Bass solo

  Bass solo

Most bassist don't even get to show there talent during a show. All they do is stand out of the spotlight and thwack away at the E and A strings. Well I'm tired of that and hopefully you are too! Music is all about expressing yourself, and that's why you need to show your chops.

I'm not going to tell you that all bass solo's have to be part of a scale, but I think it's important to include some scaling in your solo. Let's Start out of a C major scale.

G|-----------2-4-5-

D|-----2-3-5-------

A|-3-5-------------

E|-----------------

Now let's add some notes in between

G|------------2424-5-

D|-----2323-5--------

A|-3-5---------------

E|-------------------

Here's were you can add different parts of a bass solo. Either chords, speed, or slap/octaves. (I'm leaving out tapping, because I haven't mastered that yet)

Chords

G|------------2424-5-5-4-----5-4---4-

D|-----2323-5--------3-2-4---3-2-4-2-

A|-3-5-------------------2-------2---

E|-----------------------------------

Speed

G|------------2424-5-55553333--------

D|-----2323-5----------------55553-2-

A|-3-5-------------------------------

E|-----------------------------------

Slap/Octave

(s=Slap, p=Pop)

G|------------2424-5----5p------------5p----4p-

D|-----2323-5------------------5p--------------

A|-3-5---------------3s------------3s----2s----

E|------------------------3s-------------------

There's a nice easy solo for you. I find most bass solo's come from using doodling around the fretboard or improv.

Effects

Some people find that using distortion or other effects may pump up a solo. I agree and disagree. Using an effect is great, but don't overuse it. If all your solo's are distortioned, what's the point, anyone can hit a couple notes on distortion and sound like Cliff Burton. I hope this helped you in your pursuit of face-melting, bass-pounding, guitar player-killing solos.

Rock On!

Posted in: Guitar Bass