Soloing On Bass Guitar

In this lesson I will show you the techniques I use for playing bass solo’s to hopefully help you write your own. So here goes.

Starting from the start you need some knowledge of scales. The most simple types of scale are major and minor and are played as follows: major à c to c with no sharps or flats (c, d, e, f, g, a, b, c or tone, tone, tone, semi-tone, tone, tone, tone, semi-tone). Minor à a to a with no sharps or flats (a, b, c, d, e, f, g, a or tone, tone, semi-tone, tone, tone, semi-tone, tone, tone). Here are some examples of major and minor scales:

C Major:
G|--------0-2-3-5-|
D|--0-2-3---------|
A|3---------------|
E|----------------|

E Major:
G|-----------------|
D|-------------1-2-|
A|-------0-2-4-----|
E|-0-2-4-----------|

F Major:
G|----------------|
D|----------0-2-3-|
A|----0-1-3-------|
E|1-3-------------|

C Minor:
G|--------0-1-3-5-|
D|--0-1-3---------|
A|3---------------|
E|----------------|

E Minor:
G|----------------|
D|------------0-2-|
A|------0-2-3-----|
E|0-2-3-----------|

F Minor:
G|----------------|
D|------------1-3-|
A|------1-3-4-----|
E|1-3-4-----------|

The usual technique for playing solos is to find out what key your song is in and then improvise or write notes from that scale over the backing music. When you play over chords you will need to know what chords are being played, and then play the notes in that chord. So if you are playing over a chord of c major then the notes in that chord are the ones, which will sound the best (c, e and g). You can still use other notes in the scale, but they will not sound as appealing as the chord notes.

Slap solos.
Nearly all of the bass solo's I've heard have included some slap in them. In case you're new to bass, slap is where you make a fist and hit the string with your thumb. There are a few ways to incorporate scales into a slap solo. One, which is the most obvious, is to play a normal solo but slap it. A few others include left hand taps (not actually plucking the note but bringing your finger down and making a sound) and index finger/thumb pops (pulling the string up and letting go creating a twanging sound). These techniques will make the solo sound faster, but will require more skill to make them sound good. Below is an example of a slap, pop, tap solo in e minor:

G|----------------------------|
D|-------------2-----2-2------|
A|---------3P2---3P2----------|
E|-0-0-2-2---------------X-3-0|
 S S S S P P T P P S P P

Another way to play a slap solo is to play the notes in a scale but slap another note in between them. This "offbeat" note can be in the scale or not. An example is shown below

(this is in a minor)
G|-----------------------------------------------|
D|----------------------------2------------------|
A|--0---2---3---2---0---2---3-----0---2---3p2p0--|
E|0---0---0---0---0---0---0-----0---0---0-------0|
 S P S P S P S P S P S P S P P S P S P S P S

With the last technique you can change the Es or whatever note you’re using for a dead note and it will sound just as good.

Tremolo slap.
This next technique I don't know the name for, when I thought it up I didn’t know of anyone else who did it so I named it myself as tremolo slap. It is a slap technique but it gives the impression of a tremolo pick on guitar. What you do is play the normal slap note, and then on the way back slap again with your fourth finger. If you can get this fast it will sound amazing with a minimal amount of effort. I suggest practising scales, but doing them with this technique to build up your speed.

Moving scales around.
The scales I gave as examples don't have to be played like I've shown them. These are just the basic majors and minors of notes. You can play around with these scales, try flattening the seventh of a minor scale for a bluesy sound, or flatten the seventh of a major scale for an even brighter sound. The possibility’s are only as limited as your imagination! Also, the scales don’t need to stay within these boundaries, you can move them up and down the fretboard as long as you stay within the notes of the scale. You can add accidentals to the solo but don't add too many as this will make it sound sloppy and in some cases may even put it in a different key!

Well that's all, I hope this inspires you to create better solo's and helps you in the process as well. Thanks for giving it a read!

Comments

[blu9999]

very helpful.

[blu9999]

victer wooten does "tremolo slaps" in alot of his solos.

[tcgmastr2k]

your scales are wrong. the next to the last note sounds sort of funny. example, c major, you have a b flat instead of a b.

[shmeegle]

bass pinch harmonics would be nice. If anyone could help me out id be delighted

[4-string-4-eva]

your scales are wrong

actually the major scales are right and the minor's are perfect minors as opposed to melodic or harmonic

[4-string-4-eva]

example, c major, you have a b flat instead of a b.

i just noticed that sorry everyone

[peroxidebasser]

good lesson.

[Iboseth]

Thanks

[IbanezPlaher]

umm... in the C major scale shouldent the g string be

g|---0-2-4-5--

??? i really dunno it just sounds better to me... i'm still trying to learn more...

[IbanezPlaher]

^^ oh.. its already been pointed out... oops.. lol... anyways i wouldent use the 0's i'd use the 5 on the lower string cause it get you used to the scale and will make it easier to move it around... Just a thought..

