Solo bass on the coffeehouse circuit?

[anonymous122511]

And then there's Dave Holland using nuthin but a double bass...his second solo recording One's All is a favorite of mine.

 

[Mike Dimin]

I do the solo bass thing, wrote a few books about it as well as lesson columns for Bass Frontiers, Bassics and now Bass Guitar Mag (UK). Unfortunately I do not sing as well (or at least not well enough).

I approach the performance in a number of different ways
1. Chord melody solo. Much as Joe Pass would have played. There is melody interspersed with chords. IN this example I add, in the second chorus, a bass line, with chords and melody.
Autumn Leaves:


Thanks for listening

Mike Dimin
Author, "The Art of Solo Bass" (Mel Bay)

 

[Mike Dimin]

Check out Dave Pomeroy and Steve Lawson-two very different bassists using looping to create one-man shows. Dave sings as well. They both do small venues (Steve is doing a lot of house concerts these days in duo with his wife Lobelia). Cool stuff! Glad your gig went well.

I am such a big fan of Dave Pomeroy.

 

[GreggBummer]

I play solo bass for a living. I play 5 solo gigs per week. Please consider the following:

1) bring your own amp. If you DI into the little house PA you run a substantial risk of watching the voice coils in the little box speakers evaporate. Just bring a small amp that makes you sound good!

2) Practice the way you are going to play. If you are going to accompany yourself (i.e. comping) while you sing, practice that. If you have a looper and are proficient that is a great way to go if you have worked out your arrangement. If you do not have a decent arrangement, keep working at home until you do.

3) If you only have one good song, do the one good song and be done!

If you would like to see an example of a bass player using a looper sing, lead worship and solo please check out my playing at Link Removed

Play the Bass!!!
Stan Szymanski
www.stanthebassman.com

More or less, this is exactly what I did. I didn't bring an amp, I was familiar with the PA at the venue. I plan on, over the next few months, slowing putting together a set of 5 songs specific to the coffee house circuit.

I want to thank everyone for posting their solo bass work here. I am always amazed at the high level of musicianship here on TB. Your youtube links are especially helpful. I hope that others find this information as informative as I have.

Regards,
Gregg

 

[Freddels]

Met some good people. The organizer/venue owner BEGGED me to come back as a "house bass player". Not exactly the outcome I was looking for, but I agreed to come out once a month and play.

A good experience for sure.

Thanks,
Gregg

House band gets paid you know. The payment is for your services and use of your amp by everyone else.

 

[Mike Dimin]

Just posted 6 more live videos of solo bass and percussion duet, mostly originals but a few covers (Sugar and Blue in Green). This, BTW, was a coffee house gig

www.youtube.com/mikedimin

 

[T. Alan Smith]

Nothing is more depressing than solo bass, except for solo trombone

Yeah, especially when Lydia(on bass) accompanies herself.

 

[behndy]

god, if i was younger and unattached i would SO stalk Lydia until she realized the deep and eternal love between us.

Creepy Internet Fanboy FTW.

 

[dpbass66]

I second the Lydia sentiments!!!! Oh, so creepy.

(though if she were my girlfriend she'd probably steal all my gigs!!)

 

[T. Alan Smith]

god, if i was younger and unattached i would SO stalk Lydia until she realized the deep and eternal love between us.

Creepy Internet Fanboy FTW.

I so totally hear you!

 

[behndy]

woof. her, Devi Ever (i KNOW the difficulties. we'd figure it out), Joanna Newsom, Bjork, Regina Spector, Emilie Autumn and Miya from Bleach 03 are the musicians on my "My GrrL Said It's Ok Because She Knows I Don't Have A Chance" list.