solo bass at open mic?

[joev114]

Go for it, have fun!! I play bass with a band at open jams every week. I’m looking to do a solo bass song soon. Tell us how it was.

 

[Passinwind]

Any thoughts yay or nay? Song suggestions? Cheerleading?

I've done it countless times. I've also seen several other bassists do it at open mics I was hosting. In general, I find that if you can sell your vocals all the rest is gravy.

Song suggestions: write your own, of course. Although one schtick that works well for me is using a generic groove bass line and mashing up a slew of one or two verse "covers" in a medley arrangement.

 

[aprod]

I believe you would benefit more by jamming with other musicians before venturing out solo.

 

[CalBuzz51]

Oops, my previous post had nothing to do with solo playing. I'll have to consider that approach!

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

tl,dr.

I've played solo bass at open mics many a time. I live to rage against acoustic guitars and whiney singer songwriters, and an open Mic is the best place for it.
play it real dirty & mean

Oh man. The only reason I took up bass is so no one at a party will hand me a guitar and ask me to sing.
Now you guys are soloing AND singing?
I guess there's just no end to all the talent out there that has but one goal. To make me look bad.
Dammit!

 

[interp]

Go for it.

 

[Nephilymbass]

I need a little push to get out and play. I'm probably over thinking this, but....

My current project is going a little slower than I hoped. I'm thinking of doing an open mic or two, and sing with just a bass and a DI pedal. I'm nervous to do it for several reasons. Mainly because it's just not done very much. But also 'cuz I'm not really part of the scene here, so this would be my first foray outside my little project circle. I don't want to suck too much, particularly if I'm doing something that's rarely done.

I really don't want to do the crappy sounding plugged in acoustic guitar thing. I would have done that already if I wasn't sick and tired of that from years past. I just think it would be fun to try something different, and a good excuse to introduce myself as an also bassist, as opposed to yet another singer/songwriter at an open mic. Also, I'm not ready to do an open jam on bass at this point. Way too scared to try that.

Absolutely nothing fancy. Something easy to play and sing to, and have an excuse to get out and play, meet some folks, etc... Maybe one or two covers, and one original. Something like, With or Without You and/or Basketcase? Not necessarily those, but something easy along that vein.

Part of me is really scared. But the other part is like, who cares? It's not like anyone is gonna be listening, anyway. It's an open mic. I guess I just need a little push to go for it.

Any thoughts yay or nay? Song suggestions? Cheerleading?

Ive wanted to do it from time to time. The setback here is trying to tell others you want to play by yourself, the guitar players and drummers never want to leave the freaking stage.

 

[catcauphonic]

Polish it up reasonably well, & go for it Sounds like something I'd welcome seeing amongst the sea of stool seated acoustic singer songwriters ... even if I wasn't jyst a bass player myself

 

[Chicory Blue]

I was inspired to play in the first place by a solo looping bassist at an open mic.

--^@

 

[madbass6]

I need a little push to get out and play. I'm probably over thinking this, but....

My current project is going a little slower than I hoped. I'm thinking of doing an open mic or two, and sing with just a bass and a DI pedal. I'm nervous to do it for several reasons. Mainly because it's just not done very much. But also 'cuz I'm not really part of the scene here, so this would be my first foray outside my little project circle. I don't want to suck too much, particularly if I'm doing something that's rarely done.

I really don't want to do the crappy sounding plugged in acoustic guitar thing. I would have done that already if I wasn't sick and tired of that from years past. I just think it would be fun to try something different, and a good excuse to introduce myself as an also bassist, as opposed to yet another singer/songwriter at an open mic. Also, I'm not ready to do an open jam on bass at this point. Way too scared to try that.

Absolutely nothing fancy. Something easy to play and sing to, and have an excuse to get out and play, meet some folks, etc... Maybe one or two covers, and one original. Something like, With or Without You and/or Basketcase? Not necessarily those, but something easy along that vein.

Part of me is really scared. But the other part is like, who cares? It's not like anyone is gonna be listening, anyway. It's an open mic. I guess I just need a little push to go for it.

Any thoughts yay or nay? Song suggestions? Cheerleading?

Well You could always do mustang sally and be booood of stage! lol..
ok, in all seriousness, Obviously you're not ready or way to unsecured of your music abilities to just go ahead do it! So just don't ! till you're up to it . I totally disagree on your comment
" it's just an open mic. No one listens anyways ?" WRONG! You never know who's out there so always try to sound your best no matter what the venue is ! you should most Defently care!!

it gets better, another comment you wrote i totally disagree with "You really don't want to do the crappy sounding acoustic plugged in thing?" Damm dude, I don't play guitar professionally but I atleast i have respect for everybody's individualized talent! any performance could be either great or crappie no matter the instrument ! it's you ( the musician) that makes the difference! & here's one last advise for you, please keep those BS comments to yourself! Don't be that guy!!