[4-string-4-eva]

the way iv put it is just a suggestion, it can be played anywhere you want it providing you keep to the right notes as i said at the end

[WindJammer]

just noticed that sorry everyone

WTF??? Someone TOLD you about that in UG contribution. You submitted this WHY? There is a fairly accurate post that sums of this lesson:

http://ultimate-guitar.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=167019

[timnoonan]

Thanx!

[4-string-4-eva]

WTF??? Someone TOLD you about that in UG contribution. You submitted this WHY? There is a fairly accurate post that sums of this lesson:

BECAUSE i was told after i submitted it. its a minor mistake, get over it

^ PM the user Dyuha with the correction; he'll be able to fix it for you. He fixed one of my lessons for me

[WindJammer]

Originally posted by 4-string-4-eva

BECAUSE i was told after i submitted it. its a minor mistake, get over it

Erm... it's actually NOT a minor mistake at all, because the users in that forum happen to tell you if your lesson's good or bad-- are you saying that it's minor that you submitted a deffective lesson?
Your lesson was never worthy of submission, and even if you HAD fixed that little mistake, it still wouldn't be worthy of submission.



Lastly, why did you bother to put it through that forum at all, if it wouldn't effect your lesson? AND, how did you "just notice that" if you put it through the forum and received that post (in the contribution forum) BEFORE these comments arose? That says that you didn't een consider the posts in that forum, and that you posted your thread for no reason at all.

[bivgyor]

im new here,i want to learn guitar.thats y i found u guys.can you u teach me how to play bass guitar?

[EET_FUK_BASS]

wow this was a vague and terrible lesson....next time read the comments in the submission forum dude

[ozzyomega]

well, i think there should be a complete lesson that just shows scales and teaches you generally about notes that harmonize. I'd love to but im not that great [hence why im on here looking at lessons]If anyone could do that it's kick arse!

[mangablade]

2 stars. you missed a LOT of things eg: pentatonics (sure theyre designed for 6 string guitar, but can just as easily be done on bass), improvising (most important aspect of bass solo's aside from keys imo), hammer ons/ pull offs etc. next time take people's advice wen writing a lesson, and dont.

[doonhamergal]

Thanks! I can do alot more on my bass now

[ADDbassFB]

mangablade you comment is crap i think you could keep your mouth shut a little more...im sure i could outplay you...good lesson dude...good for beginners

[funk-rocker]

yo ppl av bin totally lyk workin on funk lyk an av decided to work on some more indy/classic rock rhythms y'no lyk zeppers n jet. r these the scales i need to know to make up these kind o basslines?

[melissamaya]

thanks.

[mong12345]

hey you forgot 2 bass techniques i use a lot when soloing
pinch harmonics (you need a pick 4 this place the pick on the side of your thumb and below the string, pick the string and "catch" the string with your thumb followed by a vibrato. and the other technique is like i mentioned vibrato i'm sure you'll know that one if not google time!

[mong12345]

and i just remembered you can simply play the note and gently mute the string with your right hand to create a sort of progressive harmonic thingy anyway hope i don't sound like to much of a know-it-all i just got a great bass teacher!!!!!

[bass_4_life]

wow..uh...nice try bro..

[EarthBoundSoul]

Guess I was looking for a page of examples from well-known artists more or less. But for a beginner not too experienced in music theory, a good lesson.
One small mistake in a scale, but anyone with a set of ears can figure out it's a typo and actually start to think for themselves a little bit...which is unfortunately what some of you are going to have to do if you want to learn to write your own stuff (isn't tht the point here?) I know, life is rough.

[Deathblooms]

the major scales are completely wrong

[mong12345]

wow i talk bullsh*t

[Sepulnation]

Its OK! But there are SEVERAL mistakes in the scales...for eg:
C Major:
G|-----0-2-3-5-|
D|--0-2-3-----|
A|3-----|
E|-----| should have been
C Major:
G|-----0-2-4-5-|
D|--0-2-3-----|
A|3-----|
E|-----|
And many more errors!

[daviaac]

awesome thread guys very helpful especially for a beginner like myself

[4string-tsurigi]

it was very helpful. but do solos have to be scale-linked?

[Anari]

i thought it was helpful. im a noob and can already play some of byob thats kinda hard i guess. solos are hard for me. it depends on the kind of bass player i guess. good luck to all you guys and keep playing.

[kingfish494]

extremely helpful

[metalbassgod]

hey i'm a noob, kinda, been playing for about a year an a half, but i still feel lost in the abss world, i feel theres alot more I should know. if there are any experienced bass players with helpful lessons i'd love to hear from you, specially with soloing. email rebellious_subject_00@hot
mail.com

[guitarsolo_17]

haha for solos i just basically play random crap.....it usally comes out pretty good.....just use the root 5th and 8th notes for soloing.....it usally works.....

