Top 3 bass shop tryout riffs - they're looking at you and waiting!

[wateroftyne]

The Chain, Money and All Right Now.

[wateroftyne]

^^^that was a joke, BTW.

[JoeEvans]

Go with the bassline from [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNwPDLl4eak"]'Licking Stick'[/url] and do a special dance and appropriate facial expression, to indicate that you are actually on stage with the JBs.

[The Saint]

[quote name='ras52' timestamp='1429602044' post='2752949']
Spooky, I'm sitting on a train playing those sections right now!
[/quote]

Strange that...

I get annoyed when the guy next to me has his iPod up too loud.

I'd be really peeved to be sat next to a guy with a bass rig on one seat and his guitar neck sticking out into the aisle.....

[Cosmo Valdemar]

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1429601038' post='2752936']
Why would you play anyone's bass lines at all..??
I just noodle with things that I've come up with and I'll be trying to the bass to sound
like it could handle the sounds within the styles that I hear and play.
I kind of laugh when I hear someone playing a standard bassline, tbh..
[/quote]

Not everyone is able to compose their own music, or improvise.

[Funky Dunky]

Probably....


Too Young To Die by Jamiroquai
Pow by Graham Central Station
Rio by Duran Duran

and a couple of things of my own construction.

[bartelby]

I'm another one in the "playing own band's songs" camp.
Of just generally noodle about on it.

I learned long ago not to play anything recognisable.
When I went to buy my own first bass, I'd borrowed a mate's for a few months, I played a couple of Cliff Burton bass lines.
Another guy, about 10 years older than me, then smirked and played the same bass lines slightly better and faster.

[neepheid]

Yup, another one who plays my own stuff, the stuff I play with my band. That's principally what the bass will be used for after all

[CHW]

I am at the point where I just could not care less about playing in a music shop. When I was a spotty little teenager I remember being massively intimidated by the long haired, cool guys in a shop who handed me a bass or guitar I could barely afford.

nearly 25 years on I just don't care. I may be about to spend a significant sum of money, and as such anyone with a self satisfied smirk who hands me an instrument is likely to lose a sale. I'm not there to be assessed, or judged and don't give a hoot what anyone else in the shop thinks of what I might play.

[Funky Dunky]

Sadly, music shops are a cesspool of egos and tosspots. Some staff, some customers. It was always thus, and always thus shall be. Worse if you're a guitarist. I wonder if triangle players are like that?

First guy: Ting!

Second guy : "is that all you got?"

TINGTITTATINGTITTATINGATINGATINGYTING!!

*walks away smugly*

[Graham]

I think last time I was at Bass Direct I used I Wish by Stevie Wonder as my benchmark riff as it covers all four strings and Mustang Sally as I could guarantee I was going to have to play it

[Raymondo]

What is this "trying out a bass" thing?...I bought one 25yrs ago and it still works!

[hollywoodrox]

Sweet child o mine , round and round , by ratt and autumn leaves or some recurring circle of 4ths type walk. I am bassless at the moment as sold 2 and have yet to finish my p bass project and am doing lots of stuff on 6 string so am very rusty

[discreet]

[quote name='Raymondo' timestamp='1429616847' post='2753189']
...I bought one 25yrs ago and it still works!
[/quote]

Is it still in tune?

[Raymondo]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1429620423' post='2753269']
Is it still in tune?
[/quote]

Of course it is......I keep it in a case when I am not playing!

[Truckstop]

I like to play funky numbers. He's The Greatest Dancer, Lost in Music, We Are Family etc. Sounds great on their own and there's loads of room to chuck in all the harmonics and dusty end stuff you'd need to play to check out the neck.

[pfretrock]

Is it OK to take my own music stand?

[Raymondo]

[quote name='pfretrock' timestamp='1429621461' post='2753287']
Is it OK to take my own music stand?
[/quote]

It's ok they have plenty there for you to try.

[ras52]

[quote name='Raymondo' timestamp='1429621985' post='2753295']
It's ok they have plenty there for you to try.
[/quote]

You might need to provide your own Moondance TAB though.

[Brother Jones]

Horn break from Sir Duke, or perhaps Rhythm Stick, a bit of a slappy thing (usually Run for Cover or a variation on that theme), and a bit of a harmonic thing. The latter is important for me, as while Jazzes are not normally a problem, Ps and Musicmen are a bit variable on that front.

[bluesparky]

Usually I'll play the same couple of things each time so I know how they sound / feel on other basses:
101 Shuffle - Dave Weckl
Stu Hamm's solo thing that he's showcased over the years
Hard To Concentrate - Chili Peppers
& if I want to give slapping a go (which I try to keep few and far between in a shop) I'll play Run For Cover - David Sanborn

[Japhet]

Might be 'Oh I do like to be beside the Seaside', might be 'Love Meeting Love' Level 42. Depends what mood I'm in. Truthfully, I haven't played a guitar in a shop for 30 years.

[Hobbayne]

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1429567639' post='2752789']
Down In The Tube Station & It`s Too Bad by The Jam, Nice & Sleazy by The Stranglers.
[/quote]

Also by The Stranglers, Down in the sewer and Sometimes for trebley pick goodness
Beatles Come together and Too Much too young by The Specials for some finger fun,

[discreet]

[quote name='bluesparky' timestamp='1429624516' post='2753343']
...if I want to give slapping a go I'll play Run For Cover...
[/quote]

Very appropriate.

[bluesparky]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1429625263' post='2753364']
Very appropriate.
[/quote]
Ha ha! That kind of word association could start a whole new thread on it's own!