Guitar and Bass

[michigan]

Good people,
Looking for some advice/direction here.
I have played guitar for several years, and can play pretty well. I am starting to understand theory well, but, I have never played with anyone. Anway, I have a buddy who is 10 months along learning bass.
We try to jam together, and do all right, but often run into a standstill, and don't have much to play.
Could anyone point me in the right direction to becoming a tight 2 man bass and guitar duo? What kind of drills or routines could we go through to improve our timing and improvisation with one another? We do alot of 12 bar blues and variations, but I can't solo too well, and that gets old after a while. What are the most important things for the bassist to know when playing and improvising during songs?
I guess what I'm saying is "How do a guitarist and bassist jam out together?"
Hope this query finds someone willing to help.
thanks!

[MahlerGrooves]

As a bassist, I have had that same problem a lot. He should be totally fluent in all modes and scales including pentatonic and whole tone.

Also, look at some oldies like '50's and '60's music. Those songs rely heavily on a solid bassline with standard chords.

I would also try to branch out into some jazz. Pat Matheny (sp?) has a few good tunes with just himself and a bassist, and the old bass masters like Milt Hinton and Mingus would be a good addition to a listening list.

Also, I would just add some cool basslines to the DMB songs we all know and love so much. For example, you could play crash, but have him play the line that usually covers the bottom two strings while you just sit on the main chord (this wil lalso help the hand stretch factor).

With a good bassist and a good guitarist, almost anything is possible. All you need is a little experimentation and a firm grasp on theory and you should be in for hours of fun playing together!

Have fun and good luck!

[jeffro]

SRV and Hendrix played usually with just Drums and Bass so some of their stuff should work well.

[i am sam2]

timing can be improved by working with a metronome. just put it on a beat and just go. if you can make a cool groove with guitar, bass, and metronome, youre rolling, cuz adding a (good) drummer can only make it better. 12 bar blues stuff is great to practice timing...maybe record it, even if its with something simple, to hear yourself, that can be some of the most important help you can get, hearing yourself.

improving just comes wth experience, you cant "learn" improv, because that wouldnt be improv, but you can practice it.

also, the more you play together the more youll know each other musically and be able to just feel what the other is going to play, and feed off of that.

[mrjones]

leo kottke and the bassist from phish, mike something have a pretty sweet little group, just acoustic guitar and bass. you should check them out

[i am sam2]

leo kottke and the bassist from phish, mike something have a pretty sweet little group, just acoustic guitar and bass. you should check them out

gordon. yeah i heard about them but have never checked them out...

[MahlerGrooves]

anyone know any of their tunes I should dl to get a flavor for their stuff?