BASS
OFF THE CUFF | Gary Lunn
Lately, people have been asking me to make performance videos of songs I play on in my home studio. I have a hard time doing this sometimes because I don’ t remember every subtle thing that I played the last time I played a song. So, I have to go back and learn what I did. This process takes significantly longer than it did when I originally played the song! One reason for this is that most of the things that I play are spontaneous, or“ off the cuff.”
Apparently, this saying originated in the late 1800s or early 1900s, when actors and politicians gave impromptu speeches or delivered lines. Men at that time often wore detachable cuffs on their shirts, and they would write notes on the insides of them. Then, they would read them off the inside of their cuffs to have the appearance of being well prepared, when in fact, they were referring to cheat notes in their clothing. However, nowadays this term describes something done without preparation or forethought. Being unrehearsed, as musicians, it means playing whatever first comes to our hands that we are initially inspired to play. Of course, this does not take into account the hours, days, and years we spent learning our instrument!
The influence that the bass has on music is so powerful and significant. It can sound so different, as well as shape a whole chord. It can influence the heartbeat of a song, it can speak to or play along with the melody of a song, or it can thunderously add shock value to a song. What a wonderful thing to think that a single, four, five, or six-stringed instrument can do all of that, and we get to play it!
The most important thing you can do as you spontaneously create bass lines is to listen to the lead vocal. As you become familiar with the way a melody ebbs and flows, you will find that it has repeating patterns. Once you learn where the spaces are between melodic phrases, you will be more aware of the places to do subtle connecting runs and quick, melodic ideas.
With that said, I’ ve been watching some really great videos on social media by bass players who are groovin’ hard with a band, until suddenly, they lean their head back and play an answering run that is so impressive, you wonder whether or not it was spontaneous!
There is really only one way to be able to do this. You must listen to and copy other solos. Not just bass solos, but anything that you can master, either by ear, by reading music, or both. I find that it’ s easier to commit something to memory by learning other solos by ear, one phrase at a time. If you can’ t figure out what the notes are, sometimes you just have to find a transcription, a tab, a video, or a combination of all of those choices to learn it. After that, commit to memory. Then it will become a part of your solo library that you WILL draw from at some point in your future. This will require a lot of practice hours for analysis, but this time spent is an investment! Every time you learn a solo, you grow. Every time you play a solo, you grow.
Soloing at the appropriate time can musically move the spirit within the worship, but solos typically are rare in today’ s worship music. That’ s why you need to be prepared for them when they happen. You need to acquire knowledge of chord spelling and maintain great rhythm. That solo library that I mentioned will help a lot, too. It’ s also important to have an appropriate tone ready to“ dial up.” Make sure that it’ s a tone that you can go to quickly. It needs to be a sound that speaks to you as you play, so that you are continually inspired. And don’ t use that sound unless you are soloing. Save it for the moment! As you solo, continue to maintain sensitivity to what’ s happening in the band and the room. As bass players, we have to listen to both.
Always remember the basic importance of the job that you were called to. Do it with neverending excellence and consistency! God will bless the work of your hands!
Gary Lunn Gary is a session player / producer / writer in Nashville, TN. He does home recording, plays many recording session accounts, and attends Grace Church( gracechurchnashville. com) in Franklin, TN. Please follow his pro page on Facebook( grvmeister) or Instagram(@ grvmeister) facebook. com / grvmeister instagram. com / grvmeister
90 February 2026 Subscribe for Free...