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Jazz Soloing (Tips, help, etc)


SevenSeas
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Hey fellow bass players;

I wanted to start a thread on approaching soloing (on double bass) all though the concepts are probably the same on electric bass.

How do you approach soloing on a standard?

Do you analyse the chords and decide which scales, mode, to use etc....
or just use your ears?
Develop an idea?

What works for you?

I have to prepare two jazz pieces for auditions later this year and i'm finding soloing extremely difficult!

Cheers,
Andy.

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[quote name='AndrewRichards' timestamp='1373287337' post='2135633']...Do you analyse the chords and decide which scales, mode, to use etc....
or just use your ears?
Develop an idea?...[/quote]

Good afternoon, Andy...

A partial answer to the above would be 'Yes, yes and yes'...
There is no 'shortcut' or simple, two line solution, of course, but, as a starter (others will follow and complete or contradict...), I would suggest plagarism. Well, not quite, but almost. If by 'solo', you mean 'improvisation', I would say that there are few, even the top players, that really 'improvise' from scratch. Most solos are worked on. An entry point would be, imho, to listen to the experts in the field that interests you, transcribe what they do (as best you can...) and analyse how, why and what they're doing. Then do the same yourself. Do this in the 'woodshed', not on a 'live stage.
Hope this helps...

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Not that I'm an expert by any strech of the imagination about this kind of thing AT All, I am interested in getting better at soloing myself. Alot of the advice I have read on the subject suggests starting by learning the melody for the tune. At least this way it gives the listeners a reference point that makes sense to them, and by at least hinting at it, then
you can start altering the phrasing of the melody before you take complete liberties with the tune! ;)

Makes sense I hope, and I can't wait to get into this idea myself! (It's an "in" at least).

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[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1373294704' post='2135764']
Concepts for Bass Soloing by Marc Johnson and Chuck Sher
[/quote]

Wow, that book looks amazing! (I love the Bill Evans connection :))
Thank you Bilbo, I've never heard of that one before.
Essential, it seems.

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