Critique my pick playing

[jeronimoski]

Hi all,

Messed up my middle finger so had to change to picking. Took some videos of my playing. Can’t seem to keep control of the pick; keeps moving around. Any suggestions on form position are greatly appreciated.

Note: it seems like I’m hitting the string at an angle.

Picking technique - Google Drive

drive.google.com

 

[JimmyM]

I wasn’t able to hear any sound, but does your pick make scritching sounds? Also, picks with some kind of grip or raised lettering should help you keep it in place.

 

[jeronimoski]

Yeah I have a gravity pick. I didn’t put any sound cause my iPhone was sitting on the strings for a better view for recording. Some scratching, a lot when I use a standard Dunlop teardrop style pick.

I wear my bass high but still notice that I pick at that angle. How do people who hold the bass low even bend their wrist to hit the strings evenly? Even with the gravity pick that has holes, I still have trouble with the pick moving around.

 

[JimmyM]

Yeah I have a gravity pick. I didn’t put any sound cause my iPhone was sitting on the strings for a better view for recording. Some scratching, a lot when I use a standard Dunlop teardrop style pick.

I wear my bass high but still notice that I pick at that angle. How do people who hold the bass low even bend their wrist to hit the strings evenly? Even with the gravity pick that has holes, I still have trouble with the pick moving around.

I wear it low and I just keep a straight wrist and for some reason it works for me.

 

[Klangfarbe]

Yep, no Sound.

Anyway, from what I saw, I would say that your whole right arm is not in a good position. It's too perpendicular to the strings, your hand is too much hovering over the strings. The whole position looks very tense.
I would suggest moving your arm more to the butt of the instrument and lay the palm of your hand on the bridge. By doing so, you can also easily control the string dampening by moving slightly back and forth.

 

[cymbop]

I play medium-high with fingers, but picking seems to go easier with a little lower hang on the strap.

 

[jeronimoski]

Yep, no Sound.

Anyway, from what I saw, I would say that your whole right arm is not in a good position. It's too perpendicular to the strings, your hand is too much hovering over the strings. The whole position looks very tense.
I would suggest moving your arm more to the butt of the instrument and lay the palm of your hand on the bridge. By doing so, you can also easily control the string dampening by moving slightly back and forth.

Yeah I’ve been working on that. Hurts a little cause I’m not accustomed to having arm snd wrist in that angle. But I do feel that my pick is hitting more perpendicular now. And I’m able to palm mute a little. I do like playing away from the bridge like Carol Kaye does. I play mostly fusion, funk, and some prog.

 

[Dirtnap]

Try holding the pick differently. Make a fist with your picking hand and slide the pick between the thumb and the side of the middle section of your index finger. I don't use a pick for bass, but I've never dropped a pick in thousands of hours of metal rhythm guitar playing.