The No.1 Soloing Problem For Bass Players

This lesson addresses one of the biggest problems I see in students when trying to solo through chord changes. As bass players we deal with root notes of chords A LOT! So when it comes to that time to solo we automatically aim for the root note and then take it from there.
In this lesson we have an exercise that aims to shake you out of that habit by aiming for the other chord tones.
Lesson Material available here: www.talkingbass.net/the-no-1-s...
Visit www.talkingbass.net for more free online bass lessons, articles and downloads from Mark Smith and subscribe to receive the free Scale Reference Manual.
These Free Online Bass Lessons from Mark J Smith are released weekly so subscribe for updates and visit www.talkingbass.net for a complete lesson map and all the downloadable lesson material.

[@R.H160]

holy crap, god damn! thank you so much! I've been playing for like 16 years and because i don't solo that much I've always been terrible at it. and this is EXACTLY my problem. playing along with your video has given me an unprecedented level of bass solo freedom! i finally don't suck shit at bass solos. my brother even noticed haha

[@spiderxbass]

Simple stuff and at the same time super important. The way you explain the stuff is great. Really good advices, great job.

[@justinvandyke7781]

The #1 soloing problem for me is that when I take a solo, nobody is playing the bassline anymore

[@albertrd.9342]

I agree, it makes the song sound empty.

[@BazzTriton]

Yes,, yes

[@BazzTriton]

We must talk to the pianist,

[@magisterprimus7611]

ah ah ah ah I totally agree....I'm one of those!!! :-)

[@ciaranpmryan]

That’s usually why the guitar and drummer would ‘break it down’ over a bass solo. By them even simply accenting the first beat and doing nothing for the rest of the bar, it helps to shift the focus on the basssolo itself. Then, as they build the song back up it doesn’t sound so strange that there’s no bottom end bass line since people are already focussed on the bass solo.

[@kenmahinay5796]

2019 here and still very helpful... Thank you for this.

[@jonathantegnell9935]

For soloing, especially in jazz, I'd stress the importance of phrasing. That's almost more important than note selection. Avoid starting your phrase on the downbeat. Start your phrase late or early. Don't play a string of notes. Imagine them as discrete packages with air in between.

[@stanwellback]

Good point. A perfect example is Andy Fraser, particularly on the Fire and Water album by Free. The spaces he leaves silent work as well as the notes he plays. I learned a lot by listening to his bass lines.

[@davedave8608]

amen

[@grillosaint]

great class, very practical info

[@TheNicozappa]

wow! you're a great teacher! it's very difficult to get lost in your explanations!

[@itai666999]

unbelievable how much this lesseon changed my perspective on soloing. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

[@treylem3]

Great., very helpful as always Mark, thanks

[@acmullane]

nice post- just watched it and lashed out a solo I've been struggling on for weeks, many thanks, subbed

[@gerardpaulthompson600]

SIMPLY THE BEST..GREAT GREAT GREAT. THANK YOU SIR

[@apolinariofontiveros6196]

Very informative and helpful for a beginner like me thank you

[@bassman4588]

Great lesson! Thank you Mark!

[@austinjohnson9706]

You are by far the best bass guitar teacher on this platform. Thanks for what you do

[@kasthebass]

Great lesson; i play bass for nine years and have my chops going on, but this lesson really takes me further, thanks!

[@sebbe91]

Great upload, this was an eye-opener for sure!

[@Purpleskyshorizon]

Great lesson as always Mark!

[@arysthideschitomba]

im Angolan and I like follow ur channel just to watch ur amazing lesson... God bless u

[@handychandra6238]

You open my left brain in playing bass. Great understanding

[@earlgarcia6106]

This is great! We use to not allow each other to play the root during a solo...then a 3rd and so on..gets you out of usual patterns your hands fall into

[@JT-hx6nt]

Nicely done there Mark, thank you... nice little 'crawl, walk, run' exercise...

[@NeilAnthonyMansueto]

I really like the way you teach. Thank you.

[@jameskyle3466]

This is brilliant, this is an issue I face not only in soloing, but writing interesting lines in general.

[@MC-ep8cu]

You are the best teacher on youtube

[@user-zt2wc3uh1l]

Nice solo at the end...very colorful and melodic.

[@RootsBassCanada]

thank you! Imma try this in our next rehearsal.

[@dirtydex]

This was extremely useful. Much appreciated.

[@Fili2009able]

Hola Putin como estas amigo Ruso

[@brentolsenthanksformaking2528]

Thank you for your teaching

[@aaronboelbaai7813]

great lesson...thanks

[@Ream359]

thank you... help me a lot

[@richardburchett]

I had a teacher of your caliber for just one year in college, a true jazz bassist with a great knowledge of both the instrument technique and music theory. I wish I had more time with him, but I learned that growing as a player meant having a short explanation of proper knowledge followed by a lifetime of practice and application. Thankfully there were plenty of opportunities to try to put it in practice. I think the most enlightening thing you said here was that after familiarity with the chord tones, the trick is coming up with melodic phrases that use those different tones as starting and ending points. I can't wait to try to put that approach into practice. Maybe in another 20 years I can reach another level of playing.

