In so many jazz workshops I have been told the 'proper' way to solo over changes, including Giant Steps, which I think every musician can appreciate as challenging. However, my being a self-taught musician, I decided to one day utilize my own 'home-grown' technique to navigate the tune, and I eventually recorded this rendition.

The recording was done at my home studio, and took around 4 hours to record, and about 10 days to master. All solos are in real time, and I did the synth guitar takes first, leaving spaces for the bass solos which I later added.

The technique is a combination of pentatonic majors and minors, mixed with slides, hammer-ons and pull offs. Also, I approach a line vertically in 3rds, which gets me to 'places' on the neck quicker and allows me to conceptualize the layout of the fretboard in patterns.

When I play the synth guitar, I maintain my 'bass fingering' on both the right and left hands. In other words, I play the synth guitar as I would the bass; therefore, as I solo I never use the high B and E strings. I find this MUCH easier to navigate since I know where certain 'patterns' are located on the lower four strings of the snyth guitar.

I have played bass as a hobby for about 18 years. I recently switched to synth guitar around 3 years ago. Now, however, I cross between the two according to the demands of my own personal studio projects. I am only a serious-hobbyist on the bass and have never really played professionally at all. I just enjoy the spirit of the instrument and the joy it brings me. Enjoy!