drummer wants me to use a pick

[DrayMiles]

I’ve been hired because they need a bass player live. More than once I’ve worked in bands where there was another pro bass player, but he/she was playing something else in that lineup. Think about being Taylor Hawkins on drums for example.

A band is a team effort. You serve the song.

You serve the song based on your experience and abilities... but I always find myself having more experience with the bass than anyone I’m in a band with. That’s why I prefer sessions. Bands are a pain I’ve learned. I make no bones about it... I’m a mercenary. I get paid to have no opinion. It’s easier that way. I hope you can reach a point of compromise regarding your scenario... Although I’ll add that playing with a pick ain’t easy, but it’s a skill worth having. I’m fascinated by the sound Anthony Jackson gets. And the sound on Curtis Mayfield’s Trippin out. That’s pick playing at its finest.

 

[MD]

Next time the drummer brings it up....

"I'M NOT USING A F***** PICK!
WHAT IS IT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND?"

Done.

 

[JTE]

My first reaction was to say "I'll use a pick when you play everything with 7As and a traditional grip."

There's a lot of assumptions about picks, good and bad. Listen to Wilton Felder's playing on The Jackson 5's "I Want You Back". I emailed Mr. Felder and he said he never used a pick ever, always fingers. Yet people with preconceptions about sounds persist in positing that track could only be a pick. That is utter rectal-cranial inversion.

However, unless you try the parts with an alternate technique, you don't know if it's going to work for you. I suggest spending some time to learn to play with a pick and see if it helps you play these songs better.

 

[IamGroot]

You can emulate the pick sound with the edge of your mails. Use nail polish to keep em from breaking or wearing down.

Picks give a clearer note center. Also tends to smooth out players time.

Dickie Betts required all bass players after Berry Oakley to use a pick.

 

[Shimmi]

What kind of music do you play? Maybe a pick would be more suited. Worth looking at / trying before getting offended?

I'm not good with styles and genre jargon, but my drummer tells me its "thrashy" that's what we jam in our 2 man side band which is just Drums and Bass.

The other band we're both in is 3 piece pop punk/alternative chick rock/90s something or another. But its more than that, our drummer has strong metal influences, guitarist/singer is really into pop punk, and im into alternative rock stuff like the pixies and sonic youth so we tend to have a very mixed sound.

He thinks I should use a pick in both bands.

Also, I never expected(or did I?) such a large turnout of responses. I am also baffled by the interpretation and in depth emotion gathered from just a few short paragraphs of the situation.

Oh and just to clear things up, my drummer hears me just fine, and we do some hardcore hour+ long jam sessions and we vibe great so thats not an issue. I know how to play with him and he has my number as well so it has nothing to do with him needing me to play with pick or missing a beat he just thinks picks are cool... at least from our conversations thats what I'm getting, he's a metal head so go figure.

But I have come to a conclusion. I realize generally speaking our drummer is a very talented musician. He knows what sounds good and we have a lot of fun jamming together.
That being said when it comes to playing in a band, and playing live shows and writing songs, I have more experience. So down to it the subtle difference of pick vs fingers. It doesnt really matter. No one in the audience is gonna shout for me to play with a pick, no producers are going to tell me I need "more punch" and no groupies are not gonna sleep with me for not playing with a pick. Yeah maybe one day they'll be one or two music veterans in the crowd that have excellent ears that may say "Hey he'd get a better punch with a pick" but really thats not our target demographic.

So yeah, thanks for the dialogue and input, especially to those who didn't hop on the "screw the drummer train" you are a very modest bunch

 

[Matt B]

I'm not good with styles and genre jargon, but my drummer tells me its "thrashy" that's what we jam in our 2 man side band which is just Drums and Bass.

The other band we're both in is 3 piece pop punk/alternative chick rock/90s something or another. But its more than that, our drummer has strong metal influences, guitarist/singer is really into pop punk, and im into alternative rock stuff like the pixies and sonic youth so we tend to have a very mixed sound.

He thinks I should use a pick in both bands.

Also, I never expected(or did I?) such a large turnout of responses. I am also baffled by the interpretation and in depth emotion gathered from just a few short paragraphs of the situation.