[austiniscool]

:M: very helpfull

[truckster]

one name ....CLIFF BURTON

[EmancipatedSoul]

I think all of you who are b*tch mouthing this whould shut up a bit more and get on with your lives. Why do you think its a lesson? Because its for beginners dumbass. Therefore, tell the guy about the mistakes and leave it at that. and all of you who are still pissed off can go jack of or something. Nice lessons man, good for beginners, even if there was one mistake, it wasnt a big one. Sweet

[RTBM]

i compleetly agree with EmancipatedSoul, cos every one will learn his/her own chops after a while.
It's not like you MENTALY F*CK someone up or sumtin!
it just proofs that 4-string-4-eva is learning, and is on his/her way to be a great musician

[Newmeegol]

wow..this lesson look hard. I must try this with my lovely bass. anyone who have any video lesson in slapping, tapping and scalling can give it to me? I really want to learn it. email me at [e-mail]

[Mario Augusto]

That's nice.I started to play bass 4 weeks ago...I dont know much. I tihnk solo is about impovisation...

[Patbuket]

i agree with EmancipatedSoul and RTBM, nice tab, those that are complaining need to STFU

[noahray]

"tremolo slapping" is actually called double thump, and if you had any idea how to do it you would at least know its name

[frazer666]

I dont get why people complain?
the guy gives up his time to do something and you just say "blah blah"
Don't Like what he says? make your own article!
Otherwise Very good Just a few minor errors but most people use their brains and change them well odne

[mr.lame]

Your c major scale should be 0-2-4-5 on the g string.

[mr.lame]

shmeegle :
bass pinch harmonics would be nice. If anyone could help me out id be delighted

^^ Haha that would be wierd. You'll have to have your bass distorted though to have that real pinch harmonic sound

[johnnynorwegia]

shmeegle wrote:

bass pinch harmonics would be nice. If anyone could help me out id be delighted

I can do them, theyre ****ing lame
Easy, but lame.

[johnnynorwegia]

you do them the same way you do on guitar

[SouthernBassist]

Yes, bass pinch harmonics are possible and quite easy, but pretty pointless unless your bass is highly overdriven...then it's STILL pointless. Don't worry about them. They don't sound nearly as good as a regular guitar pinch harmonic...they don't even sound as good as a dying cow.


...Which already doesn't sound good in case you didn't know.

[my_user_name]

SouthernBassist, yeah sure not many basists use pinch harmonics. I say the more you can do the better you are. You can play pinch harmonics on bass, and if you can do it a way that sounds good, then go and do it. Thats what would make you a good basist, if you started doing that it could create a whole new style of playing. The same idea goes for a bass solo. If you can shread on bass, it makes you all the better basist.

[marchofthepigs]

wow really helpful stuff on here guys

[bass7player21]

there's another lesson 4 slap and pop, it goes into much more detail, its a lot better if u dont know slap and pop.

[Wills Bradford]

Isn't C Minor:
G|-----0-1-4-5-|
D|--0-1-3-----|
A|3-----|
E|---- -|

and C Major:
G|-----0-2-4-5-|
D|--0-2-3-----|
A|3-----|
E|---- -|

If it's not just ignore me =D

[burnthemessage]

the technique you call tremolo slap is actually called double thumbing vicotr wooten uses that technique alot

[tswd]

burnthemessage wrote:

the technique you call tremolo slap is actually called double thumbing vicotr wooten uses that technique alot

That's not quite true. The double thumbing isn't slapping. It's using the thumb like a pic and going across the strings, not slapping them.

Here's a video on youtube of the technique he's describing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJnll6nUqT8

[ftcharlie]

tried some of these solos out with my band at this party gig, sounded so wicked.. thanks for the tips

[bobo121]

random i better get to this

[I LOVE BASS!]

i dont suppose you actually know how to do a cliff burton style solo plzzzzz

[I LOVE BASS!]

i dont suppose you could send me something teaching me to solo slightly jazzy and and a bit metal

[I LOVE BASS!]

**** you ****

[jhoanavelarde]

i do agree..c major must be
and C Major:
G|-----0-2-4-5-|
D|--0-2-3-----|
A|3-----|
E|---- -|

[frodo ladd]

Thnx

[corrda00]

as a metal player i don't find this very helpful but it helped me a bit

[knight havoc]

hey is there any way i can ask or send a request for somone to tab a song?

[jason1231]

cool riff =)

[magerx]

i don't understand :p

[dstryrwiz]

For pinch harmonics, if you're not using a pick (I prefer finger pick and slap over pickbass), then go to pop the string but as you're doing that, have the rest of your hand curl around the string and in a way push off the string with your pinky, as your popping the string. You will get the pinch harmonic effect, although unless your bass is highly distorted it won't sound too great. Do what you will with that piece of info, just felt like sharing it though because no one mentioned that way of producing a pinch harmonic on bass.

[KillerMaggot]

This helped ALOT!!!!!

[KillerMaggot]

This helped ALOT!!!!!

[Jake the Peg]

good article, although most of this stuff bassists can learn just by reading an article on soloing on a guitar. bass solos that go in gaps in a song, say about 2 bars long (like My Generation, the who) i just fart around on the right scale. i wouldnt really know how to solo for any longer than about 2-3 bars tho, i think everything would just fall apart lol

[ChemicalFire]

Too much emphasis on slap, slap is cool and awesome and all that. But you don't needit to make a good bass solo, just listen to the Bass solo on Deep Purple's Pictures of Home

[Drezzdez]

great cheers buddy