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What do you think about when taking a solo?

#81
Think? I think you may be overthinking the thinking part.

If you don't feel comfortable playing a solo, don't play a solo...
The popcorn munchers aren't holding score cards...

That being said, I look at solos similar to scat singing but with whatever instrument is in my hand.
Everybody has their own view of soloing. Painting a picture, telling a story, whatever....

Listen to the tune and scat sing... After a bit you may begin to hear melodies that fit with the song structure...

Have fun with it. Doesn't have to be a long solo. A bud of mine that is a hella bassist buys old jazz sax solo books and learns em on bass. Builds his chops and gives him ideas for phrasing, voicing, counter melodies...

Listen to this and see if you can pick up on the beauty of what these two are doing... They are great at it...
Making music on the spot... Don't worry if it ain't easy at first. It'll get easier as you do it... You can scat along with stuff on the radio. Pretend you are an instrument and improvise along with the song... and have fun...

 
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#83
Slough Feg Bass said:
I like to make sure I have a way in and a way out.
anything that happens in between is whatever my fingers want to do at the time.
Click to expand...

Totally agree with this - when I listen to really good soloists, the most important thing is what they have to say at the beginning, and how they work out of it and end up back where they need to be for the supporting bass part. Don't feel like you have to fill every space with sound, pauses are good.
 
#87
The few songs where I have done solos I have always worked them out over the course of band practices and alone practice. I like to try and build up slowly and create a little tension if possible. I have always played by ear so I just go with what I feel. The times I have done solos have usually been in bands where the guitar player was not great or new to playing and they thought I should do it. I've never really said, "I'd like to solo in this song."
 
#91
I aim to be in the moment as much as possible, so essentially to not think at all. Go where the music is.

Thinking, that is what practicing is for, to me. It is not that I never think when I take a solo, but those are not the good ones. The good ones are those where all that practicing results in me going somewhere I've never been before that makes totally sense at the same time, and that I could have never thought of.
 
#94
A melody...

Licks I've got under my fingers
And is this a good place for one.

Contour and comfort: Have I been in this register too long?

Rhythm: Did I just hear subconsciously a good rhythm?

Could I quote another tune that everyone knows?

What kind of accompaniment am I getting?

It's time to end it ... Clean and clearly.
 
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#95
usually my thoughts during my solos -

zokte.jpg
 
#98
Phrasing, dynamics, and a cohesive arc to the solo: start out quieter with less note density; increase intensity and tension by increasing volume, note density, phrase more aggressively across bar lines; hit a climax; release tension back into the form.

I'd rather phrase well and sound musical than land cool riffs, but on the other hand a well-placed cool riff can be very musical and melodic.

Not over-thinking is important. My best soloing happens when I stay loose and keep grooving.
 

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