thepurpleblob Posted November 15, 2008 Share Posted November 15, 2008 I play in a covers band. I've always played in a covers band. Well I played in an originals for a few gigs but I replaced somebody else, so it was still a covers band for me. Anyway, you get to that bit at the end of the night where (yes I know it's cheesy...) the singer intros the band, everybody plays a little solo... except me. I don't have a clue what to play. I've never improvised in any meaningful way or played a solo in my life. Can anybody help me not look like an idiot? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorick Posted November 15, 2008 Share Posted November 15, 2008 Don't worry about it. I never do a solo when introduced. Just step forward, continue to play the riff and grin like a mad cheshire cat................. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aj5string Posted November 15, 2008 Share Posted November 15, 2008 Why don't you write a lick or two - or nick some flash lines from other tunes and transpose them to the correct key? I know plenty of 'improvisers' who just do that.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thepurpleblob Posted November 15, 2008 Author Share Posted November 15, 2008 [quote name='aj5string' post='329713' date='Nov 15 2008, 04:28 PM']Why don't you write a lick or two - or nick some flash lines from other tunes and transpose them to the correct key? I know plenty of 'improvisers' who just do that....[/quote] Goog idea... and suggestions. No slap please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alun Posted November 15, 2008 Share Posted November 15, 2008 Are you playing something when you're introduced or does everyone start from silence? If you are playing a song, what is it? Might help us think of suitably quotable tunes that'll fit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thepurpleblob Posted November 15, 2008 Author Share Posted November 15, 2008 [quote name='Alun' post='329797' date='Nov 15 2008, 07:25 PM']Are you playing something when you're introduced or does everyone start from silence? If you are playing a song, what is it? Might help us think of suitably quotable tunes that'll fit [/quote] No we are between songs that's the trouble. The guitarist plays a little riff, the drummer runs around the kit and I... stand there and grin... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonybassplayer Posted November 15, 2008 Share Posted November 15, 2008 [quote name='thepurpleblob' post='329692' date='Nov 15 2008, 03:21 PM']I play in a covers band. I've always played in a covers band. Well I played in an originals for a few gigs but I replaced somebody else, so it was still a covers band for me. Anyway, you get to that bit at the end of the night where (yes I know it's cheesy...) the singer intros the band, everybody plays a little solo... except me. I don't have a clue what to play. I've never improvised in any meaningful way or played a solo in my life. Can anybody help me not look like an idiot? [/quote] Same with me and at the time we are usually playing Signed, Sealed Delivered so I would be interested to hear what I could improvise with for a bar or two !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alun Posted November 15, 2008 Share Posted November 15, 2008 (edited) [quote name='tonybassplayer' post='329799' date='Nov 15 2008, 07:29 PM']Same with me and at the time we are usually playing Signed, Sealed Delivered so I would be interested to hear what I could improvise with for a bar or two !![/quote] If you're vamping the chorus bit, you could try something like.... EDIT - oops, tab has gone odd at the end of the first bar sorry! Should be 5th fret on A and 7th on D - much easier Cheers Alun Edited November 15, 2008 by Alun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alun Posted November 15, 2008 Share Posted November 15, 2008 [quote name='thepurpleblob' post='329798' date='Nov 15 2008, 07:28 PM']No we are between songs that's the trouble. The guitarist plays a little riff, the drummer runs around the kit and I... stand there and grin...[/quote] Maybe go for a well known riff - Another One Bites The Dust maybe? Most people will recognise that ( even if some don't know where from ) Or the theme from the Simpsons always goes down well! Cheers Alun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnylager Posted November 15, 2008 Share Posted November 15, 2008 That fast run near the beginning of YYZ. Works every time. For Geddy Lee! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thepurpleblob Posted November 15, 2008 Author Share Posted November 15, 2008 [quote name='johnnylager' post='329812' date='Nov 15 2008, 07:53 PM']That fast run near the beginning of YYZ. Works every time. For Geddy Lee![/quote] I must confess I'd never heard that song - never been into Rush. Still, (thanks to Youtube) I see what you mean but I just don't think I'm quite fast enough Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnylager Posted November 15, 2008 Share Posted November 15, 2008 [quote name='thepurpleblob' post='329841' date='Nov 15 2008, 08:22 PM']I must confess I'd never heard that song - never been into Rush. Still, (thanks to Youtube) I see what you mean but I just don't think I'm quite fast enough [/quote] Me neither. I could probably play the first note. