Playing Solo

woyvel · #1 09-11-2010, 09:14 PM

I'm looking for good standards that will sound "full" being played solo, but not too challenging. I'm no Lenny Breau, so playing a bass line, chords, and melody that offer counterpoint are difficult, especially when trying to improvise after stating the melody. "ATTYA" doesn't sound full to me without accompaniment, but something like "Misty" is a good solo song that has chords, bass and melody going in the same direction. I really don't like the Joe Pass style of staccato chords with quick fills between them. Thoughts anyone?

4thstuning · #2 09-12-2010, 09:27 AM

Without hearing you it's hard to make good suggestions. Maybe listing some solo tunes you're already comfortable with will give people fodder for helpful suggestions.

ATTYA can be done solo just using standard grips as the chord roots will provide a decent bass line. It's also possible to solo without a lot of counterpoint, just play lines and hit intervals and triads that function as harmonic reference points along the way - this need not be done the Joe Pass way of block chords interspersed with long single lines (that's really an unfair characterization of Pass, he was much more complete that that but his "Virtuoso" album did do a lot in that style - very hip at the time though).

Reg · #3 09-12-2010, 09:31 AM

Ballads are always easy to start with... until you build up solo technique, collection of tools. I dig playing Brazilian tunes because theirs always a montuno or line cliche for pulse.
"Night and Day" is easy,
Alone Together
Bye Bye Blackbird
Sandu is good for a blues
Gental Rain
Girl Talk
Have you meet Miss Jones
Here's that rainy Day
Wes's Road Song
Stella's cool
Pretty much any of old standards...
As far as Pass... listen to him again when your able to cover...
I'm a pro... I don't memorize chord solos... I know most of the tunes, and simple play in solo style when that's the gig. Over the years you become able to voice any melody on top, middle etc... while your comping or sight reading a new tune. But you do have to start the process of being able to cover. Start with standards or tunes you know... It doesn't take that long... Best Reg

mr. beaumont · #4 09-12-2010, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by woyvel

"ATTYA" doesn't sound full to me without accompaniment, but something like "Misty" is a good solo song that has chords, bass and melody going in the same direction.

I don't get this...root position chords will give you a bassline, a few inversions will help it move. There's no shortcuts--any song can sound "full" if it's arranged properly.

woyvel · #5 09-12-2010, 01:41 PM

Thanks for the input guys. To me ATTYA just begs for a constantly moving moving bass line. I know the melody and chords, but I have a hard time handling all 3 the way I "think" it should sound.

Yes, I was referring to the "Virtuoso" album, and I've heard other JP, accompanied, with out the chord "spits" as I call them. However I like the melody line to be recognizable and not hidden. "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" melody sticks out like a sore thumb (in a good way).

This may be hard to understand, but for example, I've listened to countless renditions of "...Miss Jones" and I have a hard time finding the melody unless it's sung.

PaulD · #6 09-12-2010, 05:39 PM

You might consider looking into Martin Taylor's Guitar Academy if you're trying to learn solo guitar playing. He has tons of material to help your solo guitar playing sound full.

As for ATTYA, check out Earl Klugh's version on his "Naked Guitar" album. No walking bassline, but very full sound with other moving voices.

Paul

woyvel · #7 09-12-2010, 06:09 PM

Ya know, I have to admit, I just tried ATTYA again and it sounded better than I remember it. Probably just different voicings. I will have to check out Earl Klugh's version.

I just decided to really "go solo" about a year ago because I just haven't been able to hook up with any musicians in my area, and I want to play out again. I think the best way to expand my solo ability is to be able to do "jazz standards" in a solo environment, but I also play pop/rock (as chord melodies) and atmospheric music in the solo context.

SteveCarter · #8 09-12-2010, 09:45 PM

I think you have the right idea about "going solo." In the 12 years since I resigned from teaching guitar at Berklee, most of my gigs have been solo. The economy just makes that a reality. That said, I've also played plenty of great duo, trio, quartet, etc. gigs. But there's a discipline to solo playing that makes you a stronger player, and once you have that strength, I think you'll find yourself more in demand for gigs with various groups.

