Kevin Dean Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 Every time I see someone doing a bass solo or demonstration Do they feel the need to let everyone know what they can do technically , It's normally slap style & high up the neck . How about something low low down & interesting .It's a bass after all . & if it's an amp demonstration it would be letting me know what the amp can handle . I'm sick of it I tell yu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 Light the blue touchpaper and retire to a safe distance. Keep pets indoors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 ... should never be heard outside the bedroom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meypelnek Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 I personally do not like the typical spotlight-on-slap-bass-solo. It is weird to present a technique for solo purpose that is used for a maximum of 5% throughout the rest of the gig. But that's just my opinion. I think drums-solos are as lame, too. Even dislike it if perfomed by Mike Portnoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 Bass solos at clinics are about gear and chops not about music. Some of the nicest bass solos I have ever heard are actually quite easy to play and require no significant chops (listen to Steve Swallow's solo on John SCofield's version of 'Alfie' on their EnRoute cd). Bass guitars are particularly lousy at making nice music in isolation. They just don't make a particulary musical noise, especially when playing chords. Not a total non-starter but a lot of ways of screwing it up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 When I do my magazine review videos, generally I shy away from any musical theatrics or showing off. Videos are not about me, I prefer to demonstrate gear as if it were someone trying kit out in a shop. I'll demo a little slap or finger style whilst going through EQ settings for example but you'll never get a shred fest from me. (I reserve that for being creative elsewhere!) I've only received compliments for presenting in this manner and I really don't care for YT comments from those wanting to see some sort of ego-fest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 (edited) Many Bassists by nature tend not to be lyrical in style with solo playing, and possibly during regular support playing. Which is understandable, after all, Bass apart from supplying rhythm, is laying down and outlining harmony and chord movement. So I suppose, it's hard to get out of that way of thinking, and think more melodically. But what do I know, just a Bass player. A nicely phrased simple melodic Bass solo at about 02:50. (Marcus Miller). Not sure about the Album cover...lol.. http://youtu.be/_2or5RqfyIc Edited April 25, 2015 by lowdown Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmccombe7 Posted April 25, 2015 Share Posted April 25, 2015 Nice song. Really enjoyed that and nice little bass melody at 2:50. thanks for that Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted April 26, 2015 Share Posted April 26, 2015 (edited) [quote name='Kevin Dean' timestamp='1429865947' post='2755654'] Every time I see someone doing a bass solo or demonstration Do they feel the need to let everyone know what they can do technically , It's normally slap style & high up the neck . How about something low low down & interesting .It's a bass after all . & if it's an amp demonstration it would be letting me know what the amp can handle . I'm sick of it I tell yu [/quote] I agree if it's technique for technique sake. I also don't like tapping or slap. I do love the timbre of solo bass though, and it does have the high notes. People don't complain if it's solo clarinet or bassoon, so why bass ? If it's played lyrically and legato it's a very beautiful instrument. It's also a musical instrument so let's play some music on it. Edited April 26, 2015 by ambient Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
louisthebass Posted April 26, 2015 Share Posted April 26, 2015 [quote name='lowdown' timestamp='1429882407' post='2755968'] Many Bassists by nature tend not to be lyrical in style with solo playing, and possibly during regular support playing. Which is understandable, after all, Bass apart from supplying rhythm, is laying down and outlining harmony and chord movement. So I suppose, it's hard to get out of that way of thinking, and think more melodically. But what do I know, just a Bass player. A nicely phrased simple melodic Bass solo at about 02:50. (Marcus Miller). Not sure about the Album cover...lol.. [media]http://youtu.be/_2or5RqfyIc[/media] [/quote] Great track - used to be the theme tune to the Robbie Vincent radio show (on Radio London I think?) years ago. I've got that Dave Grusin CD - definitely the cheesiest album cover I've ever seen! . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted April 26, 2015 Share Posted April 26, 2015 [quote name='lowdown' timestamp='1429882407' post='2755968'] Many Bassists by nature tend not to be lyrical in style with solo playing, and possibly during regular support playing. Which is understandable, after all, Bass apart from supplying rhythm, is laying down and outlining harmony and chord movement. So I suppose, it's hard to get out of that way of thinking, and think more melodically. But what do I know, just a Bass player. A nicely phrased simple melodic Bass solo at about 02:50. (Marcus Miller). Not sure about the Album cover...lol.. http://youtu.be/_2or5RqfyIc [/quote]Nice. I do prefer MM playing fretless rather than his usual scooped tone on the MM sig bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted April 26, 2015 Share Posted April 26, 2015 [quote name='ezbass' timestamp='1430035823' post='2757195'] Nice. I do prefer MM playing fretless rather than his usual scooped tone on the MM sig