When covering songs...

djzap · #1 10-23-2008, 07:25 PM

Hey everyone, first post here, been lurking for a while, seems like a nice community so i decided to ask this question here. I'll start off by saying I play with a pick. In this cover band that I'm in, we're playing Hysteria by Muse. I listened to this song and learned it using my pick and I later found out that the bassist in Muse uses his fingers. I am very new to fingerstyle and even tho I've been practicing it for weeks, I still can't get it with my fingers, but I can play it perfectly with the pick. What I'm asking is, would it be considered OK to use a pick when the original song uses fingerstyle?

Vic Winters · #2 10-23-2008, 07:26 PM

Sure.

Largedon · #3 10-23-2008, 07:27 PM

Yeah, thats not a problem. I wouldn't get to stressed over cover songs. No where does it say you have to play a cover song just like the original. Be yourself and play the song your way.

MarkMyWordsXx · #4 10-23-2008, 07:28 PM

no one is going to call you out on that, and so what if they do?

can you make it sound like the song?

StyleOverShow · #5 10-23-2008, 07:29 PM

Whatever works. Welcome to TB.

Stumbo · #6 10-23-2008, 07:29 PM

Hey, if it sounds good with a pick, why not?
You might cut your highs a bit to take off the pick click.
Welcome to TB.

progrockbass · #7 10-23-2008, 07:31 PM

Go nuts play how you play... only another bassist would know that anyway...

jwoiton · #8 10-23-2008, 07:32 PM

I've done most of my bass playing with a pick also. When I've tried to use my fingers I've found that it takes time to build up the callouses on your plucking hand just like it does on your fret hand. Just keep practicing.

djzap · #9 10-23-2008, 07:35 PM

it's pretty hard to get the same fuzz as in the song when you dont have the same pedals but i got a close enough sound using a mix of my bass' eq and my pedal so it sounds ok. thanks for the advice, i was stressing out over it because i thought people would think i was less of a bass player or some sh*t. you know the stuff they come up with...

nofrets5 · #10 10-23-2008, 07:45 PM

For now use a pick, and in your practice time, work your fingers up to speed. You may still find you prefer the pick, but getting the fingers up for the job only makes you more versatile. Either way, keep it fun !

ihassiphilus · #11 10-23-2008, 08:12 PM

Who cares about pick versus fingers. Honestly, people who think they can play better and are somehow holier because 'I only play fingerstyle' are retarded. 'You can't slap with a pick' is stupid logic. How often do most people really slap anyway (rhetorical question).

rzpooch · #12 10-25-2008, 12:28 PM

Play it how you want! As long as the groove is close it's all good. A lot of bands don't play their tunes the same way all the time anyway, especially guitars and keys.

Thump Jr. · #13 10-25-2008, 12:32 PM

If you play it better with a pick, play it with a pick. I bet it sounds really good pickstyle. I play Hysteria fingerstyle, but that's just because I play everything fingerstyle. Kudos for covering a great tune!

UncleBalsamic · #14 10-25-2008, 12:40 PM

+1 to what everyone else is saying.

Also welcome to TB

dave64o · #15 10-27-2008, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djzap

... but I can play it perfectly with the pick. ...

You answered your own question right there. Play it however your most comfortable as long as you can play it.

Besides, I'd be shocked if more than one or two people in the audience have any idea you're "cheating" (I say that facetiously!

) . If they complain or put you down, then you know their heads are up their butts. Seriously. Ignore them.

That being said, it's probably worth learning fingerstyle in the future just for the tonal variations. I started fingerstyle and only recently started trying a pick but I'm glad I did. Sometimes it just makes the right amount of difference, even if it's only to my ears. Eventually, I'll have to learn to slap too. Not that I play anything that needs it right now, but it would just be good to have another option at my disposal in case I do need it sometime.

Oh! Henry · #16 10-27-2008, 10:46 AM

I play that song in my cover band as well. It sounds less like a fuzzy mess when I use a pick, the bright attack of the pick makes the notes more defined.

Used the tools you need to get the job done.

ga_edwards · #17 07-07-2009, 09:24 AM

I play Chic's 'Everybody Dance' with a pick. A lot easier and less bloody than the original way Bernard played it.

DerBass008 · #18 07-07-2009, 11:29 AM

Play what you got to play. If you need using a pick, just do that. Don't stick with that stuff. It's just the way that you're comfortable with. So, let that stuff go.