I've posted a ton of stuff on my site that I think is helpful for guitarists pursuing solo gigs, including lots of sound clips. Check it all out, and if you have detailed questions. send them on to me and I'll try to help.

Steve

derek · #9 09-13-2010, 09:27 AM

Imo, solo develops you like nothing else does. While I miss the interplay with other musicians when I play solo, there is a freedom there, and a sense of responsibility since you are the only instrument. Lots of fun to do. Good luck with it.

Russ Kapp · #10 09-27-2010, 09:37 PM

+1 to all the upside advantages to solo playing I've read here....I call what I do each weekend at a local seafood house, " Piano Bar Guitar ".....

derek · #11 09-28-2010, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ Kapp

+1 to all the upside advantages to solo playing I've read here....I call what I do each weekend at a local seafood house, " Piano Bar Guitar ".....

I have always referred to it as sonic wallpaper.

jseaberry · #12 09-28-2010, 11:05 AM

"Polkadots and Moonbeams", "I'm Old Fashioned" "Yesterdays", "Darn That Dream", "You Don't Know What Love Is" all have chord/melody relationships that lay well on guitar.

jayv999 · #13 09-28-2010, 02:53 PM

Go for songs that have a lot of melody notes, so that will keep everything moving and won't require that you add a lot of walking bass lines, etc. Avoid songs with melodies that linger on for a whole measure or more unless you fell good about filling in the background with chord movements, etc.
--Jay

Dutch Courage · #14 09-28-2010, 04:02 PM

Quote:

I've posted a ton of stuff on my site that I think is helpful for guitarists pursuing solo gigs, including lots of sound clips. Check it all out, and if you have detailed questions. send them on to me and I'll try to help.

That's a very nice website Steve with lots of good stuff to keep us busy for a while. Tnx for sharing!

Russ Kapp · #15 09-28-2010, 05:20 PM

Amen, Derek....I have also referred to my style and live music situation to folks that are curious about solo players as " sonic wallpaper " thanks to reading it from your pen first on this WONDERFUL forum. I can't tell you enuff how VALUABLE this site has been for me as we often insanely follow the Muse!

markf · #16 09-28-2010, 05:45 PM

I have a roland guitar synth gr 20.

all problems of not enough sound, disappear.

If you want add to that a looper, and you can sound like a band.

not Joe Pass or Lenny style but I don't have the time, talent, or patience to get that good.

it's disparaged and frowned upon by purists, but

It's fun, and it works.

morroben · #17 09-28-2010, 06:28 PM

Quote:

To me ATTYA just begs for a constantly moving moving bass line. I know the melody and chords, but I have a hard time handling all 3 the way I "think" it should sound.

I'm certainly no expert and I've only been at the chord-melody thing for a short time, but I've had a lot more success since I've started viewing it as bass-melody with some chord tones, rather than chord-melody with a bass line. YMMV

SteveCarter · #18 09-28-2010, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dutch Courage

That's a very nice website Steve with lots of good stuff to keep us busy for a while. Tnx for sharing!

That stuff has kept me busy for quite a while -- and still does!

Steve

wkriski · #19 09-29-2010, 09:37 AM

I'm creating simple chord melody arrangements for that very reason on a new website. I just couldn't find any that were basic enough to get started. There's a free arrangement of Satin Doll with a 2 part video explanation.

I take basic, common jazz chords and find places to play the melody so that notes ring, and I use the standard chord progressions. This makes it easy to play and remember the arrangement, but then you can add embellishments to the basic framework, which I'll be getting into over time.

I do add a few chords here and there especially when one chord lasts for 2 bars. I have an arrangement for ATTYA but there's no moving bass lines for the most part in this basic version.

