Soloing

[led_zeppelin5022]

Latly I've been wanting to solo in some of my songs. I just can't get anything to sound good....so do any of you have some tips for jazz/blues soloing?

Thanks

[Kayetan]

I'd say to just sit down with your bass and listen to some of the solos that you want your solos to sound like, and try to figure out with the person is doing in the song. Pretty simple method, it just takes some work.

[led_zeppelin5022]

I'd say to just sit down with your bass and listen to some of the solos that you want your solos to sound like, and try to figure out with the person is doing in the song. Pretty simple method, it just takes some work.
I've been trying that a little bit. It's kind of starting to work...i think

Thanks man:thumb:

[Alma]

Learn your modes/scales. This will help you heaps.

Say if you're soloing over the C major scale and if you know your modes, you have D dorian, E phrygian, F lydian and so forth that you can solo over. This opens up a whole new dimension (in my view) when soloing.

[led_zeppelin5022]

Learn your modes/scales. This will help you heaps.

Say if you're soloing over the C major scale and if you know your modes, you have D dorian, E phrygian, F lydian and so forth that you can solo over. This opens up a whole new dimension (in my view) when soloing.
Yeah I know my modes and stuff. I never thought to do that though...thanks a lot :thumb:

[Kobaia]

Pentatnoics, i know it sounds basic, but learn all of the pentatonic modes

[FunkMetalBass]

Listen when you play. If the note sounds off, you're only a fret away from the right note that is in key. Really, just listen. Ears are a musician's best friend.

[Kobaia]

Listen when you play. If the note sounds off, you're only a fret away from the right note that is in key. Really, just listen. Ears are a musician's best friend.
but why guess and check and why not just know whats going on?

[FunkMetalBass]

but why guess and check and why not just know whats going on?

But seriously, who has time to think about the modes and all of that theory when you are improvising? One of the best things about jazz is that no note is wrong and playing out of key still sounds good. Chromatics are big in jazz, so basically any note sounds good. That's when you use your ears. Don't hold a note that sounds out of place.

[JBass]

But seriously, who has time to think about the modes and all of that theory when you are improvising? One of the best things about jazz is that no note is wrong and playing out of key still sounds good. Chromatics are big in jazz, so basically any note sounds good. That's when you use your ears. Don't hold a note that sounds out of place.

not entirely true, it's always good to know what key so you can at least fall back on something. when you mess up it sounds worse if you just stop playing, so you need to keep playing and knowing where you can go can get you out of some tough situations. plus its not all that mental, i dont even think when i do it its just become a part of my playing

[FunkMetalBass]

Well, you're talking to a guy who already knows his theory. I guess it's all subconscious thought to me now.

[JBass]

Well, you're talking to a guy who already knows his theory. I guess it's all subconscious thought to me now.

true i guess im the same way, but always know exactly what key/mode im playing in so i know what will sound good without trying, then you can mix them with pentatonics for a funk/jazz feel

[katana_manatee]

The professional jazzers know their scales and chord/scale substitutions so well that they don't have to think about them any more. You have to try and relate particular scales to certain chords.

For example when soloing over a dominant 7th chord, you can solo within the mixolydian scale of the root of the chord. Or use another scale that contains the notes of the root, third, fifth and seventh. Just analyse your chord and see what notes it contains and compensate by using a scale containing those notes. Don't be too scared of using chromatics here but don't use them too often.

I suggest you get Bunny Brunel's Power Bass Soloing Secrets book, it is a real eye (and ear) opener. :thumb:

[Spaceman Spiff]

Just play really fast with distortion and don't worry about staying in key.

I learned that from Billy Sheehan's Bass Soloing Secrets book...

[Naveed Afzal]

learn to play the melody of the tuner, and play off of it, that way you learn the tune, and have somethin to solo off of.

In jazz music, its you cant tell what key a song is in really by key signatures, and roots of chords, alot of time the chords hold notes that sound sour in regular scales, so you'll need to modulate and sometimes one mode, or one scale wont do the trick, also ive notice alot of tunes have roots that are 4ths of the chord before it, just something to think about.

[led_zeppelin5022]

Thanks everyone you've all be great help :)

[EADG]

Just play really fast with distortion and don't worry about staying in key.

I learned that from Billy Sheehan's Bass Soloing Secrets book...


Whatever, everyone knows he stole that technique from Cliff Burton.

[Az_Holl]

Apart from he started doing it before Cliff...