Help with composing and recording.

[h2so4]

well i am a bass player and interested in doing some solo stuff of my own, but the thing is i plan to use only bass, how would i compose pieces for that and how would i arrange them when mixing the tracks after recording?

 

[Pete Thomas]

Do you mean completely solo bass? No drum or percussion loops?

I'd recommend looking into ways of getting the most versatility out of the bass - if possible get a 5 string. Some effects (pedals or recording effects) would be good. Slapping and other styles would be useful.

It might also be useful to get a delay loop box thingy so you can try things out live, building up stuff over your own riffs looped.

 

[h2so4]

i do use those things except i dont use a five string i hate them. i use two four strings, a stand up, and a six string, but yes i will mainly be using bass with some drum loops and sax solos from my friends and music buddies, i also have way too many effects that i dont use since my old bebop group and already slap way toooooo much.

 

[Bobby G]

Hi h2so4. Have you heard Percy Jones play bass? He uses a fretless, and pops a lot of very high harmonics which he slides up or down, or applies a very wide and fast vibrato to the harmonic. Sounds nice with a bit of chorus effect.

Cheers, Bob

 

[h2so4]

Thats sounds cool, i ve never tried anything like that before.

 

[Bobby G]

The technique for sliding harmonics is to play it and immediately 'fret' it (even though you are playing fretless). The harmonic should continue to ring and you will be able to move it around...

I've heard Percy Jones doing this with Brian Eno on the Another Green World album, no doubt he does it elsewhere.

Cheers, Bob

 

[number11]

if you got a little scratch, go get yourself a cool multi-fx pedal. You could add octaves and a little drive, you could instantly have a million more tones, sounds, everything it's great.