Playing 'picked' songs with fingers

Tituscrow · #1 05-23-2011, 10:58 AM

Re Megadeth "My Last Words", IMHO, Ellefsons finest moment. Whilst I can pretty much nail it with my left hand, I can't get close to making it sound good playing it with fingers, so I am happy to use a pick for that song. And it's a hard one to master I can assure you. Listen and give it a go if in any doubt...

The point of the question then, is are there any songs you cover that as (predominantly) a finger player you use a pick? Or vice versa?

thombo · #2 05-23-2011, 11:10 AM

when playing in cover bands, i usually try to use whatever the original bassist used. as i've always been a finger-player, it is more difficult for me to play with a pick and i like the challenge.

ZombieSpacebat · #3 05-23-2011, 02:01 PM

I am a pick player with most of my own stuff but when it comes to covers i'll try to use what the original was done with, but 90% of the time it makes no real difference to me. There are songs that i feel should always be done with fingers/pick that the original used, such as maiden songs should be done finger style and tool songs should be picked etc. But, hey, whatever feels right to the player is what matters most IMO.

etechstan · #4 05-25-2011, 04:33 AM

Fingers on bass, pick on guitar for me. Tried pick on bass and fingers on guitar and it just didn't work for me.

JimmyM · #5 05-25-2011, 05:21 AM

i just do whatever i think is best. i've played songs that were recorded with fingers with a pick, and songs i thought that were done with a pick that turned out to be fingers. really doesn't matter in the end.

Duke21 · #6 05-25-2011, 05:30 AM

I play pick 99% of the time, but on for instance "Every Breath you take" by The Police I feel like I must use fingers, cant get the right tone/ feel with a pick. I'm not sure what Sting used on that song I guess fingers, he played quite much with a pick earlier, but today is mostly fingers and thumb.

When I play Rush tunes, I play with a pick, I'm not good/ fast with fingers, and it is easier for me to get the Geddy tone with a pick, even though he use fingers.

JimmyM · #7 05-25-2011, 05:33 AM

on the synchronicity live dvd, he's using a pick.

Duke21 · #8 05-25-2011, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

on the synchronicity live dvd, he's using a pick.

That DVD is form the early 80s?
I've The Police DVD from their last tour (which is just simply great!), I think he used only fingers/ thumb there, not sure have to dig into that show again! :-)

JimmyM · #9 05-25-2011, 05:42 AM

ya, he quit using a pick once he got that early 50's precision, but that was well after the police.

Duke21 · #10 05-25-2011, 05:54 AM

Didn't he used that 50's p bass on the very early Police tunes like Fall Out? I know that later on he used various basses, such as Thunderbird and others I can't remember.
I know that on "The Police Live" CD where you see him and Andy up in the air, Sting is holding a white bass, he clearly holding a pick there.
On Every Breath You Take on this CD it sound like he could be using a pick. It also sounds like he have some chorus on. In addition he plays fewer notes (than on the studio version 8 notes per bar) early in the song.

the yeti · #11 05-25-2011, 06:01 AM

i think early on he was using ibanez, not sure though...

on topic- lately when i want to play something pick style i use the tip of my index finger as if it were the pick. (mostly 'cos i can't keep up with picks)

JimmyM · #12 05-25-2011, 06:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duke21

Didn't he used that 50's p bass on the very early Police tunes like Fall Out? I know that later on he used various basses, such as Thunderbird and others I can't remember.

nope, he got that when he was filming the video for his solo version of "demolition man". he told his assistant to get him the ugliest nastiest looking bass he could find, and the assistant came back with that precision. he liked it so much he bought it and made it his main player ever since.

Duke21 · #13 05-25-2011, 06:21 AM

Funny story!
Well, any way following the tone of some artist like Sting, it is not always trivial to hear if they are using a pick or fingers. Some of Geddy stuff sound like nothing but a pick, but... well, with the right technique and EQ one can use a pick for finger tone, or fingers for pick tone. The Chris Squire tone, I can't see that tone obtained without a pick.

pnut166 · #14 05-25-2011, 06:28 AM

I play some Newsted stuff with fingers; some Burton stuff with a pick.

DwaynieAD · #15 05-25-2011, 06:30 AM

YouTube - ‪August Burns Red - Composure‬&rlm;

used to play this song finger style in my last band

Tituscrow · #16 05-25-2011, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duke21

Funny story!
Well, any way following the tone of some artist like Sting, it is not always trivial to hear if they are using a pick or fingers. Some of Geddy stuff sound like nothing but a pick, but... well, with the right technique and EQ one can use a pick for finger tone, or fingers for pick tone. The Chris Squire tone, I can't see that tone obtained without a pick.

Agree. Some songs only work with one or the other. My band cover 'the pot' by tool and it just doesn't quite hit the spot without the bite of a pick. Like an above poster, I sometimes hold the tip of my index finger between thumb and second finger as if it were a pick. This allows you to seamlessly move between tones in a single song.
Eric Avery, Duff McKagan etc...not particulary special players, but an undeniable tone that is all theirs due in no small part to their pick use. So if we knock out a janes addiction tune, fingers don't quite do it.

Russell foulkes · #17 05-28-2011, 08:59 AM

Ironically i play in a megadeth tribute band and use my fingers. ive tried and tried to use a plectrum, but it just cramps my wrist up.while i wish i could be more authentic ive never had any complaints from crowds or band mates anbout the tone i get. just hit it hard! haha

Floyd Eye · #18 05-28-2011, 09:05 AM

I play "Sober" (Tool) with my fingers. I play "Whatever" (Godsmack) with a pick. It's opposite of how they did it, but it works for me.

Tituscrow · #19 05-28-2011, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Floyd Eye

I play "Sober" (Tool) with my fingers. I play "Whatever" (Godsmack) with a pick. It's opposite of how they did it, but it works for me.

Interesting. How do you play Sober without a pick? When we play it, I also play it without a pick by using my index fingernail on the downstroke and thumbnail on the upstroke, strumming all four strings at once (obviously in drop D). You the same?

Floyd Eye · #20 05-28-2011, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tituscrow

Interesting. How do you play Sober without a pick? When we play it, I also play it without a pick by using my index fingernail on the downstroke and thumbnail on the upstroke, strumming all four strings at once (obviously in drop D). You the same?

Slap the D with my thumb and use my index and ring fingers on the rest of the strings.