Dead End Job

[joeyzaza]

By the police, sting played bass, did he use a pick? It sounds like he is sometimes, and sometimes he isn't.

[WesC]

Originally Posted by joeyzaza

By the police, sting played bass, did he use a pick? It sounds like he is sometimes, and sometimes he isn't.

Not sure about that tune... but I've seen him live a bunch of times and he uses a pick a lot. He also plays with his thumb as though it were a pick, softer sound but still pick-like.

[CJK84]

I'm no expert on Sting nor The Police. In fact, I've never heard of the song you're referring to.

However, I once read that Sting sometimes laid down two bass tracks on recordings - one fretted and one fretless - playing the identical line.

So maybe he picked the fretted and played fingerstyle on the fretless and, at different times in the song, you can hear one more distinctly.

Have you listened to the tune thru headphones? Cranked the highs?

Sometimes those approaches help to hear whether a pick is being used.

Good luck.

[joeyzaza]

I had a proper listen, I'm pretty sure he's using a pick, but I always thought he was strictly fingers, it seems he uses a pick most of the time.

[The Mock Turtle Regulator]

pick on Dead end job. pretty sure it was on his Jazz bass.