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Does anyone else find it difficult to play bass with a pick?
- Thread starter Sendaii
- Start date
I play several different instruments. I play classical guitar and some led-belly type stuff - all fingers. I also play mandolin...
I approach bass from different methodologies. It's funny that my first bass book (when I was knee high to a p-bass) was Carol Kaye bass method. She played with a pick on alot of her sessions.
Next thing you know - it's the 1970's. I was a big Yes & ELP fan. Entwistle as well as John Paul Jones used a pick technique when it was called for.
I learned alot of that stuff as it was played. (Greg Lake still gets no credit as a bass player. ... and because of him I lusted after a custome 8 string - see show us your bass thread)
I had seen John Paul Jones on the Zooma Tour. He attacked his Manson octave course Basses with a pick to wonderous sound.
I use a Fender Heavy triangle pick. The medium and thins don't cut the mustard. The Extra heavy picks don't have enough 'give'.
The standard shape picks didn't feel quite right in the grasp and usually slipped.
I actually took note of Robert Fripp's picking technique and remarked on what he considers the proper grasp. A simple thing yields amazing revelation. The triangle pick (using the Fripp grasp) never slips, and the attack is controlled and precise.
My 8-string is my primary instrument. I had it customized to my style of playing so the action is almost "pick specific", but I do use my fingers when the song calls for it, or at least if I'm feeling it.
I've never been a slapper, popper, hammerer whatever. Just no me, but I can bring the funk with pick in hand.
Don't knock the picks. Just another color in the palette.
I approach bass from different methodologies. It's funny that my first bass book (when I was knee high to a p-bass) was Carol Kaye bass method. She played with a pick on alot of her sessions.
Next thing you know - it's the 1970's. I was a big Yes & ELP fan. Entwistle as well as John Paul Jones used a pick technique when it was called for.
I learned alot of that stuff as it was played. (Greg Lake still gets no credit as a bass player. ... and because of him I lusted after a custome 8 string - see show us your bass thread)
I had seen John Paul Jones on the Zooma Tour. He attacked his Manson octave course Basses with a pick to wonderous sound.
I use a Fender Heavy triangle pick. The medium and thins don't cut the mustard. The Extra heavy picks don't have enough 'give'.
The standard shape picks didn't feel quite right in the grasp and usually slipped.
I actually took note of Robert Fripp's picking technique and remarked on what he considers the proper grasp. A simple thing yields amazing revelation. The triangle pick (using the Fripp grasp) never slips, and the attack is controlled and precise.
My 8-string is my primary instrument. I had it customized to my style of playing so the action is almost "pick specific", but I do use my fingers when the song calls for it, or at least if I'm feeling it.
I've never been a slapper, popper, hammerer whatever. Just no me, but I can bring the funk with pick in hand.
Don't knock the picks. Just another color in the palette.
Fingerstyle just always seemed more natural to me. I tend to fumble a pick and it doesn't shift string-to-string as smoothly as walking them with my fingers does. But I know that's just me and my lack of practice with them. I do turn to the pick from time to time, sometimes for the sharper attack and sometimes when I need more speed and less maneuverability, like on some of the heavier rock songs.
I play a little mandolin and have started teaching myself basic guitar chords and for some reason it never occurred to me to play them other than with a pick. It's just the feel of the instrument.
I play a little mandolin and have started teaching myself basic guitar chords and for some reason it never occurred to me to play them other than with a pick. It's just the feel of the instrument.
- Jul 8, 2009
- 1,612
- 11
- Disclosures
- A&R, Soulless Corporation Records
I don't really like the tone myself. But when I use it, I find straight tremolo easy. It's the string changes that get me.
I always prefer the sound of finger playing for every style of music. I just love the emotion and personal style that erupts from playing finger-style.
I tried playing with a pick the other day, and about half way through the first song I was playing, I threw the damn thing to the ground, and its still laying there weeks later. Different strokes for different folks.
I tried playing with a pick the other day, and about half way through the first song I was playing, I threw the damn thing to the ground, and its still laying there weeks later. Different strokes for different folks.
I can't play with a pick, but that's no problem because I hate the feel and sound of playing with a pick.
