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Blues improv gig

Discussion in 'Miscellaneous [BG]' started by iplaybass, Jul 9, 2003.

  1. Jul 9, 2003 #1
    iplaybass

    iplaybass Supporting Member

    Feb 13, 2000
    Houston, TX
    I'm heading off to my first true sit in gig, I'm going to do some blues improv with a drummer friend and two other blues guitarists. Hopefully things will turn out well; I'm a bit nervous. I'll give a full report when I get back around midnight. Wish me luck! I'm taking my Nemesis 2x10, SM-400S, and my FNA Jazzman, so at least I'm sure my tone will be good!
     
  2. Jul 10, 2003 #2
    iplaybass

    iplaybass Supporting Member

    Feb 13, 2000
    Houston, TX
    Well, I'm back, and the gig went great! We played a local sushi restaurant, and the music went over very well. These guys were very by the book, so keeping the whole group tight was very easy. I got two bass solos, so the night was great for me! Plus, I think they're going to call me back to play with them next week. Ought to be interesting.
     
  3. Jul 10, 2003 #3
    BassPlayerGush

    BassPlayerGush

    Sep 23, 2001
    PA
    I've only truely ever improved when I jammed a couple times with some really, really big dead heads and i didnt know any of the music (they pulled out some true rare ones). i only followed the rythm guitarist's chords...thats pretty much it. i will probably be playing a blues type fest where a bunch of old blues guys sit around and jam for hours on end...but they dont have a consistant bass player there. of course i will be sitting in for them. any good tips, basic riffs, patterns or anyhting i should learn about improv blues bass? thanks.
     
  4. Jul 10, 2003 #4
    iplaybass

    iplaybass Supporting Member

    Feb 13, 2000
    Houston, TX
    Well, like the group you described, these two guitarists hadn't had a bass player before, and I found the lead guitarist was playing my lines in many cases! I would just pick up that part, and he would be free to lead the song without having to work about the foundation. The thing that really made the gig work, though, was the fact that me and the drummer (a drum major) had been playing together for several years and were very tight. With the guitarists following us, everything fell into place.
     
  5. Jul 10, 2003 #5
    Thor

    Thor Gold Supporting Member In Memoriam

    Feb 14, 2003
    Warwick, Rhode Island, USA
    Good job!

    And the bass player does free up the high from holding down the low end.

    Dont forget to rest occasionally for a cycle to
    let them fill back the bottom, and then pick it up again harder to let them fly back up top dramatically.

    Variety is good.

    Hope you stay with it!

    Thor
     
  6. Jul 10, 2003 #6
    JoBo-86

    JoBo-86

    Aug 27, 2000
    johnson city, tennessee
    hey iplaybass... the gig wasnt at a place called Sushi Blues, was it? I'm from TN too and there's a little sushi bar here in town that has blues bands every now and then...very cool :rolleyes:
     
  7. Jul 11, 2003 #7
    iplaybass

    iplaybass Supporting Member

    Feb 13, 2000
    Houston, TX
    No, it was at a restaurant in Memphis called "Sekisui Pacific Rim." I think the two guitar players are going to have me come play with them every wednesday, so any local TB'ers should come check it out.