Switching to a Pick

skidmarkbass · #1 03-22-2013, 09:58 AM

At 51 and many years of finger style, i might switch to using a pick. The nuckles on my right pointer finger hurt all the time, and when i wake up in the morning it is hard to move. I used a pick last night at practice and it actually sounded ok, but i'm afraid to jump into a gig with a pick just yet. Has anyone made this transition?

NYCbassist · #2 03-22-2013, 10:07 AM

I played a whole show once with a Pic just for the hell of it. Never played with one before that but It went great. You'd be very surprised how easy it is.

fearceol · #3 03-22-2013, 10:34 AM

Playing with a pick can have it's own pit falls from a physical injury aspect. Carol Kaye's method is generally accepted as being an injury free one. Check out tips # 26 & 27 in the link below, from her web site.

http://carolkaye.com/www/education/tips1.htm

Also, it is advisable to used a fairly rigid pick.

Also, here is a TB thread about her pick method.

Why I keep hammering the Carol Kaye pick method

Best of luck with it.

jmceachern36 · #4 03-22-2013, 10:42 AM

I was having wrist problems a few years back and had to use a pick for a while. At the time I thought it was a forever switch. I just practiced a little bit at home and went right to it using it at the gigs. You'll get used to it quickly. Don't worry. You can always use your fingers on tunes you are struggling with. My guess is that, just like in my situation, using the pick will give you time to heal and after, you'll have the abillity to play with a pick or your fingers. I have a pick attached to my headstock now and use it when i get tired or when it's usefull for me. Good luck with the fingers. Hope it heals quickly.

rhp335 · #5 03-22-2013, 11:10 AM

I'm a few years older than you but I find switching between pick and fingers gives my hand some rest and since you have finger style down already you're good to go

thebassbuilder · #6 03-22-2013, 11:13 AM

I have gone to a pick now more than anything else. I will have wrist issue but that is not why. Now I love the sounds I get with a pick over fingers in most cases. Once you learn how to use and how to set the tone on the bass, a pick can be used in any type of music. I have found I have more control over my playing now and can do more in some cases than with fingers only. So just practice and go for it. If you find the attack is to much roll off the highs some. Good luck.

**Abrahampost** · #7 03-22-2013, 11:18 AM

I made the transition this past year and have fallen in love. I have a few grooves i cant quite lock inn still but i found the improvement in tone of a rigid pick on the low b string to be excellent. Everyone has their preferences, for me the switch made sense. Also, i found myself developing some new licks during the transition as well.

octaverazor · #8 03-22-2013, 11:24 AM

People always comment on my right hand. I switch between pick, finger and open hand. Sometimes in the same song.

GKon · #9 03-30-2013, 05:02 PM

I always used to play only using my fingers. I couldn't use a pick well, even if I wanted to.
From 2010-2012 I stopped playing bass and started learning to play bouzouki, which uses a pick. In 2012 I decided to switch back to bass.
After a few long practice sessions of finger picking an old hand/tendon injury was keeping me from playing with my fingers. Without even thinking about it, I grabbed a pick and started playing, no problems, no thought put into it...just playing. After a bit I had to remind myself to realize that I used to not be able to use a pick at all.
The 2 years of bouzouki helped me with that.

Now that I am in a gigging band again, after many years, I play some songs with a pick and others with my fingers, for reasons of sound/style. However, if/when my tendon problem kicks in, I know i can now rely on using a pick if need be.

Jbassrockboy · #10 03-31-2013, 05:43 AM

I play pick and fingers . I actually feel more comfortable with a pick and have recently progressed into jazz but my teacher encourages me to fingers. I actually prefer a softer more flexible pick

Orangeclawhamme · #11 03-31-2013, 06:18 AM

I could never play with a pick, but I got one of these six string short scale piccolo basses a couple of weeks ago.

I'm learning to use a pick with it so I can strum chords. I may try to adapt the technique to my regular bass, even though my friends who play bass discourage using a pick. I should point out that one of these is a pick player.

jaxstarke · #12 03-31-2013, 06:18 AM

Can't play with a pick to save my life. Wish I could but it just ain't happenin'. I'm talking mainly about metal style music with a lot of alternate picking and string jumping (check out Dave Ellefson).....just can't do it. Seems I'm "stuck" with finger style.

Fergie Fulton · #13 04-04-2013, 06:27 AM

Check out the link, it offers a few ideas to consider, reminds everyone that using a pick is an option to use as valid as any other technique....it is not limiting it is just another skill......and yes you are still a bass player for using one.......because you are playing bass with it.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Lp_kk-w3Puo&feature=plcp

MrLenny1 · #14 04-04-2013, 08:03 AM

Just work up your tunes with the pick prior to gigs & it will feel pretty
good on the gig.
I use a pick once in a while for tone & attack in some tunes.

mpdd · #15 04-04-2013, 09:31 AM

not always picking, but i noticed how cool my new jazz sounded with a pick recently and thought that it was a really nice contrast to the fingers

Johnnywad · #16 04-04-2013, 10:43 AM

Started out with a pick. Now switch between both. Depends on the sound and speed I need.

Fergie Fulton · #17 04-04-2013, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fergie Fulton

Check out the link, it offers a few ideas to consider, reminds everyone that using a pick is an option to use as valid as any other technique....it is not limiting it is just another skill......and yes you are still a bass player for using one.......because you are playing bass with it.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Lp_kk-w3Puo&feature=plcp

Better link now added, the other link caused connection problems for a few people........let me know if there are any issues with this one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lp_kk-w3Puo

fearceol · #18 04-04-2013, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fergie Fulton

Better link now added, the other link caused connection problems for a few people........let me know if there are any issues with this one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lp_kk-w3Puo

Nice one Fergie ! To my knowledge, there are not many video clips out there demonstrating the pick method in detail like this.

Fergie Fulton · #19 04-04-2013, 02:22 PM

Its one of my most request issues at clinics.....OK I play predominantly with my fingers, but I learned to use a pick back in the 1970's when it was a basic requisite to recording in some cases....record the line using a pick because it was the best signal available, so learning to damp from both hands was needed, but i developed the forefinger dampening which i called a "pinch damp' when playing lines that used a fast alternating stroke that the palm of the hand could not achieve on its own.
The pinch harmonics happened when I first went back to roundwounds as the flats did not really highlight them...so complete fluke in finding that my dampening from the forefinger offered another sound to use.

.

Jbassrockboy · #20 04-05-2013, 03:15 AM

Great demo of using a pick. Thanks.