Picking advice - I need some

[EatADeadGoat]

This is more related on one big issue. String skipping. I'm talking some constant ones, like in some of the riffs from Master of Puppets. I have a hard time jumping back and forth between my E and A string and still getting all of the notes in, and sometimes when I do, they just sound like they're barely there. I have no issue when playing over one string, with occasional leaps over the strings. But I would like to be just as skilled playing with a pick as I am playing with my fingers. Anyone ever run into this issue - and more importantly, figure out the proper technique?

[Beginner Bass]

Have you tried keeping some of the riffs on one string?

[upandb]

One thing is do you play plucking down the whole time, or do you alternate between up and down? If you only play down, try working on up and down until you can do both pretty well.

Lets say you are playing a lot of notes on the E string with one every once in a while on the A. You could pluck all the E strings down, then for the A, pluck it up so its on the way back to the E. This is kind of hard to explain. If you don't get it, try playing this: Go E A E A E A E A a bunch of times. Pluck the E string down, and the A string up so you go back and forth. Once you get that down, playing fast and changing strings becomes a lot easier.

That's what I do at least.

[EatADeadGoat]

Originally Posted by Beginner Bass

Have you tried keeping some of the riffs on one string?

I do sometimes, but it gets boring to me. Fast. Can't do it unless it's just a killer riff - and then I mess with it to add to it's note range.

Originally Posted by upandb

One thing is do you play plucking down the whole time, or do you alternate between up and down? If you only play down, try working on up and down until you can do both pretty well.

Lets say you are playing a lot of notes on the E string with one every once in a while on the A. You could pluck all the E strings down, then for the A, pluck it up so its on the way back to the E. This is kind of hard to explain. If you don't get it, try playing this: Go E A E A E A E A a bunch of times. Pluck the E string down, and the A string up so you go back and forth. Once you get that down, playing fast and changing strings becomes a lot easier.

That's what I do at least.

Thanks! I do alternate pick, but I just kinda fired off and figured it would all work itself out.

What about songs that are 2 or 3 notes on the E and then 1 or 2 on the A? What would be a picking technique for that?

[BuffaloBass]

E-A-D-G. man I did once during survival training and it was AWFUL!

What upandb said, keep the up and down going and simply move across strings. Sounds like his excersize will do you good.

Every different riff will actaully require a different cadence of up adn down strokes depending on the beat emphasis and "economy of motion". It isnt always simply alternating. In your example it maybe E(d),E(u),A(d),E(d) or soemthing not simply up/down/up/down.... it shoudl become very intutitive as you continue to practice it, and at some point you wont have to think about it much, and your speed with be much better.

[ChasBass]

Originally Posted by BuffaloBass

Every different riff will actaully require a different cadence of up adn down strokes depending on the beat emphasis and "economy of motion". It isnt always simply alternating. In your example it maybe E(d),E(u),A(d),E(d) or soemthing not simply up/down/up/down.... it shoudl become very intutitive as you continue to practice it, and at some point you wont have to think about it much, and your speed with be much better.

+1 above.
I play exclusively with a pick. "Economy of motion" is the key - especially on faster riffs with string jumping. Take the time to find the u/d combination that takes the least amount of work, then bring it up to speed. After you have several songs down cold, the next new riff/song will start to become almost "intuitive". For string jumping - like the Immigrant Song - back away from the tip of your pick about 1/2 an inch. This will leverage the movements of your wrist and forearm.
Also, 99% of muting I do with my fretting hand.

[oniman7]

I think I know what riff you're talking about


G--------------------
D--------------------
A----2----3-----4-----
E-0-1--0-1--0-1-------- etc.?

I strum the E and hammer on to the F. Legato's good when you have multiple notes on one string.