[@zeilenschinder]

Mark delivers the "short explanations of proper knowledge" in spades. Now I just need the perseverance to put them into practice.

[@Fenitoina1]

Great help!!!

[@Flo-hs8uc]

Great job mate!

[@ljgarrison6910]

This is good information. Nice.

[@adityas7091]

Mark, any lesson recommendations for learning positioning, articulation and sound identification on fretless bass? I just started playing it, and I feel like you taking a lesson would make things very clear to me. Thanks!

[@michaelmendola5246]

You’re awesome bro !,,

[@Airconcleaner]

tnx, very helpful.

[@Pablito_gonzalez]

amazing man ! podrias explicar algo sobre el fraseo de melodias vocales en el bajo ?

[@gussug7658]

very helpful

[@shawnhuff3597]

one word jaco great bassist for this learning lesson

[@TheGrahamBrechin]

what bass are you using in this video? sounds good

[@jodi183]

Find ii-V-I bebop licks that work on the bass, then practice them from memory in all twelve keys starting slow & increasing speed so that you don't have to think about it. Practice them in song forms using them over those ii-Vs (blues is a good start). These progressions are in every jazz standard. This way of practice, using licks, is very "academic" but eventually your ear will hear those bebop lines and you will be able manipulate them into your own sound. Otherwise, you really aren't really using the jazz language. This takes a lot of time, I've been working on this, and it has helped my playing a lot. Also transcribe bass solos that you like (Paul Chambers, Oscar Pettiford are good starts). And memorize them. Practicing with guide tones is a good way to internalize changes, but you won't get too far with your solos. Learning the bebop language will open up your solo playing & you won't get lost in the changes. The majority of the great players, even the modern ones learned the language this way. Once you start using it you hear it in nearly every solo.

[@jonaspalaperichter2203]

very very !!! GOOOOD !!!

[@daprofemusicstickers]

good info

[@carlosvillarroel6665]

The lesson is very usefull, thank you. But how to develop vocabulary on bass solo (Improvisation, scales, articulation, modes, Rythm Changes, intervalic jumps, Arpeggios... i know that but i still feel that my vocabulary is very poor) any tip, advice or trick?. Cheers master.

[@heryperez7379]

Dude you're sick!

[@yahweexalts8307]

Best teacher I ever met but try to show closely the fretboard

[@gerardthompson1]

GREAT

[@kofosuonbass]

It’s Mark’s colourful solo at the end for me!

[@killmeorikillyou1]

I'd like to see more slap lessons, if possible. May be breaking down a few popular difficult slap riffs? Or some advanced techniques for improvisation.

[@chirshidalgo2998]

Can you mix the root with 3rds with 5th and 7th in the same line or do you have to keep playing the same pattern? Thank you.

[@SawyerPvP]

Chirs Hidalgo you most definitely can mix them!

[@progmind4274]

If a bass player has problem with solos there are three reasons for this: 1. Never studied triads arpeggios, scales, modes (harmonic min and melodic min are unknown, like diminished and esatonal or Bach armonic major mode...) in all positions of freatboard, using all tonalities! 2. Never studied rhythmic variations on scales excerpts, so the hands never can create an intersting "rhythm pattern", even using a single note of chord; 3. The most important thing if You want play a good solo is.... EARING OTHERS MUSICIANS AND LEARNING SOLO LANGUAGE, TRANSCRIBING SOLO LINES AND PLAY THAT SOLO EVERY DAY, SEARCHING FOR LITTLE VARIATIONS IN THAT SOLO!!!! Music is a language, and like a child We must learn this language hearing the great soloists and writing scores of those solos... If You walk this way EVERYDAY (scales, chords, arpeggios, technique developement, hearing solos) You can play good solo lines in only three years (not at the same level of Jaco, La Faro, Mingus, Chambers, Mc Bride, Feraud, Deidda or Sheenan, Wooten etc....!!!! :-) :-) :-)) But your hands and your mind can created solid and melodic solo's ideas.... If You believe that after playing Emmaj7 scale and arpeggio at 150bpm (16th) You can make solo line You are crazy... Technique and harmonic knowledge is 60% of your problems... 40% is learning the language of great soloists, and after that your mind and your hands can make good things!!! Sorry for my English, I don't practice english technique with metronome everyday!!!! :-) :-) :-)

[@RootsBassCanada]

so would it be okay to start soloing on the 2nd, 4th, or 6th as well?

