Getting into pick playing...

[Fassa Albrecht]

OK, in all my 4 years of bassplaying, I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times I've used a pick.

Now I've found myself feeling very inadequate because I can't pick-play as well as I can slap or play with my fingers, and so I want to get this sorted out.

Should I just go ahead and force myself to use one or can you guys think of any way that might be a lot easier?

[dmusic148]

Hi Fassa. I'm still working on flatpicking myself, after working on it for over two years. I don't think there are any shortcuts to be found. I suggest a heavy pick and a fairly light touch. Check out Carol Kaye for some really good ideas.

[anonymous122511]

Originally Posted by dmusic148

I don't think there are any shortcuts to be found. I suggest a heavy pick and a fairly light touch. Check out Carol Kaye for some really good ideas.

Good advice. You really have to make the commitment and stick with it. I started wanting to play with a pick about 20 years ago and got really serious about the 5 or so. If you plan on switching between fingers and a pick live a preamp like a VT Bass is useful to give you a fast EQ change.

The light touch is super important because no matter what you do the pick will always move in yer grip. If that grip is tight and hard you won't be able to adjust the pick back to where it needs to be.

Bobby Vega is another great pick player to check out. I have his DVD on pick playing coming and I'll post a review sometime soon....ish.

[willg95]

this is kind of an "out-there" suggestion but this is how i learned to play pick style very, very well. as well as still being able to keep up with my finger style and slap bass.

i started bass before i played guitar. and before i picked up a guitar, i only knew how to play finger style on bass. then (skipping some less interesting parts) within a year's time i learned to play guitar very well also. especially lead since that's what i was most interested in. so, long story short, when i pick up a bass now, i kind of pretend it's just a giant guitar i'm soloing on since with a lot of guitar lead, you focus on one string at a time.

so my suggestion is if you know how to play guitar at all, take what you know from lead picking in your right hand and apply it to your left hand bass playing (opposite if you happen to be a lefty) alternate picking will be tough but if you keep it all in your wrists, it should be a peace of cake soon. good luck with giving it another try. personally i love pick style and i think it gets a bad rep.