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am i the only person with this technique?

C

cubano1147

Feb 26, 2010
14
0
#1
I play bass in a metal band and i use my fingers. But i also have a thump pick for the really fast tremolo parts that the bass drum is doing double pedal. People always ask me after shows why i chose to use this style and what made me decide to use it. Am i the only person who does this? Because it seems like every bass player is either strictly fingers or pick, theres never a hybrid sort of what like i'm doing.
 
#2
cubano1147 said:
I play bass in a metal band and i use my fingers. But i also have a thump pick for the really fast tremolo parts that the bass drum is doing double pedal. People always ask me after shows why i chose to use this style and what made me decide to use it. Am i the only person who does this? Because it seems like every bass player is either strictly fingers or pick, theres never a hybrid sort of what like i'm doing.
Click to expand...

I'm sure that, somewhere on Talkbass, there is someone who does the exact same thing you do.
I like using thumb-picks. But not at the same time as fingers.

What style of metal do you play, by the way?
 
#3
Sounds like something I might have to try, just to know whether I like it or not. I've never thought about it before. I tend to either make two fingers work really fast, incorporate my ring finger (still working on this) or use a pick, but never a combination....

Food for thought...
 
#6
I tried it for a while back in the day (1974-76) in the orignal prog type band I was in - I found it handy for strumming the odd chord here and there!!. I found that it got in the way when I wasn't using it and felt uncomfortable to wear after a while so I stopped using it - about that time I discovered slapping and it defnitely had to go then!!.

Nowadays I do something similar by holding my thumb and first finger as if I was holding a pick and strumming with the nail on my first finger. The legendary Bernard Edwards of Chic called it "chucking".
 
#10
cubano1147 said:
I play bass in a metal band and i use my fingers. But i also have a thump pick for the really fast tremolo parts that the bass drum is doing double pedal. People always ask me after shows why i chose to use this style and what made me decide to use it. Am i the only person who does this? Because it seems like every bass player is either strictly fingers or pick, theres never a hybrid sort of what like i'm doing.
Click to expand...
I've never been able to get my head around thumb picks. Just not for me. I do use my thumb and fingers for playing classical style bass chords(Indivdual notes but in a chord shape). I know other bassists use this as well but I rarely see other bassists do this.
 
#11
plangentmusic said:
I'm sure nothing is exclusively original.
Click to expand...



That's not true.


Buzzi said:
I have already thought it could be a good approach for certain songs I play, but really never tried. Maybe because I never saw anyone doing.

Think I will give it a try
Click to expand...

Just do it. Just because you've never saw any one do means nothing. Definitely give it a try. And don't worry about what others think or say.

I developed a technique that I have never ever seen any one do before me. And people who see me do it and utilize it in a song all comment that they have never seen mentioned technique before.
 
#13
PJSShearer said:
I tried it for a while back in the day (1974-76) in the orignal prog type band I was in - I found it handy for strumming the odd chord here and there!!. I found that it got in the way when I wasn't using it and felt uncomfortable to wear after a while so I stopped using it - about that time I discovered slapping and it defnitely had to go then!!.

Nowadays I do something similar by holding my thumb and first finger as if I was holding a pick and strumming with the nail on my first finger. The legendary Bernard Edwards of Chic called it "chucking".
Click to expand...

Oh yes;
Chucking is quite handy, both with and without attack.
 
#14
Actually I have done this before, but i found it to be a little uncomfortable, and I'm able to keep up with my fingers in my band. But I did think about getting another finger pick for my pinky to make 4 finger plucking easier. Haven't tried it yet so I don't know if it'll work out.
 
#15
I used thumbpicks for years. As the OP said, you can easily switch from fingerstyle to picking within the same song without dropping your pick.
Worked great for me. I never really thought it was an especially unique technique.
 
#17
You are not alone, but we are a very rare breed. I've been using thumbpicks at least 15 years and am always getting questioned about it. It really opens up several new worlds of techniques once you adapt to it.

Fact is, it took me well over a year to just get used to it being on my thumb and callous up around my thumbnail so it didn't hurt. So I understand those that tried it and quit. You have to be really stubborn and determined to make it work for you.

or at least, i did...
 
#18
i like national thumbicks. Large cause of my huge arsed thumbs.

picked up the habit from my maternal grandfather ... he grew up in eastern KY ... played mostly old-school bluegrass style on guitar and banjo. there was always a thumbpick or 2 laying around.
 
#19
I tried using a thumb pick years ago. Mainly a hold over from my finger pickin' guitar days. There were some instances where it was just the perfect thing, but somewhere along the line I made the decision to just play with fingers. I suppose it wasn't "my thing" enough to make it My Thing. But I'd advise you to play with it for a while. Try it out. Doesn't matter if it's been done before 'cause the way you do it will be all your own.

Here's what I used to use....

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 

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