funkin' pick

Nobody · #1 07-03-2009, 01:45 PM

Does anyone still use a pick for the funky stuff like in this song?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCkLEo-DT1Q&feature=fvst

J. Crawford · #2 07-03-2009, 01:50 PM

Wow.. that bassist's afro is insane!

I use a pick when needed. So, if I played this song, I would use a pick.

Lakai · #3 07-03-2009, 01:56 PM

http://www.bassplayer.tv/?req=1&station=bvega

JimmyM · #4 07-03-2009, 09:38 PM

Of course I would...I once saw the O'Jays on one of Sinbad's HBO specials in the 90's, and the bassist played this song with fingers and no phaser. Sounded bad...not OK, not passable...bad. So absolutely I'd use a pick.

gr8fulhiker · #5 07-03-2009, 09:54 PM

Funk/Soul is in the fingers - whether their holding a pick or not. I saw John Scofield a decade ago and his bass player picked his way through a jungle of groove. His pick playing left a indelible impression on me and, at the time I was a militant anti-pick dude. To this day, that bass player is the reason I still own picks.

PS - if you are that bassist, or know who that bassist is, I sincerely apologize for not being able to identify you/him by name.

JimmyM · #6 07-03-2009, 10:04 PM

Being militant anti-anything when it comes to music is a waste of time and means nothing to anyone but you. It's fine to have your own set of standards, but too many times, bass players love to impose their standards on everyone else, which always draws my standard response...I stick out my middle finger and introduce you to the back of my head.

gr8fulhiker · #7 07-03-2009, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Being militant anti-anything when it comes to music is a waste of time and means nothing to anyone but you. It's fine to have your own set of standards, but too many times, bass players love to impose their standards on everyone else, which always draws my standard response...I stick out my middle finger and introduce you to the back of my head.

+1

My point was that even though at the time (many moons ago) I was a closed minded, immature, middle finger deserving prick, this guy was so funky with a pick that he was able to cut my preconceptions to shreds and really open my eyes/ears/mind/style/playing/etc. And not only that, the impression stuck! To this day, I still play (or at least try to play) some of his lines that I heard that day, with a pick. What you just said is completely true and relevant but no longer applies to me, as I came to that realization a long time ago - the day I heard that man lay down the funk in a way I never thought possible.

JimmyM · #8 07-03-2009, 10:30 PM

Right on, dude. BTW...I think I know who that bassist was with Sco...Steve Swallow.

Dr. Cheese · #9 07-03-2009, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lakai

http://www.bassplayer.tv/?req=1&station=bvega

I'm glad I watched those clips again. I finally realized that "I Get High On You" was not slapped.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gX3XL3yVSHM

Dr. Cheese · #10 07-03-2009, 11:04 PM

I have never had any doubt that a pick can be funky. Between Anthony Jackson, Alan Gorrie (AWB,) and Bobby Vega, is thee any doubt about pick funk?

BTW, I used to be pretty handy withg a pick myself, but I have gotten rusty over the last twenty years or so.

BluesBassman065 · #11 07-04-2009, 11:18 AM

I think that a pick would give you a thicker cut groove. It's more agressive than play with the fingers. I would use a pick if I was playing that tune, a few players on great funk albums played with pic, now it only comes to my mind the bassist for Banbarra who played "Shack up"

vbasscustom · #12 07-05-2009, 03:36 PM

if i need attack, then i play with a pick, if i need stacatos in a song, i play with a pick. if im looking for a mellow sound, or if im playing a fretless, fingers. its mostly fingers for me though.