Picking on a five string?

[ahbassman]

I know a lot of people who play 4 strings use a pick, but what about five string players? When I try it, it just feels weird... perhaps cause I don't use the B a lot and it feels in the way?

Just looking for opinions I guess.

[Ric5]

Originally Posted by ahbassman

I know a lot of people who play 4 strings use a pick, but what about five string players? When I try it, it just feels weird... perhaps cause I don't use the B a lot and it feels in the way?

Just looking for opinions I guess.

A pick works great on a 5 string bass.

http://www.3dentourage.com/425/gone.mp3

[countrybass007]

Phil Lesh uses a pick to play a six string. I always use a pick with my Conklin 7-string. So using a pick to play 5-string would be fine. It depends on the sound you're trying to get if you pick or not.

[bommer]

dude, you can do whatever you want. i have a five string, and when i feel like using a pick on it, i do. Why would it be weird?

[Craig_S]

I use a pick, sometimes, on my Stingray 5. No problems at all.

[DrSmaggs]

I pick on both my fivers

[FretGrinder]

I do, as do many others. There's not much difference with a 4 - you just need to pay closer attention to your left hand muting.

You've got that extra string there that really wants to sympathetically resonate, and unless you're palm-muting with your pick hand, you miss out on the RH muting you get playing with fingers. To compensate, your fretting hand has to take up some of the slack.

Make sure you're holding the pick correctly, and that its hard with enough flex (I use black Dunlops, ymmv), and practice. It'll soon feel second nature.

You'll develop new muscles in your picking hand. If it hurts, stop for a while - you don't want a long-term injury. Allow your arm time to buff up

Also, wearing a strap at the "correct" height for fingerstyle is likely too high for your picking hand not to feel weird. When I play with a pick, my right hand wants the bass low, the left wants it high. You find your best compromise.

Hope this helps.
D

[TomA1234]

Originally Posted by Ric5

A pick works great on a 5 string bass.

http://www.3dentourage.com/425/gone.mp3

I've never seen a 5 string ric before! I now know that I can get one when I can afford one!

[dave64o]

I play primarily fingerstyle but I do use a pick on both my P5 and my SR5 when the song calls for it. Both sound great that way.

[XtheDeadPawn]

I use a pick on my ATK all the time and I never once thought it was that hard to mute. Guess I'm in the minority. BTW I uset to use a 4 string.

[dls59]

I use a pick on both my 5 string SX (narrow spacing) and my MTD (wide spacing). I mute with both hands, mostly depending on which string I'm on.

[nic salsus]

Steve Swallow.

[JimmyM]

you said "swallow"

huh huh huh heh heh

[nic salsus]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

you said "swallow"

huh huh huh heh heh

Post 32,038

[JimmyM]

[EagleMoon]

Originally Posted by TomA1234

I've never seen a 5 string ric before! I now know that I can get one when I can afford one!

He makes his own 5 strings, I don't believe they come stock that way.

[PaulMacCnj]

I mostly play fingerstyle, but I occasionally play with a pick on my 5er. It's all about the sound I want for a particular song.

[perfektspace6]

I don't understand why picking on a five string would require a question. If you are having trouble it is just a matter of practice/not being used to the extra string. No reason why it can't be done effectively.

[Thunder Pulse]

I find it *much* easier to pick fast stuff on my 5-string because it has narrow string spacing (16mm). On my 4-string with 19-20mm string spacing it feel like there's a mile in between each string.

[Gearhead17]

I used to have a lot of trouble picking on the 5th string. I am primarily a finger player, so playing a pick on certain songs is a little weird. As discussed above, watch where your palm is resting and make sure you are not palm muting the 5th string while playing it - I somehow did that a lot. Took a while to break that habit, but I did. The other trick is to not attack the 5th string hard with a pick. A lighter touch on the 5th will bring out more attack than a heavy one. I use the Dunlop Tortex 1mm sharp picks. I noticed the heavier picks will bring out more low end than attack, while the 1mm size seems to be the perfect balance of attack and low end.