Crap! Just tried using a pick for the first time in years....

Baird6869 · #1 03-27-2008, 08:43 PM

I am a fingerstyle player. Period.

I don't think fingerstyle is better or pick players aren't cool, but I just never use a pick. I just play fingerstyle as a preference.

In 20 years of playing, I have used a pick ONLY for the intro and first verse of Our Lady Peace's Naveed. I would always flick the pick at my singer's.. ahem... MIDSECTION... and then play the rest of the tune fingerstyle. It was more of a joke that a necessity.

Tonight I figured out that the Foo Fighter's bassist Nate Mendel uses a pick a lot and I play a few of their tunes in my cover bands. My band has been playing Long Road to Ruin lately and I just couldn't get the pre-chorus riff to sound right....

Then I picked up a 1mm tortex pick (I play a bit of guitar too) and tried it. It sounds great.... I will be using a pick for this song live. End of story.

P.S. I also played around with Message in a Bottle (Police) and Learning to Fly and No Way Back (also the Foos) and they both sound better with a pick!!

My question is... do any of you lifelong fingerstyle players use a pick for a few tunes as required?

nsmar4211 · #2 03-28-2008, 07:36 AM

We play a few songs that sound better with a pick......although I found a cheating way around and just attack the strings different (go callouses!) to give the rawer sound for now, cause honestly, playing with a pick feels foreign

. But once I get my pick playing up to my finger playing I will add the pick back in... cause unfortunatly as you point out some songs just need it.

Most of the players around here that I've seen (except metal guys) play fingerstyle, but I've seen picks come out for a few songs. My teacher showed me his hiding place-some basses with soapbar pickups have enough room between the pickup and the body that you can store your pick there. I've got one I can do that with that has jazz pickups too.

MotorMind · #3 03-28-2008, 07:43 AM

I am learing to play with a pick, since I somewhat ruined my right hand after years of pushing my wrist into the body of my Wal bass while plucking the strings way too hard, so my middle finger needs some more rest between songs. Right now I am discovering how to use the pluck "pop" style, e.g. lifting the strings with it. It's also cool to mute the strings with the pick instead of with the right hand, making for nice clicky dead notes. I still have to work on speed and precision though.

Baird6869 · #4 03-28-2008, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nsmar4211

honestly, playing with a pick feels foreign

.

I agree.

What I like about playing with a pick is that it allows me to play very close to the bridge. I always play closer to the neck as I prefer the lighter string tension when playing fingerstyle. This gives me more tonal possibilities.

mikezimmerman · #5 03-28-2008, 10:46 AM

I'm in exactly your situation. I've always been a fingerstyle player (who also plays some guitar), and my current band has a few tunes that really work better with a pick, so I've been working on getting used to using one on bass. It's fun and lets me do some things that don't come nearly as easily fingerstyle, but it does require some different muscles than fingerstyle playing and it's taken me a little bit to get my hand in shape....

Mike

Oric · #6 03-28-2008, 11:43 AM

Same here. I play fingerstyle all of the time (if you include slap as fingerstyle), but I've been listening to some good pick players, which is getting me in the mood to try out some pickin' myself. It never hurts to try something new.

(I believe it was the bassline to Yes' Roundabout that made me want to try a pick- such an agressive forward tone!)

Phalex · #7 03-28-2008, 11:47 AM

I used to use a pick for a few songs, but we don't play those tunes anymore.

bikeplate · #8 03-28-2008, 11:48 AM

HI

For sure, Baird. Dont care for them in general but certain tunes need that attack. Ac/dc, foos, etc

Rob

mothmonsterman · #9 03-28-2008, 11:58 AM

Yep, some tunes just require the punch that you can get with a pick, that you just can't get from your fingers.

Bearded Bugs · #10 03-28-2008, 12:16 PM

Unfortunately, because I'm using a cheap bass and a cheap rig I can't get the best sound in the World, especially with fingerstyle (not enough clarity), so for me a plectrum helps get a really clean clear tone, but for more technically-demanding stuff, 3 fingers all the way!

droskobass · #11 03-28-2008, 12:25 PM

Pick Chops are Bass Chops. period.

It's widely accepted sound and I think that at least 50% of popular music with bass was recorded with a pick, then I'd say 49% fingerstyle or upright, and 1% slap... that's just a guess.

