Using a pick?

moondoggy900 · #1 11-16-2006, 08:07 PM

Ok I know this question has probabaly been asked a bazillion, yes bazillion time, but I need to know or at least need some advice. I've been playing for 4 months now so I'm still a begginer. I have used my finger since day one, but I am interested in using a pick because of how it sounds. Although, when I used a pick it sound awful. Specially on my E string, it buzzed about everywhere I play with it worst on the 4th fret. I assumed it was my bass so I took it in for set up. Guy said it looks fine and everything was in order. I told him my delema and he raised my action. That didnt work still buzzy and twangy, and all and all doesnt sound good. Now is it possibly I'm playing to hard with the pick. I meen I'm playing with what I think to be a un-agressive picking style, but it still sounds bad. Up-strokes sound god-awful. So can someone give me and idea how hard I supposed to pick, and what good form. Also if Im gonna be using a pick should I choose a different string type? Right now I have on nickle round woods there a medium light gauge so I dont know. Pleasue someone give me advice.

Spencer! · #2 11-16-2006, 08:14 PM

It's all in the wrist. Practice making very small motions with your wrist as if you're turning a door knob.

moondoggy900 · #3 11-16-2006, 09:38 PM

Ok cool. Thanks for the help, but how light should your picking be.

The BurgerMeister · #4 11-16-2006, 09:50 PM

if you want to play quietly, pick soft. if you want to play loud, pick hard.

remember this, too: an EQ setting that sounds good with fingers may not sound good with a pick. turn down the treble if it's up loud.

but i think it's technique, for the most part. it's in the wrist and forearm. practice the small turning motions, like the other poster said.
also, make sure you're pressing hard on the notes with your left hand, and that you're playing the notes as close as possible to the next fret.

like this:
g: /........./......../
d: /........./......../
a: /........./......../
e: /.......*/......../
(G#) (A)

make sure your finger is where the * is. sorry for my crappy diagram... i tried. i hope it makes sense! (the "..." represents the strings, the "/" represents the frets.)

if your finger is in the wrong place, or you're not pressing hard enough with your finger, you'll get nasty buzz!

SirCanealot · #5 11-17-2006, 02:59 AM

I'm practicing with pick a little right now, and the EQ I use for fingers (plenty of treble, solo the neck pickup a lot, boost highish mids sometimes) doesn't work for pick. For pick I need to kill the treble and boost low mids quite a bit. Then I get quite a nice tone. Just mess around... But it's all in the wrist, yeah... I still can't alternate pick 8th notes very well ^^

BaldBass · #6 11-17-2006, 05:28 AM

I have three words of advice
Practice Practice Practice

moondoggy900 · #7 11-17-2006, 05:35 AM

Ok, yea I have a crap amp too, 15 watts, could that have something to do with it?

ric1312 · #8 11-17-2006, 08:02 AM

Ya, you may be picking too hard. To hard and it will buzz with a pick or with fingers.

jsbass · #9 11-17-2006, 08:23 AM

I find that since I have a Jazz bass I not only cut the treble on my EQ I also cut the tone on my bass way down as well. That way you can cut all that extra unwanted noise.

jsbass · #10 11-17-2006, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SirCanealot

But it's all in the wrist, yeah... I still can't alternate pick 8th notes very well ^^

Yeah, Alternate picking is especially hard on the E.

moondoggy900 · #11 11-17-2006, 01:43 PM

I too have a jazz bass, and I notice the same thing the extra tone cause it to sound more punchy and metallic which sounda awful, but since I have a crap ass 15 what amp if I cut down tone and stuff....well my amp doesnt really make noise...

EricF · #12 11-17-2006, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BaldBass

I have three words of advice
Practice Practice Practice

+1000

It's a technique issue. Picking with even, efficient, and solid strokes takes time to learn. Making sure you are fretting correctly is important no matter how you pluck the string. Your fretting finger should be pressing the string down immediately behind the fret and with enough pressure to keep it from rattling. Being accurate and consistant with your finger placement goes a long way towards clean playing.

Lowpro · #13 11-17-2006, 09:48 PM

Heh, I have no real way to describe how I pick, because I taught myself. Your question pretty much seems answered but keep this thought in mind. Be quick when you strike. You need very very fast good wrist action to pop the string and move on back with it. I taught myself this when I started getting more intense with my left hand muting, and both improved because I started just going as fast as I could for a few minutes. It's exausting, but it helps. That's a good form of practice, and you have play it all in scales or how you might have taught yourself with fingerstyle.

Let your pick always boss the strings around =)

moondoggy900 · #14 11-17-2006, 10:00 PM

Thanks you for all your pointer, now I've seen people pick in different places, but most people who I know, who use J-basses pluck near the bridge is this a good idea or not?

JimmyM · #15 11-17-2006, 10:03 PM

Go to carolkaye.com and read her tips for pick playing. Playing by the bridge is a bad idea because it can cause crippling hand pain. Sounds good, yes, but I used to get severe pains in my hand and wrist when I did it, then I learned Carol's method, and now my hand doesn't hurt at all anymore.

duo8675309 · #16 11-19-2006, 12:44 AM

Here's a tip, try playing closer to the neck. Or closer to the bridge. The part of the string where you pluck/pick/slap/anything can effect your tone a lot. I find that when I pick I have to play closer to the neck to bring out the bass in it, since I too have a crap 15 watt and I can't boost the bass on the amp without getting a "fart overdrive". Also when playing with your fingers try playing at different parts too. I normally play right over the pickups, but when i play Californication I play closer to the neck. And when I play the main riff to Bulls on parade I have to play closer to the bridge to get that attack that he has. Actually nothing I do works on that. But yea sometimes if i want to be quiet or punchy I play toward the bridge. Its really interesting at what a difference in tone it makes.

Flintc · #17 11-19-2006, 08:07 PM

Here's more than you ever wanted to know about picking style. I personally have a variety of picks to get a variety of souds. Mostly I play with a Wedgie soft rubber pick, which sounds like a fingertip with no pick noise at all.

Lowpro · #18 11-19-2006, 08:52 PM

So is it a little out of whack to be using a 3mm pick? Because as I said before the trouble I have with picks are that most are too bendy. If I am able to just get a good pluck with the tip of the pic, rather than hit randomly allowing the pic to bend off gives too much of a slurred tone. With a thick plastic pick I get some serious attack, which I can't get using a .88 or 1.14.