After 10 yrs...

[powderfinger]

Ive been playing a standard USA Fender P bass for about 10 yrs now. I play with my fingers and now I wish to also learn and become sound in playing with a pick as well.... many of my favorites play pick style, and Id like to be proficient in both styles.

I got a 2nd bass recently (good deal)... A Japanese Fender P Bass Aerodyne. For starters, what is a good guage string set to put on your bass when using a pick, and also what size pick??? Ive tried some thin ones and they break... some of the thicker ones are well... too thick. And action.. high? low?

Lastly, style wise... any basic pointers on holding the pick, and should you do up and down strokes evenly... I find myself doing mainly down strokes....

[MalcolmAmos]

I come to bass from rhythm guitar - so I started with a pick - which I've since abandoned for fingers, but, here is my take on picks. Picks are a personal thing and .........

They are cheap. Go get a handful - all different. Have an assortment of the thumb pick with the loop for the thumb. If you hold the back side of this pick with your index finger it can be up picked. As to up or down - when I used the thumb pick - on bass - I did down only.

As to thickness, I use a 2.5 to 3.0 mm. Grab a hand full of all different thicknesses some thumb and some plectrum and see which one you like the best. What I like may not fit your taste.

[powderfinger]

Any basic rules of thumbs regarding string guage??

[Ayliffe]

Originally Posted by powderfinger

Any basic rules of thumbs regarding string guage??

string gauge isn't a big issue with pick playing.

[Let It Fall]

Pick playing is much easier than fingerstyle. Grab a pick I like around 1 mm and start chugging. I had always held the pick a little different than most. I got it from my dad. Instead of holding the pick so that your using the pointiest side I use the top left of the pick, with the pointy end facing the bridge, I find it muh easier though I have always use it this way, I can't use it the other way I feel as though I get too far behind the string or too deep and it slows me down a buch.

[Oneirogenic]

For goodness sake check out the thread check out the thread on Carol Kayes picking technique. It will save tons of trouble down the road. I'm a fairly young (23) player but I always try to make sure I don't start bad habits that could be very damaging later. To answer the rest of questions though string height and gauges only need to adjusted to your comfort. Whether you play fingers,pick, or whatever do what's comfortable