The Geddy Lee Mission- Pick Sound with Fingers

[EclecticElectrk]

Ok this thread was made to gather collective knowledge on what i call the 'geddy lee mission'. Geddy lee has talked in interviews about how he has always tried to ACHIEVE THE SOUND OF PICK WHILE USING HIS FINGERS. this thread is about sharing any advice or information on accomplishing this. a few other threads have touched on this sort of thing, but im hoping to gather it all in here. I am interested in this, as acheiving a picking sound is very nice but playing with your fingers allows much more from the player (imo)

To start of, there might be a few ways to achieve this, these are just ideas for starters:

1) Technique- some technique to replicate the picking sound. for example, the obvious suggestion would be to pluck harder, but that doesnt really do it.

2) EQ settings- trying to recreate the picking sound by tweaking your eq settings. This might show the most promise, for example you could boost your mids, but im looking for something conclusive here.

so lets hear what you've got to say, and maybe we can shed some light on this.

[Georynn]

I know Geddy used to use a flicking finger technique, and I think he wears his nails a little on the long side, and he has a VERY powerful attack with his fingers, that is where he gets the pick-like attack. I also know at one time Geddy Lee's bass tech posted a few things on here about his rig and his setup, like the fact that he dimes the volume and tone on both pickups on his jazz basses, and runs direct to FOH, no onstage amp. but as far as his studio sound, I'm sure his tech would shed some light on that subject...

Perhaps a search would serve you well...

[crazyguy832]

Boost the mids, grow your fingernails.

BAM!

[BlackLake]

Originally Posted by crazyguy832

Boost the mids, grow your fingernails.

BAM!

+1

Check out the Geddy video at bassplayer.tv "Bass Collection"

After explaining his Geddy Signature #1, he rips a few licks and you get a good shot of his right hand picking the strings with his nails.

[EclecticElectrk]

yea he was doing that sort of flamenco strum except with one figner and with alot of force. im not looking to replicate geddy's sound exactly, but try to replicate the pick. still, i'll do that.

[genderblind]

Yep, the fingernails have it and finding the right length is the issue.

[EclecticElectrk]

geddy has almost a claw like plucking method

[Georynn]

Geddy's bass tech was on here a while back, his name is Russ Ryan.


http://www.talkbass.com/forum/member.php?u=102666

[EclecticElectrk]

thanks that helped.

[bassaficionado6]

He doesn't just pluck harder, he slams his fingers down on the string. An interesting "technique" if it can so be called which I've tried with promising results, but I don't know for the life of me how he keeps it up show after show. He's just a beast.

[Tommy el Gato]

Along with the advice given here, I would also sudgest very bright sounding, light guage strings on super-low action. That'll help get the snappy/clangy attack without having to pick as hard. If you get a little fret buzz, it's no problem if you're playing with a really loud amp.

[stingray68]

What bassaficionado6 says will get you close if not all the way. Its all in the technique and bass setup. Hit the strings hard enough so they slap againts the frets. To low on the action will not allow this technique to work as well because the notes will choke off. So medium action, hit the strings into the frets, use bright roundwounds. You can hear this playing style and how I get the pick sound with my fingers at my myspace page. The recording details are at a previous post of mine for 2008 fender new american standard precision bass sound clips. Hope this helps.

[John Wentzien]

Don't forget yer "ROTO's"

[EclecticElectrk]

thanks that helps. i put new strings on my bass, DR roundwounds. they sound really nice, alot closer to what im trying to achieve.

[stingray68]

Here's a link to my old post
2008 Fender New American Standard Bass sound clips
It has the details on how I got that tone. The gear used isn't typical of what you would expect to use for that sound. My point is that your most important asset to your tone is in your hands. I've been playing over 25 years and I pretty much sound the same on most gear. Some gear just makes it easier to sound like myself.

[Geddy Claypool]

As said before, he uses a finger flicking technique, but he also mainly uses his index finger when he plays. I remember in an interview that's what he said contributed to his "pick" sound.

[Ric5]

you can use a pick to get that sound ...

[StarscreamG1]

When I let my nails grow out, I get that pick sound with my plucking hand. Its annoying when one nail breaks or something and then one is longer than the other and I have one finger pluck note and one pick sounding note..not cool usually but I have worked it into some stuff before. Of course the best thing to do is keep your nails the same length. Us females can generally grow our nails out pretty good. Not sure what to tell you guys if that isnt the case for you.

[HaVIC5]

You know, it still doesn't sound like a pick to me. It definitely is interesting and creative, but really, why go through all the trouble? Why not just play with a pick?

[Rudreax]

Originally Posted by HaVIC5

You know, it still doesn't sound like a pick to me. It definitely is interesting and creative, but really, why go through all the trouble? Why not just play with a pick?

Because using your hands to do it looks cooler. And we all know that's all that really matters.