[@SawyerPvP]

RootsBassCanada it might sound dissonant because they're not harmonies like the root, third, and fifth are, but if you like the way the sound...play them! Certain out-of-key notes sound great thrown into a bass riff too, like the flat fifth. Not sure I'd start the solo on it though

[@ronHpyrotech]

@TalkingBass do you have a lesson on modes? This is an exercise in your modes. I maj, II min, III min, IV maj, V dom, VI min, VII 1/2 dim . You're playing all of the scales within a key starting on the root, then the 2nd to 2nd, 3rd to 3rd, 4th to 4th, etc. the key is that, well you're in the same key that the root is. That's how you can learn all of the scales within one key. Mark, really enjoy your lessons, torturing myself with muted palm slaps, ghost notes, double thumbing, and all that fun. Love your lessons.

[@BKF0]

The biggest problem I have is running out of fretboard (I play a 20-fret Jazz bass)

[@samlawrence7040]

+Firstname Lastname Same

[@darksoulmetal1255]

+nemo227 interesting. It's almost as if all uprights don't have frets.

[@darksoulmetal1255]

+nemo227 true. I'm gonna google it.

[@Spazzsticks]

+nemo227 thus your upright has no bounds *wink* ;)

[@AlpanBass]

jaco he was playing with 20frets bass

[@reubenreedsanderson3301]

It's hard to hear your bass. Can you turn it up for future videos?

[@faceitnow7936]

I signed up but it won't axcept my password. i tried twice.Can you tell me what's up with that.Perhaps I did something wrong.BUT I don't think so. I tried twice and it told me there was already someone with that e-mail already signed up?????

[@leocomerford]

4:56 A bloody pox on Trivago. D:

[@bigbeartholomew9148]

Just to save our own sanity ! Loll

[@johelgoni9438]

Why your pickups have a light?

[@mr.doddlydodo3332]

Johel Goñi I was wondering the same thing

[@intoxicatedozzy4662]

Why couldn't you be my music theory teacher in high school?!

[@ryublesky5829]

Please volume up bass sound !!! It is difficult to listen bass sound

[@ljpagbe]

Use headphones...

[@rebkong]

your right hand is driving me nuts

[@kdt85]

iron sheik how so?

[@js4512]

Is it just me, or does that bass need a setup ? All I hear all lesson long is buzz buzz buzz.....14 th fret d string buzz drives me nuts!!!!

[@Veni_Vidi_Vortice]

Good lesson Mark, but the enjoyment factor was somewhat spoiled by the sound of buzzing frets which made me wince at times. Your guitar tech guy could fix that for you quite easily if you mention it to him next time you visit.

[@alexhamilton4084]

What's this obsession with 7th chords on these bass lesson videos? And why are most bass player/teachers obsessed with Jazz, Funk, etc? Why no lessons for rock or blues bassists? Not budding every bass player likes Jazz or Funk.

[@kellnola]

better learn to :)

[@mertuzun3125]

you certainly look like patrick from coupling i guess lol

[@talkingbasslessons]

Ben Miles plays bass

[@fg87fgd]

My biggest soloing problem: Does the music actually require a bass solo at all?

[@cuervorockero]

Norbert Vossiek why not? that's the question to ask mate 😉

[@talkingbasslessons]

Norbert Vossiek I think this brings up an important point. Remember that when we're discussing stuff like solo improvisation we're often talking about jazz and jazz related styles. I know there are a lot of rock/metal/funk/country players out there watching these videos and wondering "what's the point of bass solos". It's rare you're going to have to weave an improvised solo through a bunch chord changes in some of those other styles. That said, if you are interested in learning to improvise then jazz is an obvious path of study.

[@cuervorockero]

TalkingBass - Online Bass Lessons great answer. I'm a rock bassist my self and here I am learning from you. I would like to see what you could do on rock. I have the same bass as you and getting the darkglass microtube 900 in a bit. please do a video on more heavy stuff of the spectrum. you have been helpful to many of us. thank you

[@iamabodybuiilder8427]

I love rock music. I am going to post some videos on my channel showing how to play rock basslines.

[@juanmanuelroman8377]

Arts require nothing. Play whatever you want and let's see what happens. You don't like it? Sounds like shit? Well, don't do it again if you don't want to.

[@visog]

Really!? I thought the no. 1 biggest problem is that they do it.

[@kevinturvey8213]

the no 1 problem is that no-one actually wants to hear a bass solo...

[@ctdvargas]

This man seems perpetually annoyed that he has to do simplistic shit like this for us dummies all the while having professional level schooling and talent.. This would be like a physicist teaching kids in middle school long division or pre algebra. MInd numbing to say the least, but we appreciate it though!!!!

[@BigJoenads]

All his basses are so ugly 😢

[@talkingbasslessons]

Really!? I get people not liking the Ibanez but everybody loves the P bass and the Jazz is a Marcus Miller sig edition. If you don't like that then I have no answer!

[@camerongraham1346]

Did you really have to make that comment?

[@David_Ralte.]

Really? Lets see what you got then...