 

[buldog5151bass]

What is your goal- to be noticed by other musicians, or create a performance for people to listen to and enjoy? Record what you want to do. Does it hold up to you if you saw some random stranger do it?

 

[Bunk McNulty]

I need a little push to get out and play. I'm probably over thinking this, but....

My current project is going a little slower than I hoped. I'm thinking of doing an open mic or two, and sing with just a bass and a DI pedal. I'm nervous to do it for several reasons. Mainly because it's just not done very much. But also 'cuz I'm not really part of the scene here, so this would be my first foray outside my little project circle. I don't want to suck too much, particularly if I'm doing something that's rarely done.

I really don't want to do the crappy sounding plugged in acoustic guitar thing. I would have done that already if I wasn't sick and tired of that from years past. I just think it would be fun to try something different, and a good excuse to introduce myself as an also bassist, as opposed to yet another singer/songwriter at an open mic. Also, I'm not ready to do an open jam on bass at this point. Way too scared to try that.

Absolutely nothing fancy. Something easy to play and sing to, and have an excuse to get out and play, meet some folks, etc... Maybe one or two covers, and one original. Something like, With or Without You and/or Basketcase? Not necessarily those, but something easy along that vein.

Part of me is really scared. But the other part is like, who cares? It's not like anyone is gonna be listening, anyway. It's an open mic. I guess I just need a little push to go for it.

Any thoughts yay or nay? Song suggestions? Cheerleading?

Lot of mixed signals here. You want to play solo bass, you want to introduce yourself as a bassist, but you're not ready to play at a jam? Whatever. It is good that you're scared. Grandpa always said, if you're not scared, you're not really doing anything new.

And, of course, there's always this:

 

[JRA]

But the other part is like, who cares?

i'd go with this part! good luck and have fun!

 

[whatizitman]

Well You could always do mustang sally and be booood of stage! lol..
ok, in all seriousness, Obviously you're not ready or way to unsecured of your music abilities to just go ahead do it! So just don't ! till you're up to it . I totally disagree on your comment
" it's just an open mic. No one listens anyways ?" WRONG! You never know who's out there so always try to sound your best no matter what the venue is ! you should most Defently care!!

it gets better, another comment you wrote i totally disagree with "You really don't want to do the crappy sounding acoustic plugged in thing?" Damm dude, I don't play guitar professionally but I atleast i have respect for everybody's individualized talent! any performance could be either great or crappie no matter the instrument ! it's you ( the musician) that makes the difference! & here's one last advise for you, please keep those BS comments to yourself! Don't be that guy!!

OOPS. I should clarify that statement. I hate the sound of plugged in acoustics. Like nails on a chalkboard for me. No matter how good the guitar or the performance, the vast majority of piezo sounds are just painful sounding to me.

 

[Wood and Wire]

You should play this at an open mic:

Go Bruce!

 

[Flashback Bass]

If you're not better then this, I wouldn't do it!

 

[whatizitman]

OK so I told my wife, and she was all "uhhh...you have to run the songs by me first LOL". She thought it odd enough that she is worried it wouldn't go over. I'm trying not to be perfectionistic about it. The goal for me is to have an excuse to get up and play, and introduce myself to the world as a guy who can both sing (adequately) and play some bass (mediocre). Nothing fancy.

That said, she has a point. I want the ratio of suck to my mediocre abilities to be acceptable. Which means the bass should be at least somewhat interesting. Soooooo... I goofed around with a few songs, and realized this is going to take more preparation then I thought. I can fairly easily sing and play roots for most typical covers, as well as my own songs (they're not too complex). But for songs with at least some melodic bass will need some additional work.

Psychokiller. Fun bass line that helps move the song (thanks, Tina!). Vocals in my range. I can even do a good David Byrne impression, if need be. Recognizable enough song, I think. Shorten up the intro and outtros, emphasize the vocal parts, and I think it would be ok.

So now I'm on the hunt for more songs where the bass is part of the hook, but not too fancy shmancy. Any ideas?

 

[grinx]

most folks don't want to hear solo bass, not even bass players
solo bass = beer/babe/bathroom break

unless you use that Miku Stomp pedal while playing solo bass, then all bets are off

 

[mbene085]

My general experience with open mics has been that the only people who take them seriously are the people playing at them. In other words, play to have fun. This isn't American idol. Nobody is going to rip into you or broadcast your failures for the nation to watch if it goes poorly. Nothing ventured, nothing gained!

 

[Wood and Wire]

Believe it or not, this guy was a pretty big deal about 10 years ago :