Just bass and voice??

[Camarillo]

Hi guys, I think I need some advices...
The female lead singer of the band I'm playing with, today asked if I could be interested in a small gig (just few songs) just bass and vocals. I'm intrigued but scared at the same time.
She already did a similar experience with just a violin.
I was thinking about songs in this minimal line up, the only things that comes to my mind is Fever (Peggy Lee or Elvis Presley). Do you have other examples?
And....do you ever had a similar experience?
I was planning to buy a reverb pedal or delay, or both, to enrich the sound. A loop pedal maybe? Do you have suggestions?
Thank you

 

[Gorn]

 

[vin97]

get a fretless for slow songs

 

[rufus.K]

Check out" Bethany & Rufus", just bass and voice.
Also "Dos", Kira RossEller and Mike Watt.

 

[buldog5151bass]

You have a couple of options - you can play some chords, or just the basslines - I would think anything with a prominent line could work. Even "Money" by Pink Floyd could be interesting.

 

[MrLenny1]

Just do it. I've seen a few local duos do it. Cool.
Check out Seth Horan.

 

[knumbskull]

delay or looper could be good. also try chords, open string drones, finger picking (folk guitar style)...

 

[JGbassman]

These are fun gigs to do. My weapon of choice is usually a fretless jazz, but use what is comfortable for you. You get to play some very melodic lines, chords, and other cool avenues as a lead voiced instrument in such a setting. Most songs can be adapted, so step away from the support role and carrying he melody of the tune.

Don't think bass, think song. Jaco showed us how to do that with "Donna Lee". You don't have to play a million notes, just flow with the song and have a musical experience with your singer.

An electric upright would be really cool in this setting as well. Switch back and forth, keep it interesting....

 

[Camarillo]

Thank you fellows!
A lot of hints already...
I also was thinking to go fretless. I received my first defretted bass less than a week ago. This seems a wonderful occasion to get experience on it.
Tonight I'll search all the artists you mentioned. Thanks again

 

[jerry]

Harvie Swartz and Sheila Jordan have been doing it a long time:

 

[Passinwind]

Hi guys, I think I need some advices...
The female lead singer of the band I'm playing with, today asked if I could be interested in a small gig (just few songs) just bass and vocals. I'm intrigued but scared at the same time.
She already did a similar experience with just a violin.
I was thinking about songs in this minimal line up, the only things that comes to my mind is Fever (Peggy Lee or Elvis Presley). Do you have other examples?

Check out Glen Moore with Nancy King. Here's one to get you started:

 

[azfatboy]

What a great thread. I've had the same thoughts. Several of the songs I'm working on now have bass lines that, to my ear at least, could actually stand alone (E.g my love is real by divine fits, circles by soul coughing) with just bass and vocals... I love the simplicity.

 

[organworthyplayer337]

Richard Bona's performance for a new MarkBas line (or something like that).. flawless

 

[lz4005]

Another that works is "Use Me Up" by Bill Withers.

With just about any song you can make it work by walking the chord structure and/or playing the hook.
Walking while doing palm slaps on the snare hits works well for some songs.

 

[Devinple]

Check out Grant Stinnett's solo Bass work.

 

[deathness]

Don't think bass, think song.

This. A hundred times this.

 

[hermetic]

Check out Grant Stinnett's solo Bass work.

Wow. Nice work.

 

[tpaul]

Springsteen "Fire"
Beatles "Norwegian Wood," "Tomorrow Never Knows"
Donovan "Season of the Witch"
Buffalo Springfield "For What It's Worth"
Zombies "Time of the Season"

Think about it, you'll come up with plenty

 

[okcrum]

If you search on YouTube for "jazz duo bass vocal" you'll get a couple of dozen hits, not all of which are jazz.

I've done duos with the singer as part of trios, usually. My advice is to swing hard and the rest will take care of itself.

 

[JRA]

lots of jazz standards could be done with bass and voice (with bass alternating between the expected walk and less rhythmic - more melodic accompaniment).

but i could 'hear' all of the tunes as i read down the list by the other posters: great suggestions.

also: some of the tunes you already do with her (in the band) could be 'adapted' for this gig.

sounds like lots of fun: congrats!