jackajesusfreak
03-08-2009, 07:48 PM
I'm 55 years old and have been playing 6 string acc and/or electric since I was 11 years old. About a month ago the praise band leader at our church asked me if I could play bass for the new band we started at our new campus. I accepted the challenge. Now, I've used a pick for 44 years and now I'm trying to learn how to play without one. My question is, does anyone use a pick to play bass, and if so, do they make a special pick for a bass? Sorry for the ignorance, but I'll never know if I don't ask. Thanks.
Jack :bassist:
73jbass
03-09-2009, 09:32 PM
A simple search would give you plenty of answers.No need to post the same question in 5 different threads.
Projectile
03-09-2009, 09:38 PM
I'm 55 years old and have been playing 6 string acc and/or electric since I was 11 years old. About a month ago the praise band leader at our church asked me if I could play bass for the new band we started at our new campus. I accepted the challenge. Now, I've used a pick for 44 years and now I'm trying to learn how to play without one. My question is, does anyone use a pick to play bass, and if so, do they make a special pick for a bass? Sorry for the ignorance, but I'll never know if I don't ask. Thanks.
Jack :bassist:
Yes, tons. I'm amazed that you have never seen a bassist use a pick. It's quite common actually. A couple of companies make picks that are designed for bass, but most bassists just use regular heavy guitar picks. Generally you want to use a fairly thick/stiff pick. How thick is up to you. Around 1mm is a good place to start.
Hyper-sloth
03-17-2009, 09:35 AM
I'm 55 years old and have been playing 6 string acc and/or electric since I was 11 years old. About a month ago the praise band leader at our church asked me if I could play bass for the new band we started at our new campus. I accepted the challenge. Now, I've used a pick for 44 years and now I'm trying to learn how to play without one. My question is, does anyone use a pick to play bass, and if so, do they make a special pick for a bass? Sorry for the ignorance, but I'll never know if I don't ask. Thanks.
Jack :bassist:
Paul McCartney anyone? Also Sting played one quite a bit, Anthony Jackson has made much stellar music with a pick. Chris Squire of Yes. I use one about 20% of the time. If your sound is too "clicky" for the church, try a felt pick or a leather one. I like a thick stiff pick myself; I look for the clicky sound when I go for a pick.
CosmicRay
03-17-2009, 09:43 AM
Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead uses a pick, and so did the late Berry Oakley of the Allman Bros.
Both amazing bassists!
There is also a felt type of pick out there....but me, I pluck 'em
funkmangriff
03-17-2009, 09:46 AM
wahay! you've been promoted! congratulations!
if ur comfortable with the pick u got then keep using it, not sure if they make picks especially for bass, ive never looked, i just use a Dava pick from the guitar shop that i sometimes use.