in the 90's I remember Tom Hamilton from Aerosmith did a solo that led into Sweet Emotion.
Oh wait, there's one more- Joe Bouchard from BOC- I remember him doing a solo that turned into The WASP from The Doors. So make that 3 actual bass solos in over 30 years of attending rock concerts.
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11-23-2011, 12:24 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Ipswich, England | | Quote:
Originally Posted by RobJ I've played solos now and then within the context of certain cover songs (jazz and electric blues) but always improvised them. Personally I'm not a fan of solos, the poor audience usual gets enough abuse from guitar and horn players in that area. There's no way I'd write a song featuring a bass solo, but that's just me. | That's fair enough.
But why do you consider solos to be "abuse" for an audience? |
11-23-2011, 12:28 PM
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Hi-fi into an old tube amp | | Join Date: May 2005 Location: SW | | Quote:
Originally Posted by JoshB8116 I'm talking about creating and playing bass solos. | Alright John Coltrane 
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11-23-2011, 12:28 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Ipswich, England | | Quote:
Originally Posted by kjpollo Depends on your genre.
If you guys are playing jazz-type stuff, then yes, a few solos would not be out of place over the course of a night.
But if you're in the rock/metal area, my inclination is to say no. Think of how few rock/metal songs contain actual bass solos- there's a reason for that. While bass lines can be truly dominant, actual bass solos are very few and far between.
Ever see Iron Maiden live? While there is no doubt that Steve Harris' playing literally propels most of their songs, he rarely steps out in front and just solo's his head off. I've seen them on 8 different tours over the years and I think I remember one or maybe 2 semi-solo's.
I only remember 2 bassists playing solo's at shows. On VH's 1984 tour, Michael Anthony took an extended solo with his Jack Daniels bass. Then in the 90's I remember Tom Hamilton from Aerosmith did a solo that led into Sweet Emotion.
Oh wait, there's one more- Joe Bouchard from BOC- I remember him doing a solo that turned into The WASP from The Doors. So make that 3 actual bass solos in over 30 years of attending rock concerts. | We'd be playing a variety of genres, mostly rock and metal, but almost certainly not jazz (not that i don't appreciate it).
That's my point though. Why are there so few bass solos in rock songs? Why is it always the lead guitar?
"There's a reason for that" - enlighten me!  |
11-23-2011, 12:29 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Across the creek from Cinci | | Quote:
Originally Posted by DougD | He says that and does this.... Victor Wooten Solo - YouTube
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11-23-2011, 12:32 PM
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Authorized fEARful builder, endorsed by Genz Benz, Blast Cult, Fender | | Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Nashville, TN | | Bass solos would work in ANY genre and ANY context if that's what you want to do, though not one single example comes to mind to support this thought
In other words, just because it's usually awful doesn't mean that someone will never come up with an original, cool way to do it.
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