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07-21-2004, 07:49 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: VA. | | | Fingerstyle snob?
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I have to admit that I tend to be less impressed when I see a bass player using a pick. I can play with a pick, I just don't. I guess if I was playing speed metal or something I probably would, but for my usual gigs no pick is needed. Anyway, I got the Gov't Mule DVD the Deep End that was recommended here at TB. The first time I watched it when a bass player came out using a pick I was kinda turned off and honestly didn't pay much attention. I decided to watch it again today, and have an open mind and not be a bass snob and I have to say that all the guys have some tasty grooves. Mike Gordon played with a pick but had a real nice groove to his playing and it was a nice dose of bass reality for me. Fingers, slap, pick whatever, a good bass groove is a good bass groove. Sorry, I just had to confess and repent of bass snobbish  Anyone else ever fall in to that kind of trap?
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07-21-2004, 08:20 PM
|  | Mayday! Moderator | | Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Jackson, MS | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by Humblerumble I have to admit that I tend to be less impressed when I see a bass player using a pick. I can play with a pick, I just don't. I guess if I was playing speed metal or something I probably would, but for my usual gigs no pick is needed. Anyway, I got the Gov't Mule DVD the Deep End that was recommended here at TB. The first time I watched it when a bass player came out using a pick I was kinda turned off and honestly didn't pay much attention. I decided to watch it again today, and have an open mind and not be a bass snob and I have to say that all the guys have some tasty grooves. Mike Gordon played with a pick but had a real nice groove to his playing and it was a nice dose of bass reality for me. Fingers, slap, pick whatever, a good bass groove is a good bass groove. Sorry, I just had to confess and repent of bass snobbish Anyone else ever fall in to that kind of trap? | No. But admitting that you have a problem is the first step to recovery.
I can't care if the bassist is playing with a pitch fork, if it sounds good and he can groove with it then he has accomplished what a bassist should be able to do. |
07-21-2004, 08:23 PM
|  | Yeah, I'm a guy! Moderator | | Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Marana, AZ, USA | | Repent ye wretched sinner...er...snob I'm a pick guy most of the time. I love the tone I get from a pick for punk and metal basslines. If I want to just groove though, the warmth of the old fingers just can't be beat, IMO. I'm a snob though too, slapping, eck!  Just kidding...sorta |
07-21-2004, 09:17 PM
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Endorsing Artist: see profile | | Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: toms_river.nj.us | | | I think Technique may get this more reply... it's not really "Bassist" focused. |
07-21-2004, 09:57 PM
| | Supporting Member | | Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Still in Margaritaville | | | Billy Sheehan has been known to use a Makita drill to play his bass. Once his hair got caught in the drill and that may have been the end of such an unorthodox manner of playing bass.
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07-21-2004, 10:06 PM
|  | - that dog won't hunt, Monsignor. Moderator | | | |
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Boplicity Billy Sheehan has been known to use a Makita drill to play his bass. Once his hair got caught in the drill and that may have been the end of such an unorthodox manner of playing bass. | Yeah, that wasn't a real high point for Billy.
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07-22-2004, 01:48 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: VA. | | Actually I didn't put this in Technique because I was talking about watching bassists using picks and not the technique itself. I watched the Gov't Mule DVD (which is great by the way) and really watched Wooten and the other fingerstyle players kind of ignoring the pick players. When I watched it again I paid special attention to the pick players and came away impressed by the groove those guys got as well. 
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07-22-2004, 02:09 PM
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Endorsing Artist: see profile | | Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: toms_river.nj.us | | that's cool... I just thought it might be better served here.
I'm 80% fingerstyle - 15% slap - 5% pick...
I've battled the pick hate for years... the fact I love Chris Squire's tone & lines has definately helped |
07-22-2004, 02:58 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Milwaukee, WI | | | Let's see...
I use a pick for:
the main part of Cheap Sunglasses (til the slowdown end-part), most surf songs, MeatPuppets tunes (oops - not Roof with a Hole), ahh.. there MUST be a COUPLE more.
Otherwise fingers! I used to play all pick (trying fingers was always very frustrating to me), but finally 'the snobs' got me thinking "Why isn't there such thing as 'pick snobs'? I wonder if there's something to that finger thing?". Yup, there is.
Since then, I've been much more interested in technique, and technique got me much more interested in modes and scales and such. Now I think there's a chance that I could become an extraordinary bass player, even in middle-age.
