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Bassists don't solo, ever!

#65
M0ses said:
I basically am soloing every note of every song. Except for sometimes when I occasionally just copy the guitarist's riff.

It's good to be in a power trio.
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Thats interesting as I also play in a three piece ( sometiems four), and I tend to want to remain deep in the pocket as either the guitar or the voice carry melody.

I get to solo like twice a night. One solo is done on one string, its the simplest , most melodic little ditty, I've had other bass players say that they dislike bass solos, but that one is uber tasty. The second time the solo comes around I chord it.

Odd as , admittedly, I am one good solo'er, but, in my work, that is not what is required.

Less is more IS a rule/axiom. And a good one for bassists to remember, imho.

Except for Fieldy; he is a solo act. ;) Maybe that is why I dont prefer his slap style as much as others. He is a good player and I dont wish to take anything away from that, it is a preference issue.
 
#66
Well, the guitar was pretty much strictly a rhythm instrument in jazz (and hence most pop music) until Charlie Christian and electricity started changing that. And I'm betting he got crap from folks who said stuff like "it's not the instrument's natural function" etc. This is related to the electricity thing- people couldn't hear the guitar soloing over a big band. Same with bass solos in those days- that's largely WHY the whole band traditionally drops out.

Now that being audible isn't an issue, why shouldn't ANY instrument be able to solo? There's simply no logical nor musical reason the instrument should have those a priori limitations imposed upon it. It's not the bass that's the problem, it's the soloists. Too many bassists play lousy solos because they never practice nor learn soloing. And many that DO play solos have learned to solo from other bassist, who again, aren't exactly the best examples of how to think when soloing. But it's not that bass players shouldn't solo, it's that they shouldn't do it without trying to learn how to do it as well as they do other functions of the instrument.

As my hero Jack Bruce said, "just because the bass has a traditional role to fill, that doesn't mean you have to fill in the traditional manner".

BTW, one of my favorite solos is here, starting at 1:53


Of course there are other great bass solos, but that one's a personal favorite.

John
 
#68
Most solos, regardless of the instrument, are a waste of time. I personally feel that every part of a song should serve the whole of the song. Having a good verse or a good chorus doesn't give you license to devote 16 or 32 bars to a band member's ego. There have been a lot of songs I've really dug until the solo rolls around, then the band might as well have a big light up sign that reads "Song will resume in a moment, thank you for your patience".

There been some great soloists but, IMHO, what defines a great soloist is someone can use their solo to add a new energy or an interesting counterpoint to the prevailing melody and take the song to the next level, not someone who wants to crap around and show everyone how fast he can play. Solos are like spices, use them well and sparingly and they add something special to the finished product, but going overboard with them ruins everything.

This encapsulates my feeling on bass solos, there are some great ones ("My Generation" would be far inferior without Entwistle's turnaround), but if bass solo is just a synonym for "doing a Flea impression", then yeah, I'll pass.
 
#69
Against Will said:
Most solos, regardless of the instrument, are a waste of time. I personally feel that every part of a song should serve the whole of the song. Having a good verse or a good chorus doesn't give you license to devote 16 or 32 bars to a band member's ego. There have been a lot of songs I've really dug until the solo rolls around, then the band might as well have a big light up sign that reads "Song will resume in a moment, thank you for your patience".

There been some great soloists but, IMHO, what defines a great soloist is someone can use their solo to add a new energy or an interesting counterpoint to the prevailing melody and take the song to the next level, not someone who wants to crap around and show everyone how fast he can play. Solos are like spices, use them well and sparingly and they add something special to the finished product, but going overboard with them ruins everything.

This encapsulates my feeling on bass solos, there are some great ones ("My Generation" would be far inferior without Entwistle's turnaround), but if bass solo is just a synonym for "doing a Flea impression", then yeah, I'll pass.
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Wow, Solos are a waste? Gratuitous solos I would agree but thats still in the minority. listen to any Eagles tune (for example) and tell me the guitar solos are not vital to the song. :ninja:
 
#74
T-MOST said:
Wow, Solos are a waste? Gratuitous solos I would agree but thats still in the minority. listen to any Eagles tune (for example) and tell me the guitar solos are not vital to the song. :ninja:
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I'm fairly sure that the op is only referring to when one instrument is playing, hence the word "solo".

I know where you're coming from though, I, and many others mistakenly refer to lead improvs as "solos"...when they aren't.
 
#78
Tricky Subject. I was in a band of "wankers" that wanted to pass solos all night and then congratulate each other later. I sat back and watched it, supported it and saw the audience reaction. There wasn't allot to like in any of these scenarios. Not all instruments need to solo every song. I strangely never got a solo. It was fairly rude considering percussion and drums took up to 5 each a night. I kept my mouth shut about wanting one and didn't want to add to the "issue". But more importantly I was not given the support of the band sonically and dynamically. I knew it wouldn't work out as well I would hope. Your band really need to listen to what you "want". They need to be your "fans" as well as your bandmates for a little while. Truth is many cannot. Frustrating when everyone knows that even on a guitar, your the best in the room. I realized I did not play with people who could listen and work well with others. I could have been heavy handed and fought the massive drumset egos with a well placed 15" and a biamp, but I don't want to fight. Sad Kinda.

I found Intros to songs and breaks most fitting places.

Having a Loop station is a Killer way to work out a fun jam, and you have a bassist ;)

Bi Amping and clicking on a second Amp for the differening effect, EQ and Volume to Replace the "singers" range is the most effective way to stand out IMO.

PLAY A SONG. I learned a version of stand by me that is fluid yet unpretentious. I throw it in now and then when there is dead air or I'm first up. People can sing with it, musicians can going in and move it out of a solo. And a nice message in several levels.
 
#79
ShredderMaximus said:
Call him overrated all you want, you gotta respect a bassist that makes the rest of a band move across state to him and gets a 4 1/2 minute bass solo on their debut album. Ol' Cliffy B- :bassist:
Anesthesia (Pulling Teeth)
And no, I don't care if you don't like him :spit:
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:o

Better than the actual "Cliff" version IMO lol.
 

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