While my personal preference is the "Jaco" back pickup sound, a good pick on a bass sounds great too. Viva la difference

My 2 cents,

Alvaro Martín Gómez A. · #12 03-28-2008, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baird6869

My question is... do any of you lifelong fingerstyle players use a pick for a few tunes as required?

That's my case. I always have a pick in my wallet, but I'm a fingerstyle player. I've used a pick for Yes' "Roundabout", Motörhead's "Ace Of Spades" and the solo bass part from ELP's "Pictures At An Exhibition", not to mention when I fool around at home with some rhythm guitar parts played with my overdriven 4003 (actually, this kept me busy for a while).

InRodweTruss · #13 03-28-2008, 01:18 PM

I prefer fingerstyle (including slap) way more than using a pick. But I make it a point to play with pick as much as possible just to be more versatile and so it doesn't feel so foreign later. I practice pick style more with punk songs tough, like Alkaline Trio or Green Day...

In the end, my wrist ends up wearing out because I broke it skating when I was a kid....:sad:

...but maybe I'm just playing wrong! Is there a certain way to play with a pick?

P.s.- a random fellow bass player shopping at GC gave me a tip saying a 1.0mm pick feels a lot better than a bulky 2.0mm. I took his advice, and so far I think he's right...

UncleBalsamic · #14 03-28-2008, 01:28 PM

I've always played both. They're both good for different occasions.

Bearded Bugs · #15 03-28-2008, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InRodweTruss

P.s.- a random fellow bass player shopping at GC gave me a tip saying a 1.0mm pick feels a lot better than a bulky 2.0mm. I took his advice, and so far I think he's right...

I've always felt that the thicker the plectrum is, the more direct and clear the notes sound... and I can always play faster and more accurately with a thicker plectrum.

jgroh · #16 03-28-2008, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bearded Bugs

I've always felt that the thicker the plectrum is, the more direct and clear the notes sound... and I can always play faster and more accurately with a thicker plectrum.

Actually I prefer the opposite. I like thin picks...I can get a much more "mid-rangy-twang" thing with it. Thicker picks just dont sound right when I am using them.

Pilgrim · #17 03-28-2008, 02:33 PM

I vastly prefer to play finger style, have done so for 20 years and do so whenever possible. But my band plays surf music, and there are a couple of places in our sets where we have three numbers in a row where I'm playing 16th notes. I can do that for one, maybe two, but for three I need to use a pick...because the fingers start to lock up.

I'm working on it and I can find my way through the tunes now, but my pick playing isn't quite ready for showtime.

One note - I don't use a pick for its attack - because I don't really like the sound of a pick that much, although i realize it's quite appropriate for much of the surf music I play. When I do use a pick I usually move away from the bridge and play up over the end of the fingerboard to soften the attack. I like the sound better that way.

I really just use a pick for one reason - speed on repetitive notes.

lowendgenerator · #18 03-28-2008, 02:34 PM

Boy this is a big change from the usual plectrum bashing that goes on around here.

I play with a pick whenever I can, because I love the way it sounds. Big and punchy and pure hard rock! It really brings out the grit of my BDDI/SVT rig. Plus I get to act like Nikki Sixx trying to flick picks into young girls breast pockets.

How can you go wrong?

Alvaro Martín Gómez A. · #19 03-28-2008, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bearded Bugs

I've always felt that the thicker the plectrum is, the more direct and clear the notes sound... and I can always play faster and more accurately with a thicker plectrum.

As a non-pick player, I must say that I prefer my Dunlop Stubby Triangle 3.0 for the exact same reasons (it really feels great), but I like much more how the attack of thinner/softer picks sounds. Still sort of a dilemma for me.

JOME77 · #20 03-28-2008, 02:53 PM

I guess I took the opposite route from most of you guys. I started out playing with a pick in the early 70's. Primarily because my favorite players used them (Barry Oakly, Chris Squire, Andy West and Mel Schacher) and partially because I transitioned from guitar.

I started transitioning to using my fingers more when I took up fretless and when slap and pop style became popular. I probably play 75% finger style and 25% pick now. I really just use what feels and sounds best for the song.

I do agree though that some songs just need the attack of a pick and some just cry for the warmth of finger style. Plus there's just something about touching the strings with both hands........

For what it's worth I use Dunlop Totex .71 pink picks