Joe |
07-22-2004, 03:02 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Dallas, TX. | | I too used to be of that opinion. I think before I knew much about bassists in general, the only pick player I dug was Cliff Burton (he did use a pick right? lol). Seeing Rising Low also brought to my attention how many great bass players do use picks. I came to the same realization as you, if they groove, who cares how they do it  |
07-22-2004, 05:08 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Virginia Beach, VA | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by Juneau ...the only pick player I dug was Cliff Burton (he did use a pick right? lol)... | I hope that's sarcasm. I have the "Cliff 'em All" DVD, and not once have I seen him use a pick. Even during tunes like "Anaesthesia (Pulling Teeth)", which I have to use a pick to play.
Jason Newsted did use a pick though...
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07-22-2004, 06:37 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Austin, Texas | | | Humblerumble,
I had the same prejudice for a while. I think it was because I came from playing guitar and wanted to distance myself from that instrument. However, as I started listening to bassists who use picks well and tried to get a good, clean sound, I found it much different than picking the guitar. Now I respect the technique, though I'm still a fingerstyle guy.
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07-22-2004, 06:40 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: VA. | | James Hart said Quote: |
"I've battled the pick hate for years..."
|  Cracked me up!
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07-22-2004, 07:42 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Dallas, TX. | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by Almighty Bass I hope that's sarcasm. I have the "Cliff 'em All" DVD, and not once have I seen him use a pick. Even during tunes like "Anaesthesia (Pulling Teeth)", which I have to use a pick to play.
Jason Newsted did use a pick though... | Not sarcasm, ignorance hehe. I must have confused the two. |
07-22-2004, 10:31 PM
|  | Bass lines like a big, funky giant | | Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Southern MN | | | I used to play 100% with a pick when I switched from 6-string guitar...like 35 years ago when I was 14 years old. Now I only use it for a few surf-type songs. I don't have any prejudice against full-time pickers, but lately I have seen TWO bass players with working bar bands who play only with their right thumbs. TRUE! What's up with that? I can't believe you can get anything faster than quarter notes using that technique. So I guess for now I'm prejudiced against that technique, until someone blows me away using just their thumb...which I can't imagine would be possible. |
07-22-2004, 11:01 PM
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Originally Posted by scottbass I used to play 100% with a pick when I switched from 6-string guitar...like 35 years ago when I was 14 years old. Now I only use it for a few surf-type songs. I don't have any prejudice against full-time pickers, but lately I have seen TWO bass players with working bar bands who play only with their right thumbs. TRUE! What's up with that? I can't believe you can get anything faster than quarter notes using that technique. So I guess for now I'm prejudiced against that technique, until someone blows me away using just their thumb...which I can't imagine would be possible. | This post rules!! lol They should fret with just one finger, and pluck with one thumb! What a genius technique we are seeing form right before us! |
07-22-2004, 11:09 PM
| | Registered User
wake up with a beautiful stranger | | Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Australia ~ Sydney, NSW | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by scottbass I used to play 100% with a pick when I switched from 6-string guitar...like 35 years ago when I was 14 years old. Now I only use it for a few surf-type songs. I don't have any prejudice against full-time pickers, but lately I have seen TWO bass players with working bar bands who play only with their right thumbs. TRUE! What's up with that? I can't believe you can get anything faster than quarter notes using that technique. So I guess for now I'm prejudiced against that technique, until someone blows me away using just their thumb...which I can't imagine would be possible. | What, you've never seen Larry Graham play?
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07-22-2004, 11:24 PM
| | Bass lines like a big, funky giant | | Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Southern MN | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by *ToNeS* What, you've never seen Larry Graham play? | Hmm...I did some research and stubled upon an interview with Stanley Clarke concerning Larry Graham and the origin of slapping:
Stanley: “Larry started it, but he had only one lick. I saw him do it, and I took it from there.”
Stanley didn't seem to have much admiration for one-thumb-only playing... |
07-23-2004, 01:01 AM
| | gone to Longstanton Spice Museum | | Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: UK | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by Humblerumble Anyone else ever fall in to that kind of trap? | yep, I did, but it was only because the pick players i'd seen until that point weren't as good as some of the fingerstyle players...
my ideas were all blown out of the water when I heard Scott Thunes |
07-23-2004, 07:24 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: VA. | | The thumb post reminds me of Victor talking about using his thumb like a pick. He has a way of picking up and down with his thumb in a pick like motion, and Geddy lee said he uses his fingers like a flamenco guitarist, going up and down in a pick like fashion. Two techniques that I doubt I will ever master
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