An early one I had to learn for a gig was Smooth Operator by Sade. Very pretty, and melodic. Can't say I play it exactly note for note, though. I take some liberties with it!
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Soloing on Bass
- Thread starter robin_hood
- Start date
If you don't improvise on your own, the time to get good at it is not with an audience watching you. There are plenty of guitarists who can solo great but suck at playing rythym. And you know why they suck at it......THEY NEVER PRACTICE PLAYING RYTHYM. (Yes, I did yell that. Because I'm a guitarist who plays rythym well and doesn't like being pegged as a rythym guitarist to play behind some hotshot who only practices shredding. Sorry for that 
). Same goes for improv soloing. There's no substitute for time spent in the shed. But all is not lost in the meantime.
Believe it or not, you can get away with playing pretty much what you were playing behind the song. Only difference is, now you're in the spotlight. People enjoy the big bold sound of the bass being played out front. They won't be as worried about your note choices as they are enjoying that big bad bulldozer tone. Just stay within yourself and you'll be alright. Is the solo on Brown Eyed Girl really anything more than a bass line you would play under those changes? Nope. Does it work? Yes.
). Same goes for improv soloing. There's no substitute for time spent in the shed. But all is not lost in the meantime.Believe it or not, you can get away with playing pretty much what you were playing behind the song. Only difference is, now you're in the spotlight. People enjoy the big bold sound of the bass being played out front. They won't be as worried about your note choices as they are enjoying that big bad bulldozer tone. Just stay within yourself and you'll be alright. Is the solo on Brown Eyed Girl really anything more than a bass line you would play under those changes? Nope. Does it work? Yes.
You could always work one out in advance and always do it during the same part of the same song, at least until you got better at winging it.
Unless the audience isnt at bar, they dont care what you play! Just do slaps and pull offs of 2 notes for 30 seconds while running around and everyone will cheer 
I think the best thing you can do is find soloists you admire, on any instrument, who's solos are within your ability and transcribe them. This should build your melodic vocabulary.
