How much is too much?

So lately I've been wanting to add a little more excitement to my playing when I play for our church. Now I know in a church setting the music isn't about being fancy and technical because the focus isn't supposed to be on you, but our other bass player does some pretty sweet stuff without making himself noticed and it really has inspired me to try more. So my question is, when does something become overdone (or pretty much a solo) because of how different it is and how do you know how close to stay to the original line?

EX: If the chords are G, C, Em, D then the basic thing I would play is this.


G[----------------[----------------[----------------[----------------]
D[----------------[----------------[----------------[----------------]
A[----------------[-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3[-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7[-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5]
E[-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3[----------------[----------------[----------------]
B[----------------[----------------[----------------[----------------]


And to make it more fancy.

G[----------------[----------------[----------------[----------------]
D[----------------[----------------[-----------9----[----------------]
A[---------------2[-3-3-2-3-5-3-2-3[-7-7-5-7-10-10-7[-5-5-5-5-7-5-3-5]
E[-3-3-3-3-2-3-5--[----------------[----------------[----------------]
B[----------------[----------------[----------------[----------------]


That's just a quick example I came up with on the spot. So my question is, is that too out there? Where is the line of still fitting with the music and not pretty much becoming a solo? How do you tell? Do you guys have any tips on how to keep moderation but still make it unique?

Well, looking at just one line doesn't mean much. It's not about how complex one "chord cycle" is, but whether there's a constant groove or not.

A good example is the bass line in Factory of Faith. The bass line could be a solo, but because it is repeated more or less the same over each "cycle" it's a groove.



So, as long it's a repeated groove, it can be as complex as you wish. Just make sure you leave enough room for all the other instruments.

Well what the other instruments are playing is pretty straight forward just the chords, that's where my concern comes in. Does that make it too flashy?

I love doing little more than occasionally throwing in thirds and fourths.

It shouldn't be too flashy. As long as you still have room and it feels good, it's not too flashy.