Never could negotiate a pick very well and that's why, in 1968, when I happened to pick up a bass, the light bulb went on. For some reason, fingerstyle and the bass register grabbed me and from that point on, all was wonderful. Never played with a pick again.
I do recognize that some songs require that tone and sound better with a pick, so I turn up the treble and pluck harder.
I do recognize that some songs require that tone and sound better with a pick, so I turn up the treble and pluck harder.
With me, it all depends which bass I use. With my P-Bass, it's fingerstyle all the way. I also play a bit more restrained with my P, and to me the longer scale and wider string spacing seems better suited for fingerstyle playing. However, when I strap on my Hofner Icon, it just seems to sound and play better with a pick, maybe due to the shorter scale and narrower string spacing; my playing is also a lot busier on the Hofner than on the P-Bass. I also use a Dunlop Tortex .50mm pick, which is pretty thin. I hate the clackiness of thick picks!
It's sure nice to have options!
It's sure nice to have options!
Yes. My pick chops have gone to heck. I used to play with a pick a lot as a kid, but not all the time. After eschewing picks for years i have trouble building up speed and doing some string crossing stuff with them. So I need to practice. This is not rocket science.
Are you a lefty playing righty?
I have a big problem picking because of that reason. My non-dominant hand motion just isn't the same.
I have a big problem picking because of that reason. My non-dominant hand motion just isn't the same.
Hmmm... I am a lefty playing righty, and that's probably why I don't get into picks.
Really?
Strange that Chris doesn't think so?FWIW, I feel that I don't need to use a pick for what I play so am exclusively fingerstyle. If a song really required it then, as many people said, I would (try to) use a pick, but unless its 100% vital I wouldnt. I dont practice with a pick because I dont personally see the need to use one, but everyone is different and there are plenty of people that probably think the complete opposite!
Me neither. That, and it's not the tone I go for...luckily. I like the old flatwound tone.
Out of the 11 songs in our "all original" set, i use a pick on about half of them and fingers on the other half, practice practice practice.....
i have been intrigued by the woman from clatter's approach. She plays with artificial nails (just as most classical guitar players do. I thought it might be fun to try that, although you probably have to commit to that style as regular fingerstyle might be tricky. Still, it might be a gas for a couple of weeks.
Almost always fingers, since I'm new and I started with fingers, now I find pick extremely awkward. I am also a small guy with short arms and fingers etc so I find it difficult to reach far enough to get in position with the pick! Otherwise I am scraping the edge of the pick across the string instead of hitting it perpendicular to the string, not a sound that is always wanted, just sometimes.
Fingerstyle is more practical (in terms of basic speed), but the pick sound cuts a little better. Also, there are some covers that do demand the pick.
I disagree on both counts. Whatever mental connection helps you play bass better is fine, but that whole "pickstyle is for guitarists" sentiment is completely bogus.
Also, I welcome the difference in dynamics (not tone) between alternate strokes and all downstrokes. I alternate when I want emphasis on every other note, and all down when I want extra power. If I were a pure pickplayer I suppose I'd devote the time into being equally good with either, but I use pickstyle less than 5% of the time.
This. My Squier P-bass clone is much more difficult to play with a pick. Luckily the style of music I'm playing doesn't demand one.
I love to play both styles but the problem playing pickstyle for me is alternate picking sixteenths at moderate tempo (something like 100-135 bpm).
If the tempo's quick(>135 bpm), I can tremolo my way through the notes and if it's <100 bpm, it's slow enough to be easy. Like everything else, though, I know it's only a matter of practice
Also, with picks, IME, it's really important to get a firm, thick one having a good surface with enough friction to prevent it slipping from your fingers. I use Dunlop 3.0 mm Big Stubbies and don't think I'll be using anything else ever again.
If the tempo's quick(>135 bpm), I can tremolo my way through the notes and if it's <100 bpm, it's slow enough to be easy. Like everything else, though, I know it's only a matter of practice
Also, with picks, IME, it's really important to get a firm, thick one having a good surface with enough friction to prevent it slipping from your fingers. I use Dunlop 3.0 mm Big Stubbies and don't think I'll be using anything else ever again.
