plectrum!

[varunkapahi]

how to go about learning to play with a pick? i have never played with one and it doesnt feel natural at all. one of the bands i play with really needs the pick sound and i dont mind adding the pick to my arsenal. so it gets really confusing and frustrating playing with a pick, i feel out of breath really lol
are there an exercises out there?
do bass players use different kind of picks than guitards do?

edit/update: ok so i practiced a bit..
with a pick how do you,
mute other strings?
play syncopated lines?

[JimmyM]

Why I keep hammering the Carol Kaye pick method

[bugsy]

I hate playing with a pick.
Fingers feel more natural to me and be one with the bass.
Little grooves and ghost notes are easier.

But there are times that you will need to use a pick.
Say for a heavy rock eg Greenday sound.
A sharp attack sound.
sometimes i hold my hand in the position as i would if i am holding a pick, but actually use the top of my fingernail

otherwise a Heavy pick turned on its side for me.

Sorry Jimmy, but down strokes sound so much better
I dont know why, just because

[somegeezer]

I play with either... Bassists generally play with heavier picks than a guitarist, but there are no laws about that. =P I started with pick, so fingers seemed easier when I tried, It'll be harder going the other way, but just takes practise like everything does.

[wafu_vasco]

A really good exercise I found is, if you excuse the quick tab scribbled below:

G 1 2 3 3
D 1 2 3 4
A 1 2 3 4
E 1 2 3 4

I can't get the forum window to format that how I want to! Bugger! PLay the first four notes on the E string, then the A string, then up to the D then G...

Try that exercise with a pick, but the crucial part is to alternate up and down strokes on every other note. Play it slowly to ensure the rhythm is spot on rather than rushing it. Then play it all the way up and all the way down, then try varying the left hand with different patterns:

1 3 2 4, 1 4 3 2, etc etc

It's a really basic exercise but I went from fifteen years of plucking to using a plectrum and it really helped me a great deal. Best of luck!

[FromBeyond]

I basically learned it by playing a lot of scales in different tempos, using alternate picking. If you do it regularly every day it will take a week or so before you get used to it. Playing in time was the biggest issue for me when i started out, but now (after like, 2-3 months) it's coming along fine, and i might say that i'm better at pick then fingers now

[Deathblade Eric]

It's all in the wrist. Don't pick like a guitarist by moving your thumb & forefinger.

Here, cop a butchers' at this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyuDyWc09G8

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by bugsy

Sorry Jimmy, but down strokes sound so much better
I dont know why, just because

it's because you didn't practice down/up hard enough. i'm to the point where nobody can tell the difference blindfolded. it does look cooler, no doubt, but it sounds the same if you practice it enough to make it sound the same.

[varunkapahi]

thanks, will get a stubby and start working

[nobodysfool]

I play mostly with a pick, but occasionally use my fingers. Main reason is RA in my right hand. I use Dava picks, with the thin middle, so I can vary the thickness of the pick by how I hold it. Over the years, I have developed my technique to where upstrokes/downstrokes sound the same. It's all in the wrist. When you're playing all sixteenth notes, all downstrokes will kill your wrist, your arm, and become painful. Alternating up- and downstrokes, allows you to play twice the notes with half the effort.

The downside is you lose a little in the lows when you use a pick, but the amp can be adjusted to compensate. I sometimes use my fingers for slow songs, where I don't need so much attack, and the big round deep sound fits better with the song. For rockers, the pick gives me more control, and allows me to hit those ghost notes, and passing tones, as well as the occasional overtone.

Your mileage may vary.....

[Mr. Mig]

I can play with either plucking or Pick. I learned by going over my lessons and putting some time to do them with a pick also.

[varunkapahi]

damn! i just cant get around the pick. i can play so much better and groovies with the fingers its a shame really

[PaulNYC]

non sense post. -- IGNORE

[DanRJBrasil]

different picks dif sounds, a heavier one sounds pretty dif from light one when using light ones I like to use nylon pics as it does not crack so easily and are very flexible, as far how to use jimmys link has some pretty good advices

[varunkapahi]

with a pick how do you,
mute other strings?
play syncopated lines?

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by varunkapahi

with a pick how do you,
mute other strings?
play syncopated lines?

mostly with my left hand.

[tobie]

Originally Posted by Deathblade Eric

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyuDyWc09G8

Surely such a lot of wrist movement is not going to work for single note playing?

[Deathblade Eric]

Originally Posted by tobie

Surely such a lot of wrist movement is not going to work for single note playing?

Lemmy does do single line stuff (admittedly not a lot though).

Try Dave Peacock, long time session man & one half of Chas & Dave - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rqZPGDd0fM
Not much to that, to be honest (apart from his glorious accent), but note the technique & compare it to this:

Green Bullfrog - Walk A Mile In My Shoes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HIhGWtI4As - Same bloke.

Some guitarists can be quite quick using the "sawing a log" technique as well.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCHVpDwMS2k - It's catching! Tommy Shannon's at it too!

We're only limited by our preconceptions.

Pete.

[PJMiDi]

I'd recommend Carol Kaye's method if your just starting to use a pick(it helps prevent carpel tunnel syndrome) and I mute left handed personally.

[varunkapahi]

so i finally got a stubby and it has made a lot of difference really