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any tips?
- Thread starter TheGriffExists
- Start date
Can you provide some examples of the "solo bassists" you are thinking you would like to emulate or are inspired by?
Of course you can do it! But you better get off Talkbass and get down to play bass or it ain’t gonna happen.
I'm a solo bassist right now. Nobody pays me, or listens to me outside me home, but it is a productive and spiritually fulfilling endeavor that I have been working toward my entire life, and which I would not trade for any level of wealth or notoriety.
If you play a bass solo you’ll be the only one in the room in about 15 seconds.
Is that what you’re asking?
Is that what you’re asking?
drumvsbass
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- Aug 20, 2011
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Ignoring the snark from other posters, there are a few things to consider.
First, there are bassists who have had successful solo careers like Steve Lawson, Michael Manring, and Victor Wooten, to name a few. However, they are very much in the minority and are all accomplished bassists who have the skill and experience to play in an ensemble, even if they often perform solo bass arrangements.
I don't know Lawson's background but every accomplished soloist I can think of started out playing in bands, mastering the bass in it's traditional role, and branched out into solo arrangements later in their career.
Also, all of the aforementioned solo artists are incredibly dedicated, skilled, and experienced musicians. It's not a matter of whether or not that's attainable, but more a commitment to the absolute daily grind required to master an instrument and reach the skill level required to do those kinds of performances. Most people, even experienced musicians, don't go that far.
Onto the bass itself, the first question would be: why? If you are already a bass player then it makes sense to spread your wings and explore the world of solo bass arrangements. But if your goal is to be a musician who performs as a solo artist then the bass guitar is a very odd choice. It's not designed to be a solo instrument, it's range is specifically tuned to accompany others in an ensemble, and the physics of the instrument make it quite demanding to produce quality solo arrangements.
If one were starting out with such a goal, tackling the piano or classical guitar would make more sense. It's like setting out to build a house with a wrench instead of a hammer. Sure, it's technically possible, but you are making the work orders of magnitude harder on yourself to reach the same goal.
First, there are bassists who have had successful solo careers like Steve Lawson, Michael Manring, and Victor Wooten, to name a few. However, they are very much in the minority and are all accomplished bassists who have the skill and experience to play in an ensemble, even if they often perform solo bass arrangements.
I don't know Lawson's background but every accomplished soloist I can think of started out playing in bands, mastering the bass in it's traditional role, and branched out into solo arrangements later in their career.
Also, all of the aforementioned solo artists are incredibly dedicated, skilled, and experienced musicians. It's not a matter of whether or not that's attainable, but more a commitment to the absolute daily grind required to master an instrument and reach the skill level required to do those kinds of performances. Most people, even experienced musicians, don't go that far.
Onto the bass itself, the first question would be: why? If you are already a bass player then it makes sense to spread your wings and explore the world of solo bass arrangements. But if your goal is to be a musician who performs as a solo artist then the bass guitar is a very odd choice. It's not designed to be a solo instrument, it's range is specifically tuned to accompany others in an ensemble, and the physics of the instrument make it quite demanding to produce quality solo arrangements.
If one were starting out with such a goal, tackling the piano or classical guitar would make more sense. It's like setting out to build a house with a wrench instead of a hammer. Sure, it's technically possible, but you are making the work orders of magnitude harder on yourself to reach the same goal.
This. I’m a solo bassist, but I didn’t become one until I’d already been playing in bands for a couple decades first. When my touring band broke up, I wanted to try the singer/songwriter thing but I’m just not a guitarist, so I did it on bass—singing while playing arrangements that approximate between one and three instrumental parts at the same time depending on the song. And sometimes playing harmonica as well. But I certainly couldn’t have just started this at the beginning of my bass career because I had to learn how all the parts fit together by also learning guitar, drums, and how to play in an ensemble. Heck, I still play in bands despite having the solo gig. Become a solid bassist first, then become a solo bassist.
Or, prove us all wrong and play along to a lot of Charles Berthoud and Davie504 vids until you’re better than both of them. IIRC, one of them rose to YouTube fame before ever playing live with other people (can’t remember which one, or maybe it was someone else).
Yes. You will probably need to work hard for a good result, but there is an actual path for a solo bassist. It will demand work, thouh.
If I wanted to make a living, making music wouldn't be my first choice anyway.
Tip: Learn to play the bass in the manner the bass should traditionally be played, in a rhythm support roll and the low voice in the music. Learn all you can absorb about music theory, specifically harmony. Once you master this, then you can start considering branching out as a "soloist".
You (OP) say you are "new to bass". The thing that you haven't revealed is if you are new to music and more specifically playing musical instruments? Do you have a knack for imagining what would come out of your instrument if you had enough proficiency in the technique of playing that instrument?
HAVING THE MUSIC IN YOUR HEAD THAT YOU WANT TO LET OUT IS *THE* CRITICAL FACTOR. The instrument itself is almost secondary. I am the perfect antithesis of a soloist. I play several instruments proficiently, to the point where I can play a few semi-professionally... as long as there is a chart in front of me. Soloing? Not if my life depended on it. I just don't have the spontaneous creativity to do it. But in my case, I am very creative in shaping the music into something interesting (and I'd like to think) special. Luckily I can read music which is a huge help. Learning an instrument? That depends on you. Right now, getting up there in years I am only now formally studying piano. But I have enough music background to do it without starting with Three Blind Mice or Frere Jacques. So again, it depends on your background and former training and experience.
BOTTOM LINE: YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW IF YOU CAN DO IT UNLESS YOU TRY! In my experience across many activities, the fastest way to get going is REGULAR, PRIVATE, ONE-ON-ONE LESSONS (of at least one hour each and no less frequent than once/wk). My advice to any musician starting out... GO AS FAR AS YOU CAN AS FAST AS YOU CAN BEFORE THE ENTHUSIASM FADES! Again, regular, intensive private lessons. Yes, it costs money. But either do it, or don't bother. JMO
HAVING THE MUSIC IN YOUR HEAD THAT YOU WANT TO LET OUT IS *THE* CRITICAL FACTOR. The instrument itself is almost secondary. I am the perfect antithesis of a soloist. I play several instruments proficiently, to the point where I can play a few semi-professionally... as long as there is a chart in front of me. Soloing? Not if my life depended on it. I just don't have the spontaneous creativity to do it. But in my case, I am very creative in shaping the music into something interesting (and I'd like to think) special. Luckily I can read music which is a huge help. Learning an instrument? That depends on you. Right now, getting up there in years I am only now formally studying piano. But I have enough music background to do it without starting with Three Blind Mice or Frere Jacques. So again, it depends on your background and former training and experience.
BOTTOM LINE: YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW IF YOU CAN DO IT UNLESS YOU TRY! In my experience across many activities, the fastest way to get going is REGULAR, PRIVATE, ONE-ON-ONE LESSONS (of at least one hour each and no less frequent than once/wk). My advice to any musician starting out... GO AS FAR AS YOU CAN AS FAST AS YOU CAN BEFORE THE ENTHUSIASM FADES! Again, regular, intensive private lessons. Yes, it costs money. But either do it, or don't bother. JMO
