More Solo bass songwriting explorations

[Aaron Gibson]

I've been working on two solo bass albums that are kind of told like musicals. The goal with all of the songs is to make them sound full and complete without additional instrumentation. I've been feeling like the songs really need to be dramatically performed rather than just played, so I am trying to bust out of my shell and do that. I just did a performance of the first song on the first album for the Tiny Desk Contest and I would love to share it with you.
Here is my song called Anger

 

[J_Bass]

I've been working on two solo bass albums that are kind of told like musicals. The goal with all of the songs is to make them sound full and complete without additional instrumentation. I've been feeling like the songs really need to be dramatically performed rather than just played, so I am trying to bust out of my shell and do that. I just did a performance of the first song on the first album for the Tiny Desk Contest and I would love to share it with you.
Here is my song called Anger

Just watched your video, I really enjoyed it!

Great playing and singing, and I liked the way you performed the song.


In my view, singing with only the bass as instrument (the way you are playing it) is not very different from singing and playing guitar.

There is a lot of space, though. Maybe you could use a spring reverb, just slightly, to fill it up a little.

But I really enjoyed just how it is. The space also adds value to it. The tone was great, man. What bass is it?

What strings are you using? TIs?



You could also consider a five string tuned E-C, if you want chords with a higher register.
Like Andrès Rot, for example.

https://youtube.com/user/andresrot



But, again, I really liked just how it is.

 

[MVE]

Great song.
Thanks for posting and sharing.
Good luck in the tiny desk.

 

[Aaron Gibson]

Great song.
Thanks for posting and sharing.
Good luck in the tiny desk.

Thank you for listening!!

 

[Aaron Gibson]

Just watched your video, I really enjoyed it!

Great playing and singing, and I liked the way you performed the song.


In my view, singing with only the bass as instrument (the way you are playing it) is not very different from singing and playing guitar.

There is a lot of space, though. Maybe you could use a spring reverb, just slightly, to fill it up a little.

But I really enjoyed just how it is. The space also adds value to it. The tone was great, man. What bass is it?

What strings are you using? TIs?



You could also consider a five string tuned E-C, if you want chords with a higher register.
Like Andrès Rot, for example.

https://youtube.com/user/andresrot



But, again, I really liked just how it is.

Thank you for listening! I appreciate the feedback. I have a Muckelroy custom bass and GHS strings. I do like just a bit of reverb, but I really enjoy trying to make it work with just the four strings and no effects or gimmicks. That's kind of my self-imposed limitation that makes the challenge rewarding if I can pull it off.

 

[J_Bass]

@Aaron Gibson, I don't see a desk in your video.

The rules say you have to have a desk in the video, you might want to check that out.

 

[Aaron Gibson]

Everything behind me is sitting on my desk , though I am standing in front of it.

 

[Koshchei]

The solo bass arrangement really compliments your voice and the melody. Great work!

 

[Aaron Gibson]

The solo bass arrangement really compliments your voice and the melody. Great work!

Thank you for listening to it

 

[Koshchei]

Thank you for listening to it

I think it goes the other way, actually -- thank you for writing it! You obviously spent a lot of time on it, from the fantastic symbolism of the lyrics to the way you counterpoint your voice so beautifully.

 

[Jeff Elkins]

@Aaron Gibson - You've been an inspiration since "Let's Go See the World" caught me at a moment I was carrying a similar sentiment. "Silly Me," likewise, though that one kind of became my Covid isolation song, obscuring some of the deeper meaning! Still, thanks.

I like this one a lot as well, though I find it (and a lot of your lyrics) a bit like reading classic poetry - there's a LOT to unpack. Which brings me to respond to your thesis: I agree that they need to be performed. Your presentation is often what engages me - beyond the tremendous bass/vocal interplay - and encourages me to listen again to the words more carefully.

I would buy tickets to see an Aaron Gibson-penned musical.

 

[juggahnaught]

I've been working on two solo bass albums that are kind of told like musicals. The goal with all of the songs is to make them sound full and complete without additional instrumentation. I've been feeling like the songs really need to be dramatically performed rather than just played, so I am trying to bust out of my shell and do that. I just did a performance of the first song on the first album for the Tiny Desk Contest and I would love to share it with you.
Here is my song called Anger

Dude. Nice.

Nice!