The Geddy Lee Mission- Pick Sound with Fingers

[EclecticElectrk]

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?

well im going after it that much to switch to pick playing- which already do a little anyway. i dont know, i just feel bad about using a pick. like he said, its not as cool i dont think we'll ever get to the heart of the matter on that.

[jgroh]

I use a pick, and up until this year, ONLY used a pick. Since I got my fretless, I have used my fingers more and more, but I would never abandon the pick altogether. That said, Ive seen interviews with Geddy over the years where he said that he liked the pick sound, but playing with one felt so unnatural to him, so thats why he developed the flamenco thing.

I say, use a pick if thats the tone you are after (and dont feel bad about it). No one has really ever said anything to me about it (and that is for over 20 years) and I get compliments on my tone all the time.

[JPaulGeddy]

Funny thing, I remember seeing an interview with Geddy where he stated if players wanted to get better, they shouldn't try and hit the strings so hard. Don't think he knows how much his own finger strength has built up over the years.

[jgroh]

Originally Posted by JPaulGeddy

Funny thing, I remember seeing an interview with Geddy where he stated if players wanted to get better, they shouldn't try and hit the strings so hard. Don't think he knows how much his own finger strength has built up over the years.

Bahhh, what does he know?

[EclecticElectrk]

Originally Posted by jgroh

I use a pick, and up until this year, ONLY used a pick. Since I got my fretless, I have used my fingers more and more, but I would never abandon the pick altogether. That said, Ive seen interviews with Geddy over the years where he said that he liked the pick sound, but playing with one felt so unnatural to him, so thats why he developed the flamenco thing.

I say, use a pick if thats the tone you are after (and dont feel bad about it). No one has really ever said anything to me about it (and that is for over 20 years) and I get compliments on my tone all the time.

its that im ebarrased or ashamed to use a pick or anything it just feels weird to me. issee what your saying tho.

[beaverteeth92]

Now for the question of how to replicate the Chris Squire pick tone with fingers...

[EclecticElectrk]

yea that too. i think its a combination of how he
1- uses new strings whenever he plays
2- feeds his sound into one clean amp and one distorted
3- uses a pick
if the geddy tone was reaching, chris squire's tone will be VERY hard to replicate..even with the pick its hard to get that tone.

[Hiromakuta]

I don´t get all of you people say that a pick is unconfortable. Of course at the beginning it is unconfortable (everything in life is actually), but if you have a good technique, it´s faster to play well with it than with the fingers.
Trust me, I used to feel the same way about the pick.

[EclecticElectrk]

Originally Posted by Hiromakuta

I don´t get all of you people say that a pick is unconfortable. Of course at the beginning it is unconfortable (everything in life is actually), but if you have a good technique, it´s faster to play well with it than with the fingers.
Trust me, I used to feel the same way about the pick.

i dont think thats true- i will grant you, if you spend AS MUCH time with a pick as you do with fingers the pick is probably faster. BUT im pretty sure with a 3 finger technique well practiced it could give picking a run for its money.

[kimstevens]

I too wanted a Geddy fingernail sound, and tried for 3 years to play that way, but my nails are weak and thin, and would constantly rip, resulting in an uneven sound. I also tried fingerpicks (like the Alaska Pik), nail polish, and silk nail wraps like some classical guitar players use. And cut up ping-pong balls with superglue. Nothing was adequate, so I have switched to pick (and continue to use flesh fingertips as well), and am happy with the decision. Incidentally, nail strength is 99% genetic -- eating gobs of gelatin or other supplements won't help in any substantial way.

I'd guess that it's a minority of players who have the naturally great nails to "nail" that technique. Chris Squire also uses nail in his playing, as does Bill Dickerson, and I think Chuck Rainey.

[Dogbertday]

just thrash those strings Ox style!!

