drummer wants me to use a pick

[ScrewDevil]

Suggest he use tympani mallets.

 

[Sixgunn]

You are the one making no sense, this is not even what we are discussing in this thread and it seems like you are settled to misunderstand what I say on purpose.

This is what you said: "playing with a pick does really sound very differently than playing with your fingers, a more punchy tone with more emphasis on the attack of the notes,".

I completely disagree and gave an example. You then backpedaled and started getting into specific finger styles.

 

[TuneSalad666]

This is what you said: "playing with a pick does really sound very differently than playing with your fingers, a more punchy tone with more emphasis on the attack of the notes,".

I completely disagree and gave an example. You then backpedaled and started getting into specific finger styles.

So I am not allowed to specify?

It matters what specific technique you use, finger style is not just finger style, and what technique you use does have an impact on the tone, however you can never sound exactly like using a pick using your fingers and all this relates to the topic of this specific thread where I assume OP is using traditional finger picking style, which is what I commented on first, before you came with examples of more untraditional finger picking styles that sounds more like a pick, which got me to specify.

Also please read the updated comment of mine you quote.

 

[turbo2256b]

i cant even hold a pick tried but never could. like to keep my pinky and ring finger nails a bit long. might be a way out if you try and let the pic fly out of your hand after a few hits

 

[dtripoli]

Increase the treble level on your amp, hold a pick in your hand while talking to the drummer so he sees it.
Then turn your back to the drummer, drop the pick in your pocket and play using your fingers.
Repeat as needed.

 

[Sixgunn]

So I am not allowed to specify?

It matters what specific technique you use, finger style is not just finger style, and what technique you use does have an impact on the tone, however you can never sound exactly like using a pick using your fingers and all this relates to the topic of this specific thread where I assume OP is using traditional finger picking style.

Also please read the updated comment of mine you quote.

I'm trying to break this down as simply as I can. You made a blanket statement to which I disagreed with and gave an example. You then effectively changed your story and made it less of a blanket statement (you specified). A technique commonly referred to as "moving the goal post".

 

[TuneSalad666]

I'm trying to break this down as simply as I can. You made a blanket statement to which I disagreed with and gave an example. You then effectively changed your story and made it less of a blanket statement (you specified). A technique commonly referred to as "moving the goal post".

What about just trying to understand my angle, instead of trying build up conspiracy theories about me attacking you in all sort of clever thought out ways?

And what story?

This is not a competition of who has the best story, it's a dynamic discussion.

Also I didn't changed my "story", I specified.

If anything you are the one who changed the story by applying an alternative angle.

My original comment was me assuming the OP used traditional finger picking style.

Then you came with examples of untraditional finger picking styles that sounds more like using a pick.

Which got me to specify including those alternative untraditional styles in my argument, while my conclusion remained the same:

No matter how you use your fingers it will never sound exactly like using a pick.

Should I rather have ignored your angle on the argument in my reply to you and have stated exactly the same once more?

I am sure though that if you glue picks to you fingernails it will sound like using a pick, but that is not really what we are discussing here.

 

[Mr.Ace]

Personally I would say, OK! I would bring a pic to the next rehearsal, and just unleash a flurry of wild notes, and fast picking the entire time. That’s just me though.

 

[Sixgunn]

What story, this is not a competition of who has the best story, it's a dynamic discussion.

And I didn't changed my "story", I specified.

My original comment was me assuming the OP used traditional finger picking style.

Then you came with examples of untraditional finger picking styles that sounds more like using a pick.

Which got me to specify including those alternative untraditional styles in my argument, while my conclusion remained the same:

No matter how you use your fingers it will never sound exactly like using a pick.

Should I rather have ignored your angle on the argument in my reply to you and have stated exactly the same once more?

Oi vey! You made a blanket statement about pick playing that had nothing to do with the OP's style of finger playing. Again: "playing with a pick does really sound very differently than playing with your fingers, a more punchy tone with more emphasis on the attack of the notes". I disagreed. THEN you got specific. There are MANY different finger style techniques just as there are many different pick techniques. I totally agree that finger playing won't sound the same as pick playing and visa-versa but I absolutely disagree with your general statement that pick playing is punchier or more attack emphasized.

 

[pappabass]

Tell him that you want him to use a single Kick Drum, a single Tom, single cymbal. It takes true talent to use less drums

 

[TuneSalad666]

Oi vey! You made a blanket statement about pick playing that had nothing to do with the OP's style of finger playing. Again: "playing with a pick does really sound very differently than playing with your fingers, a more punchy tone with more emphasis on the attack of the notes". I disagreed. THEN you got specific. There are MANY different finger style techniques just as there are many different pick techniques. I totally agree that finger playing won't sound the same as pick playing and visa-versa but I absolutely disagree with your general statement that pick playing is punchier or more attack emphasized.

I give up.

You win!

Happy?

This is hopeless.

I am trying to have a genuine discussion here, and you are more interested in making conspiracy theories of how I am attacking you and avoiding your input, which couldn't be farther from the truth.

You are the one who got specific, which I replied on, changing my original angle a bit to accommodate your alternative angle on the story, while sticking to my main point that finger playing will never sound exactly like a pick.