Many arrangements sound great but have a lot of chord additions, subs and reharmonizations, moving inner or bass lines making it difficult for most people to be able to play a song from beginning to end. I've looked at sites like lickbyneck, robert conti, galbraith arrangements and usually got frustrated with them.

markf · #20 09-30-2010, 06:06 PM

I didn't really give you a tune,'

an old tune that I think is pretty good, is "mean to me" I got the arrangement from Barney Kessel,

on one of the poll winners albums, the melody notes and chords make it pretty easy to sound good, with solo guitar, and you can find barney's arrangement, and learn that, as I did.

another nice tune, ballad, is

"you go to my head" which also has nice chords and melody, and works well, solo, billy holliday does a beautiful rendition.

another fantastic ballad which works well on solo guitar, is

"soul eyes" by Mal Waldron. beautiful melody, chords, I had to work a bit cause it's in eflat,

since my earlier response did not answer your question, maybe this helps a bit.

jmac · #21 09-30-2010, 06:19 PM

I know EXACTLY where you're at. "Mean to me" in G or F. "Tangerine" in F.

Get those two down and I'll give you more.

woyvel · #22 09-30-2010, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wkriski

I'm creating simple chord melody arrangements for that very reason on a new website. I just couldn't find any that were basic enough to get started. There's a free arrangement of Satin Doll with a 2 part video explanation.

I take basic, common jazz chords and find places to play the melody so that notes ring, and I use the standard chord progressions. .

Great site, Will! I think that's part of the key, to make the notes RING when playing solo, so that the melody is very recognizable. After all, it's the melody that always draws the listener first. I think many guitarists forget that, regardless of genre.

wkriski · #23 10-01-2010, 08:47 AM

Thanks! Yeah I can't tell you how many arrangements I bought or downloaded and had all sorts of issues and struggles, so I'm creating very basic ones so we can actually play full songs by ourselves with chords and melody. Some of them have so many chords and reharmonizations people can't recognize it, and students rarely completely learn any of them.

The other thing I want to avoid is the tendency to fill in gaps with fast melodic passages - I did a lot of that in my shred days

tbeltrans · #24 10-01-2010, 08:30 PM

Another interesting thread.

I enjoy playing solo guitar as a hobby. Being able to come home at night after work and just sit and figure out a chord melody solo is really an enjoyable past time. You don't have the hassles of having to go somewhere else to practice (which can be an issue in Minnesota in the winter) or deal with getting people to show up, etc. I know that can be rewarding, but as we get older, weAnother interesting thread.

I enjoy playing solo guitar as a hobby. Being able to come home at night after work and just sit and figure out a chord melody solo is really an enjoyable past time. You don't have the hassles of having to go somewhere else to practice (which can be an issue in Minnesota in the winter) or deal with getting people to show up, etc. I know that can be rewarding, but as we get older, we can often have less energy for that sort of thing after a full day's work. As for how I am approaching it, I covered that in the other thread on Conti. There are many approaches and it is interesting to see what others are doing.

Tony

2bornot2bop · #25 10-02-2010, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reg

Over the years you become able to voice any melody on top, middle etc... Best Reg

Being a piano player coming brand new to guitar this statement has me very curious.

Is it a common practice with guitar to voice melody lines as an inner voice rather than being THE top note of the voicing, or have I misunderstood your statement entirely?

The melody note is generally ALWAYS the top note of any voice at the piano. I'd appreciate any input on this as I'm attempting to learn an entirely new instrument.

Enjoy!

Jazzaluk · #26 10-02-2010, 08:57 AM

It is definitely possible to voice the melody anywhere in the chord, but in solo chord melody playing it is challenging to make the melody sing out as one of the middle voices. It requires attention to dynamics and technique to highlight the melody as a separate part. The volume and attack of the other voices need to be presented so they sound like they are layered behind the melody.

Moving the melody to a different voice is a good way to add interest to a chord melody arrangement. Some tunes lend themselves to this better than others. A good first step to start is by trying to place the melody in the bass line.