The bass solo "drop out"

[JonathanPDX]

soloing skills aren't the thing that people are prizing.

I don't think anybody is saying bass players are getting hired only because of their soloing skills. It's this dumb old argument that people say "Play in the pocket and you'll get hired, nobody wants to hire a soloist." Obviously if you suck at actually playing the bass nobody will hire you regardless of your solo chops. But that's not the point here, the point is that if you are a good bassist, and can also solo well, you get more gigs, not less.

 

[dannylectro]

Being slightly jokey here… I’ve learned that, especially in blues jams, the best thing for me to do when called out to solo, is simply keep playing what I was already playing, with a bit more oomph and maybe some extra passing notes/fills, etc. it usually works and I’m thinking the average audience member has no idea what the bass is doing anyway while the rest of the band is playing

edit: clarity

 

[turf3]

I don't think anybody is saying bass players are getting hired only because of their soloing skills. It's this dumb old argument that people say "Play in the pocket and you'll get hired, nobody wants to hire a soloist." Obviously if you suck at actually playing the bass nobody will hire you regardless of your solo chops. But that's not the point here, the point is that if you are a good bassist, and can also solo well, you get more gigs, not less.

Of course. As a relatively new bassist (10 years or so, but I've been playing music for 50+ years) I have had to decide what to focus on, and I decided long ago to focus on driving the band and not on soloing. So, my timekeeping is (I think) pretty darn good, and my soloing is mediocre on a good day. Hey, at least you don't have to hear me try to solo on guitar. What a disaster that was.

 

[Panhandle Paul]

Communication is essential; "Please help me out you all!, How about some backup?, Play the chorus, quietly, please...".