[llamalor2112]

If you want to know if your nails will be able to take the quick pluckin torture of the 80s Geddy, first you have to able to play his more recent "flamenco" style wihtout breaking those nails. Honestly it's a great place to build from. My middle fingernail on my right hand always broke from the up and down bashing but eventually I found a consistency in nail length that works wonders for songs like Marathon and Mission.

Or you could cut the neck P/U and boost the bridge P/U with a middle-bass Eq boost and then play almost on top of the bridge itself. The strings will be stiff as a board but the Trebbly pop will be there.

[EclecticElectrk]

Originally Posted by kimstevens

I too wanted a Geddy fingernail sound, and tried for 3 years to play that way, but my nails are weak and thin, and would constantly rip, resulting in an uneven sound. I also tried fingerpicks (like the Alaska Pik), nail polish, and silk nail wraps like some classical guitar players use. And cut up ping-pong balls with superglue. Nothing was adequate, so I have switched to pick (and continue to use flesh fingertips as well), and am happy with the decision. Incidentally, nail strength is 99% genetic -- eating gobs of gelatin or other supplements won't help in any substantial way.

I'd guess that it's a minority of players who have the naturally great nails to "nail" that technique. Chris Squire also uses nail in his playing, as does Bill Dickerson, and I think Chuck Rainey.

chris squire uses a pick...doesnt he?

[EclecticElectrk]

Originally Posted by Dogbertday

just thrash those strings Ox style!!

he hits em hard?

[Tedddy]

You don't have to grow the nails super long, just enough so that when you pluck with your finger, a little bit of nail touches also. the fleshy part of the finger hits it intially, creating a warm tone, and then the nail its, giving a sharper tone.

You can't grow them too long or they'll be breaking.

[Tamochantern]

We should start a thread of Geddy Lee urban legends a la Chuck Norris. You know like "Geddy Lee's finger nails are actually made of diamond to allow for a pick like sound to his attack. He had his original fingernails removed by a back alley finger nail remover when he was 12"

[EclecticElectrk]

Originally Posted by Tedddy

You don't have to grow the nails super long, just enough so that when you pluck with your finger, a little bit of nail touches also. the fleshy part of the finger hits it intially, creating a warm tone, and then the nail its, giving a sharper tone.

You can't grow them too long or they'll be breaking.

good point

[EclecticElectrk]

Originally Posted by Tamochantern

We should start a thread of Geddy Lee urban legends a la Chuck Norris. You know like "Geddy Lee's finger nails are actually made of diamond to allow for a pick like sound to his attack. He had his original fingernails removed by a back alley finger nail remover when he was 12"

yea that would be cool i guess...except for all bassists maybe? idk

[llamalor2112]

Originally Posted by Tamochantern

We should start a thread of Geddy Lee urban legends a la Chuck Norris. You know like "Geddy Lee's finger nails are actually made of diamond to allow for a pick like sound to his attack. He had his original fingernails removed by a back alley finger nail remover when he was 12"

We have this in my group of friends. Geddy's hands are known as the "claws". This comes from the first bass solo in YYZ on the Grace Under Pressure live DVD. Seriously, the blur makes his fingers and hadn shape dissapear, also it appears as though he has no wrists, the slide up shows a straight line from his knuckles to his elbow!

One of my buds remarked that, "He has calluses for hands! Medically speaking, that aint right."

In a fight to the death, I'd have to say that Geddy's arm & finger strength would defeat Chuck's thighs of anguish.

[Kragnorak]

Originally Posted by 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.

Interesting, I didn't know Geddy did that one-finger thing. I do that quite a bit when playing acoustic bass guitar, but in my experience it takes a good amount of projection to make it work for in a loud band. I know the bassist for Dethklok/Metalocalypse uses that technique for fast stuff, but that doesn't put out enough tone for metal as far as I'm concerned. To put this in context, look at classical guitar players. There is quite a bit of difference between straight sixteenths on one string and a tremolo technique tonewise.

I don't think that Geddy Lee's bass playing sounds at all like a pick player. He just plays very precise, which gives the impression that he is projecting more than he is. Clarity is key.