 

[Sixgunn]

I give up.

You win!

Happy?

This is hopeless.

I am trying to have a genuine discussion here, and you are more interested in making conspiracy theories of how I am attacking you and avoiding your input, which couldn't be farther from the truth.

I don't feel you are attacking me at all. You made a generalization that I disagreed with and you are have a very hard time coming to grips with that.

 

[TuneSalad666]

I don't feel you are attacking me at all. You made a generalization that I disagreed with an you are have a very hard time coming to grips with that.

As I already explained my original post that you commented on was me assuming OP used traditional finger style, related to the actual topic of the thread.

You are the one who got specific, which I replied on, changing my original angle a bit to accommodate your alternative angle on the story, while sticking to my main point that finger playing will never sound exactly like a pick.

Something we disagree on I understand, but no reason to call me out as someone who is just being contrary for the sake of it, which seems more like your table, honestly.

 

[Sixgunn]

You are the one who got specific, which I replied on, changing my original angle a bit to accommodate your alternative angle on the story, while sticking to my main point that finger playing will never sound exactly like a pick.

As I already explained my original post was me assuming OP used traditional finger style, related to the actual topic of the thread.

Something we disagree on I understand, but no reason to call me out as someone who are just being contrary for the sake of it, which seems more like your table, honestly.

More like my table? As if I or anyone was clairvoyant enough to know about your assumption, Lol. How does one not get specific to a generalization? ANY example would be specific due to the very nature of a non-specific generalization.

 

[Krisfield]

Drummer, can you use more ride cymbal please....

 

[TuneSalad666]

More like my table? As if I or anyone was clairvoyant enough to know about your assumption, Lol. How does one not get specific to a generalization? ANY example would be specific due to the very nature of a non-specific generalization.

I mentioned what my assumption was several times in my replies to you, something you blatantly chose to ignore in your answers, I assume to get your point through.

Also is it so strange to assume one use traditional finger picking style, as I would claim 90% of all finger players use, you know relating to the actual topic of the thread, and not the alternative more exotic untradional techniques that you used as an argument.

 

[Giffro]

So our drummer keeps pushing me to use a pick. Implying I'll be better if I use a pick. I keep telling him it has nothing to do with skill level and I always preferred using fingers... His reasoning is when he plays bass he uses a pick and he "sounds better than me" so For 50+ yearsI should use a pick.... Any way I can dumb it down for him?

For 50+ years I have exclusively used a pick and cant play with my fingers, but I wouldnt let a drummer tell me how to play my own bass guitar. If you are happy with fingers show him your middle one and continue playing the way you play the best..with your fingers!

 

[longfinger]

Ah talk bass..

I play with fingers, pretty much always, but even without practice, some things are easier and clearer with a pick.

For example, everyone here take the bass and improvise a bass line with constant, or at least plentiful, 16th notes using your fingers. Start the metronome at 110bpm. Keep cranking the metronome until you hear unevenness or until it gets uncomfortable to do for the length of a whole song.

Then do the same with a pick. Same bass line, constant, plentiful, or syncopated 16th notes, start at 110bpm and keep raising until you can no longer be relaxed and comfortable enough to last a whole song.

Even though I never play bass with a pick, I can outperform my fingers with a pick in this specific kind of bass line once the tempos go faster than 120bpm. Once the plectrum machine is chugging out 16th attacks the rest is easy. With fingers, it quickly becomes a chore so I'll play quarters, and eighths, but with a bigger sound that fingers give. With a pick, I can do constant 16th notes at 160bpm, with fingers I cannot. And I never play bass with a pick. If I practiced...

So what kind of bass lines I'd be doing, is a factor in deciding if I'll play fingers of pick. I prefer the tone of fingers, so I stick with that and make bass lines to fit.

Your drummer might be better off remarking if your rhythm attacks are in time with him or the guitar and then suggesting that a pick might help, or more practice at home with fingers. It depends. Timbre is also a factor.

It also perfectly fine to suggest to drummers that mallets or brushes might be better in certain situations. "Mallet roll on the floor tom to start it off". "Brushes on the snare", "Mallets on the ride cymbal roll" It sounds quite different than sticks. Often they do this already without being told. Sometimes a suggestion is needed. It's all part of the arrangement.

Maybe he's talking nonsense. We don't know.

 

[Sixgunn]

I mentioned what my assumption was several times in my replies to you, something you blatantly chose to ignore in your answers, I assume to get your point through.

Also is it so strange to assume one use traditional finger picking style, as I would claim 90% of all finger players use, you know relating to the actual topic of the thread, and not the alternative more exotic untradional techniques that you used as an argument.

This could open up a whole new can of worm in regards to what "traditional or un-traditional finger style" even is. There are a lot of players like Geddy or Steve Harris who have a lot of attack and punch (I can't think of a pick player who has more) who would possibly be considered more "traditional" than Entwistle.

 

[sawzalot]

Tell him the best bassists in the world don’t need a pick and neither do you. Then tell him he’d sound better if he played with match grip (or traditional grip, whichever he doesn’t use) and ask how he likes being told how to play his instrument.