ASKING for bass solos???

I don't get what this post is about.

Why?

He ask for a bass solo, and you start singing while telling him you don't know the words?

It's not the band leaders sanity I would question at least.

 

Hi,

Whenever the bandleader tells me "Take it away Cliff!" I look at him and ask, "Take it where?"


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

If you do not wish to play bass solos, tell the band leader you do not wish to play bass solos. If he refuses, find another band or find a way to embarrass him on stage a few times.

I once saw a banjo player when asked to do a solo grab a tambourine on go off on it right next to the mic. He was not only banging the crap out of that tambourine, but he was yelling "Woohooooo! Yeah baby!!!! Hell yeah!!!!" the whole time he was doing it. Everyone else on stage looked dumbfounded. Oddly enough, he was not asked to solo anymore that night. I'm guessing he had made his point.


(All that aside, he was an amazing tambourine player....)

 

Of course, if you're gonna be a weirdo and start singing, you may as well go all the way. I'm not gonna waste a good chance to be a weirdo myself. Break off some of this on the mic.

 

"Take it to the bridge" like a sex machine.

Seriously, just go with it. I would take it as a compliment when someone asks for a bass solo!

 

“Here k-k-kitty, kitty, kitty!”

 

ROTFLMAO!!!!
Oh, thank you, did that ever take me back! Jerry had some family. Between this guy, with the James Brown moves, and Speedy (and his buddies) they kept me in stitches, taught remedial Spanish (El Gato!!) and generally set civilization back twenty years!
Bring that mouse a cape!!
Oh.....OP, if Crambone doesn't work for you, try some Hambone....

 

​

 

Hit the boost pedal and ride the open A. He'll quit asking soon enough....

Or work up a signature lick to have ready.

Both are good choices....

 

Here’s a crazy idea. Take a bass solo and enjoy it. I’m not for too many bass solos but there’s no reason why you should feel uncomfortable taking a solo once or twice a night especially if the band leader is all about it. People enjoy and respond to bass more than they’ll ever know so enjoy the attention, play your ass off and then get back to being the hidden glue in the band.

 

I always building a solo line around vocal line. ALWAYS. Just believe me - it's working.
BL - Man, that solo was awesome!
Me - Yep, thats your vocal line with some extras.

BL - Man, that solo was terrible!
Me - Yep, thats your vocal line with some extras.

 

Just start playing the solo from AC DC's jailbreak!

If ya dont know it, listen to it!

 

Don't understand the problem. If he says solo step forward and let it rip.

 

Nooooooo not a bass solo

 

You should go all Billy Sheehan on him and turn up the distortion and just blow it out! Play something that is in a totally different genre than the band plays. Turn metal into polka (or vice versa). Make a Spinal Tap moment out of it. If you do something outlandish, either it will be a huge hit, or you'll never be asked again.

 

I lived through the 1980's - the heyday of bass solos - all the big bands started having solos for everyone on stage, including the bassist. You haven't "lived" until you've heard a bad 10 minute bass solo. I'm pretty sure most of the jokes about bass solos were written in the 1980's

I was a bass player then. I still am. Trust me, nobody in their right mind wants to go back to that part of the 80's. Tearing down the Berlin wall? Sure. Big hair? OK. Bands with ridiculous amounts of equipment on stage? No problem. Bass solo? No thanks.



Full disclosure: I did play a couple bass solos in the 80's, but they were sub 1 minute in length. Even in the 80's, I knew it was a bad idea, so when called on, I kept them short.

 

It sounds like a great learning opportunity. You didn't mention what kind of music you're playing but bass solos or improvisational sections are pretty integral to a ton of genres.

 

OK it's semantics, but there's a big difference between "dropping down to a groove" and a "bass solo" in my mind. I do the first a lot, the second not so much.