• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Giving up soloing Focus more on GROOVE?

G

gai113

Apr 25, 2008
866
7
#1
Ive been playing for about 2 1/2 years.. I'd say im pretty good for that short time.. But i would say the last few months ive been so obsessed with becoming good at soloing like all the "top" bass players today..

However i feel like i should just give up on this concept and focus more on groove....

Im gonna join a band to groove not solo... When am i ever gonna solo?

Also whenever i solo i just keep using the same phrases over and over again.... im getting discouraged..


Its like i need to smash the idea in my mind im gonna be a "solo" bassist and i should just focus on nasty groove... Thoughts?
 
#4
Our job is the groove until we are given the lead break. When we are passed the lead break then we can solo.

What do we solo? The melody. What's melody? The tune, yep, the tune.

Let the vocalist, lead guitar, keyboard, horns, etc. grab the melody, I've got enough going right now just furnishing the accompaniment rhythm than to worry with a lead solo. One of these days I'll get around to taking a lead break, but, for now my job is the groove.
 
#6
These are right as always!

Im in a spot like the OP, and realized that solos are fun an all but in my mind thats better left to the guitarists, on bass the groove is the glory.

If you want the solos, just toss out a really cool version of the melody thats youve been playing, fancy it up a bit but make sure its noticeable, then fade back to where you were and let the song come back.

For learning solos a good start is on learning scales and good melodies, and keeping them all in time with what your playing.
 
#9
cire113 said:
Ive been plathe last few months ive been so obsessed with becoming good at soloing like all the "top" bass players today.. However i feel like i should just give up on this concept and focus more on groove.... Im gonna join a band to groove not solo... When am i ever gonna solo? Also whenever i solo i just keep using the same phrases over and over again.... im getting discouraged.. Its like i need to smash the idea in my mind im gonna be a "solo" bassist and i should just focus on nasty groove... Thoughts?
Click to expand...

If you're lucky, you'll play some groove stuff that doesn't "require" any solos, and then you get called to do some jazz gig...

And then what?
 
#15
cire113 said:
Ive been playing for about 2 1/2 years.. I'd say im pretty good for that short time.. But i would say the last few months ive been so obsessed with becoming good at soloing like all the "top" bass players today..

However i feel like i should just give up on this concept and focus more on groove....

Im gonna join a band to groove not solo... When am i ever gonna solo?

Also whenever i solo i just keep using the same phrases over and over again.... im getting discouraged..


Its like i need to smash the idea in my mind im gonna be a "solo" bassist and i should just focus on nasty groove... Thoughts?
Click to expand...


I think you should stop viewing it as an 'either or' and focus on becoming a 'complete' player. You want to develop into a player who can groove, solo, play whatever technical stuff you need to handle, maybe be able to handle different idioms (this one's up to you)...

So, there's no such thing as being a 'solo bass player' or being one that 'grooves'....you should work on doing it all.......well........

bigtiny
 
#16
is there more money to make by grooving and playing simple parts? absolutely. but i've found that the best players at grooving could also pull off a good solo and have lots of facility there, too. not always the case...i'm not especially known for my great solos. i can pull one off pretty well if i rehearse it but i know of many better than me at soloing. but generally, if they can learn to control themselves, great soloists can usually play a great groove.

notice i said "great soloists." don't mistake that for wankery.
 
#17
In my main gig, I almost always get tossed to the sharks a couple times a night for a solo. Usually on a bluesy thing, but not always. Sometimes if our main soloist isn't there (mandolin), the band leader/singer/guitarist turns to me and expects me to solo. Sometimes we have an excellent drummer, sometimes it's the trio without drums, sometimes it's a duo, and occasionally it's a trio with drums and without our main soloist (who is absolutely amazing). That doesn't even cover the jazz gigs I do where I end up getting a solo on more tunes than not.

Groove is first and foremost, but having the ability to play a competent, even "good", solo has been a nice tool in my bag of tricks. Sometimes I get to be very melodic, but usually my solos have to maintain the groove. I NEVER take a slap solo, so my solo spots end up being a fairly heavy groove-laced melodic jaunt through the changes, with or without reference to the specific melody. It really depends on the particulars of the gig. It's not always jazz, but my soloing reflects my study of jazz.

Groove is absolutely key, though, and without it, even your solos will be meaningless and useless. On the flip-side, being able to take a melodic solo will be a pretty valuable tool for you.

Focus most on groove. Learn to solo. Do both. Do both well.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back