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thepurpleblob Posted November 15, 2008 Author Share Posted November 15, 2008 [quote name='Alun' post='329811' date='Nov 15 2008, 07:53 PM']Or the theme from the Simpsons always goes down well! Cheers Alun[/quote] Ha! Inspired. Danny Elfmann to the rescue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgsjx Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 Find something really annoying. My G**tarist has this annoying habit of playing the first 6 notes of "Happy birthday to you" & ya just wanna hit him with something. I started playing "We wish you a merry xmas" but being a G*it****t he just joined in! It would go down well in the coming month tho :wacko: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Funk Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 If you're a really simple bass player who doesn't have much in the way of chops just do this: 1. Walk up to the front of the stage 2. Raise your fretting hand aloft 3. Put on your sex face 4. Bang out 4 half note open Es over two bars 5. Bang out 8 quarter note open Es over two bars 6. Bang out 16 eighth note open Es over two bars 7. Bang out 24 triplets open Es over two bars 8. Whack all 4 open strings at once and let them ring for one bar 9. Gesture at the crowd with your left hand to applaud 10. Get back to playing the tune Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thepurpleblob Posted November 17, 2008 Author Share Posted November 17, 2008 [quote name='The Funk' post='330753' date='Nov 17 2008, 03:59 PM']If you're a really simple bass player who doesn't have much in the way of chops just do this: 1. Walk up to the front of the stage 2. Raise your fretting hand aloft 3. Put on your sex face 4. Bang out 4 half note open Es over two bars 5. Bang out 8 quarter note open Es over two bars 6. Bang out 16 eighth note open Es over two bars 7. Bang out 24 triplets open Es over two bars 8. Whack all 4 open strings at once and let them ring for one bar 9. Gesture at the crowd with your left hand to applaud 10. Get back to playing the tune[/quote] Two observations: * Chops are something you put apple sauce on. * Sex Face? I'm 44 and married - I don't have a sex face Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Funk Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 [quote name='thepurpleblob' post='330757' date='Nov 17 2008, 04:03 PM']Two observations: * Chops are something you put apple sauce on. * Sex Face? I'm 44 and married - I don't have a sex face [/quote] Chops = technical ability; a wide vocabulary of stock phrases Sex face = gurn a musician pulls to demonstrate overwhelming intensity, passion, focus and concetration (cf. gurn = an odd or unusual facial expression, often unflattering or undignified) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 You're a bass player - don't do anything other than what you do now. Everyone knows drummers are noisy bar stewards and guitarists like to widdle intensly at every opportunity so make your mark by smiling politely and doing hee haw else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacDaddy Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 If you really want to do something: whatever key you are in, just go up and down the relevant pentatonic a couple of times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnylager Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 [quote name='xgsjx' post='330625' date='Nov 17 2008, 01:14 PM']Find something really annoying.[/quote] Woo-Haa by that Busta Rhymes chap. 7 notes of annoyance and very easy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GonzoBass Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 ------------9----9----12--\-- ---------9----9-------11--\-- ----11------------------------ 12---------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stylon Pilson Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 Play the bass riff from the outro of "The Chain" by Fleetwood Mac. It's something like this: [code]G | - - - - - - - - | - - - - - - - - | - - - - - - - - | - - - - - - - - | D | - - - - - - - - | - - - - - - - - | - - - - - - - - | - - - - - - - - | A | - - - - - - - 2 | 3 - 2 - - - 2 - | - - - - - - - - | - - - - - - - - | E | 5 - - - - - 5 - | - - - 5 3 5 - - | 0 - - - - - - - | - - - - - - - - |[/code] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracer Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 Would the bass riff sampled in Rapper's Delight be too long? Because if that doesn't make people grin then there's something wrong with them and they should be publicly flogged. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thepurpleblob Posted November 18, 2008 Author Share Posted November 18, 2008 [quote name='Stylon Pilson' post='331614' date='Nov 18 2008, 05:13 PM']Play the bass riff from the outro of "The Chain" by Fleetwood Mac. It's something like this: [code]G | - - - - - - - - | - - - - - - - - | - - - - - - - - | - - - - - - - - | D | - - - - - - - - | - - - - - - - - | - - - - - - - - | - - - - - - - - | A | - - - - - - - 2 | 3 - 2 - - - 2 - | - - - - - - - - | - - - - - - - - | E | 5 - - - - - 5 - | - - - 5 3 5 - - | 0 - - - - - - - | - - - - - - - - |[/code][/quote] That used to be the cheesiest line ever - now I suppose it's just postmodern Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 I do nowt. That way, I never look ridiculous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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