Shifting while picking

[Pettson]

This is a huge problem for me!
For example when im strumming a pattern oo the E-String and then have to shift tone to one off the A-String, i automatically skip the last strum in the pattern cuz like one strum is the time i need to shift strings.
This sounds horrible on recordings, and i really need to clear up my technique. It might be that i have never played with a pick before playing bass and i simply do not know how to hold it right. Anyways i would be really grateful for some tips to help me clear up my sloppy technique :P

[sevenyearsdown]

Are you able to pick back and forth on strings instead of just all downstrokes? This method generally makes it much easier to play across all of the strings.

[MalcolmAmos]

I no longer use a pick, however, when I did I used a thumb pick with the loop. If you hold the back side of the thumb pick with your index finger you can up pick as well as down pick.

Cost $1 to see if this will help.

That problem of going from one string to the other I'd suggest scale exercise. Run the major scale up and then back till its in muscle memory.

Good luck.

[squashedOpossum]

Agreed. Picking up AND down (and practice) will get you where you need to be.

[Fetusyolk]

remember to play with alternate picking.. thing should clean up your picking technique without needing much room to change strings...

or do you already do this

[Pettson]

Ok, ill do that scale exircise. Ty all for the tips :P

[jarrhead]

practice, practice, practice. It just takes time.

I learned to play a lot of Tool songs, and it got my picking dead awesome.

[Pettson]

Im playing AFI (Mostly old) and lots of random songs when i am picking :P

[SwamiRob]

Yeah took me a while to get into it when I was learning how to pick, my upstrokes were terrible for ages but now I can play them harder then down strokes.

Can't really think of much advice to give to people regarding pick style other then trying not to play too rigidly, you want your hand to loosen up when it comes to actually hitting the string. When changing strings when there's alot of strokes involved I'll usually use an upstroke when going down a string and vice versa, dunno if that's something I've just started doing now my upstrokes are more controlled then down but maybe try using a technique like that to see if it works.

Picking seems to be something very fitted round a players physique and how high they have their bass so seems to be something that varies alot. Some players will play close to the bridge with their bass lower using alot of wrist, some (like me) play pretty close to the neck with their bass a bit higher and get alot of power to their wrist through the top of their arm. It's a very personal thing and you have to find a way of playing that fits you and the sound you want to get, once your a bit more comfortable then you can start working on getting different sounds from pick playing. Also bear in mind the kind of pick you use bears alot on the way you play and the sounds you get too so look into that aswell.

If your playing old AFI some of the bass picking in that is pretty bloody fast and you need to be getting plenty of power in without tensing up too much, not to generalise too much but alot of punk players play far too low to get that kinda power an accuracy so maybe try wearing your bass a bit higher. One of the best things I did for my playing was raising my bass, plus Todd the Road from Propagandhi does it and he's quite possibly the coolest person ever.

[mikeyswood]

Wow. I was waaaayyy off with this title.

My advice is wait until there is a rest and you can get a hand down there. Otherwise, if the need to shift is imminent, I usually do a leg kick and that will get the sack to adjust. If you do a really high kick you will be comfortable and look like a rock star!

[Pettson]

Does anyone have any fun exircises to do?

Btw, i missed the string part of the title

[SwamiRob]

The best thing to do is to really just focus on your right hand and nothing but, try jamming along to some tunes and just play the root notes while hammering out some difficult rhythms. Great for your technique because you get used to playing everything from short to long intervals and good for practising the co-ordination between your left and right hand when it comes to mutes too if your playing any tunes that need alot of rhythmic muting, obviously very good for your sense of rhythm too.

Fast punk and hardcore is dead good for ti because you can do some really intricate right hand work when you build up the technique (and stamina...) for it, can play way faster then guitar rhythms and it sounds really nice and percussive.