bass. [/quote] I think he was only eighteen when he did those sessions. There is a lot of nice playing from him on the album, with very little slap. Very mature playing, considering his age at the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulWarning Posted April 26, 2015 Share Posted April 26, 2015 any extended solo's are crap, guitar solo's aren't really solo's at al because (usually) the bass and drummer keep playing, a short little fill by the bassist/drummer/guitarist is great to add interest to the song but that's it, bloody hate drum solo's, I've been known to walk out of gigs because of them. The only solo I play is in Hate to say I told you so by the Hives and I just play the same riff as I do throughout the song Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted April 26, 2015 Share Posted April 26, 2015 I don't play any actual solos with either of my two bands, but the material contains many moments where the bass is playing a prominent line, Babooshka - Kate Bush, Alone - Heart and Hey You - Pink Floyd for instance. I don't mind a well crafted drum solo if it's not too long, actually goes somewhere and avoids the 70s Classic Rock clichés. I also love a good guitar solo (again following my drum solo 'rules') and I'm quite a fan of instrumental guitar - Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, etc. where the guitar is the vocal line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted April 26, 2015 Share Posted April 26, 2015 I played a melodic bass solo at a gig once and a member of the audience shouted out 'it's not a bloody guitar', to which I wish I shouted back that technically it was. Considering it was a prog gig I was somewhat surprised at the closed mindedness of this particular chap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inthedoghouse Posted April 26, 2015 Share Posted April 26, 2015 I've given up watching bass demonstrations/reviews on YouTube because invariably it's slap slap slap and more bleedin' slap - drives me mad! :-/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted April 26, 2015 Share Posted April 26, 2015 I stop YouTube vids the moment the dreaded thumb comes out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inthedoghouse Posted April 26, 2015 Share Posted April 26, 2015 [quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1430074792' post='2757768'] I stop YouTube vids the moment the dreaded thumb comes out. [/quote] Yes, sometimes it looks like it's all going well .... then it starts :-/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted April 26, 2015 Share Posted April 26, 2015 Have a listen to Doug Rauch, the forgotten genius of slap bass. Not so much a solo, more like some other instruments added to a bass line. Here's one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8lERdhuqPc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted April 26, 2015 Share Posted April 26, 2015 [quote name='Meypelnek' timestamp='1429867634' post='2755677'] But that's just my opinion. I think drums-solos are as lame, too. Even dislike it if perfomed by Mike Portnoy [/quote] I always loved drum solos, it gave you time to get to the loos, then on to the bar, get served and come back in time for some music. Although I dislike slap bass except in great moderation, I don't mind a bit in demonstration of a bass or equipment as a way of showing mid / treble response, when combined with actual playing as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted April 26, 2015 Share Posted April 26, 2015 We play an INXS song where there's a Saxaphone solo and it's somehow become the song where I do a solo. It starts low and ends up high, only lasts a few bars. I don't really care for demo videos although Ed Friedland does a great job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted April 27, 2015 Share Posted April 27, 2015 Steve Swallow at 2.53 but it helps to listen to it all to all of it for context. A beautiful bass solo without the histrionics. [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UluZphPIyIY"]https://www.youtube....h?v=UluZphPIyIY[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Der JD Posted April 27, 2015 Share Posted April 27, 2015 I agree that the majority of bass demos out there are just too flashy and involve too much slapping and tapping. In most cases, spending more time on less-flashy grooves would serve the purpose better. However, everyone has a different style. The demo wasn't created just for YOU. Not everyone plays the way YOU do. Personally, I want a little of everything in a demo. I want to hear everything the instrument can offer. Simple grooves/patterns/scales down low, a little slapping, chording, soloing in the higher register, possibly even a tiny bit of tapping. AND, I want to hear it all with different pickups selected and with different variations on the tone controls. I do a little of everything and although simple grooves down low are the bread and butter, a demo just limited to that would be of little use to me. Wouldn't show me what the instrument is capable of. I suppose that's why I like Ed Friedland's demos a lot. He does a little of everything without it being a total w***fest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annoying Twit Posted April 27, 2015 Share Posted April 27, 2015 I just discovered this youtube video after youtube auto-played on from something else. I enjoyed this, and this thread seems as good a place as any to put it. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAuOzC3JX1g[/media] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
No lust in Jazz Posted April 27, 2015 Share Posted April 27, 2015 [media]http://youtu.be/UPhJn6pz6Fg[/media] However, here Steve goes nuts.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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