Oh and just to clear things up, my drummer hears me just fine, and we do some hardcore hour+ long jam sessions and we vibe great so thats not an issue. I know how to play with him and he has my number as well so it has nothing to do with him needing me to play with pick or missing a beat he just thinks picks are cool... at least from our conversations thats what I'm getting, he's a metal head so go figure.

But I have come to a conclusion. I realize generally speaking our drummer is a very talented musician. He knows what sounds good and we have a lot of fun jamming together.
That being said when it comes to playing in a band, and playing live shows and writing songs, I have more experience. So down to it the subtle difference of pick vs fingers. It doesnt really matter. No one in the audience is gonna shout for me to play with a pick, no producers are going to tell me I need "more punch" and no groupies are not gonna sleep with me for not playing with a pick. Yeah maybe one day they'll be one or two music veterans in the crowd that have excellent ears that may say "Hey he'd get a better punch with a pick" but really thats not our target demographic.

So yeah, thanks for the dialogue and input, especially to those who didn't hop on the "screw the drummer train" you are a very modest bunch

From the genres you discribe a pick is more typical of what some would probably expect to hear. That said there should be no reason you can’t do what ever you want.

In terms of not noticing the difference. I think the difference are not subtle at all. Why not try it for a while. What is there to loose?

 

[Shimmi]

In terms of not noticing the difference. I think the difference are not subtle at all. Why not try it for a while. What is there to loose?

My time. I work 30 hours a week, I paint (art) 40++ hours and I spend the rest of the time jamming, which currently is a few minutes shy of 25 hours a week. I'm only 29 but I get tired, especially since there is no money in the music, at least not yet. Granted if I was getting paid I'd play with a lobster but alas its a labor of love.

Oh as far as picks being the genre described... I just assumed that was because 90s punk bands didnt know how to play without a pick... XD

 

[Matt B]

My time. I work 30 hours a week, I paint (art) 40++ hours and I spend the rest of the time jamming, which currently is a few minutes shy of 25 hours a week. I'm only 29 but I get tired, especially since there is no money in the music, at least not yet. Granted if I was getting paid I'd play with a lobster but alas its a labor of love.

Oh as far as picks being the genre described... I just assumed that was because 90s punk bands didnt know how to play without a pick... XD

Ha. Or they knew how to get the sound they wanted. If it’s that much easier than fingers to do well for the cost of 1 pick you will know in 2 minutes if it is any good

 

[mgauge]

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 I should use a pick.... Any way I can dumb it down for him?

He should stick to his drums lol

 

[Donzer]

I'm good with both pick and fingers - but I would want to know why that drummer has that opinion

 

[soulman969]

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 I should use a pick.... Any way I can dumb it down for him?

Well, you could just hand him your bass and take up residence on his drum stool. Maybe that'll make your point.

 

[Petro Tiahur]

I suggest you try it. If it actually sounds better and somehow you’re tighter as a unit, then you’ll be happy you tried. And the band will sound better too.

Using a pick is very percussive, and a lot of players have better timing with a pick naturally. I found for me when I first started playing bass with fingers there was a weird latency in my delivery. This of course went away as I got better. The attack/realease of a pick was faster than my finger at that time. Today I will use my fingers as a default but will reach for a pick if the music calls for it.

There is a possibility that you’re not loud enough for him and there is also a possibility that you’re so tight with the drummer he doesn’t hear you on his beat. (That’s a good thing)

I would try his suggestion. Be an adult about it. In the end it’s about playing music together and not bickering or worrying about image, etc. I would rather play bass with a pick then not play bass at all.

Just my opinion but trust me, you’re learning from my mistakes.

 

[Petro Tiahur]

My keyboard player sometimes asks me to use a pick, and he is usually right - some songs call for it. Also, it's nice to know that someone cares about my sound other than me ;-)

This is called having an open mind. I like how you roll.

 

[G L Raymond]

I started with fingers (prefer the creative feel), later switched to pick because my teacher insisted (prefer the sound). Now I use both depending on the type of song. I'd look at it as a positive opportunity to increase your versatility. In my current situation I use primarily the pick because I'm playing a 5 string fretless and the pick compensates to some extent for the lack of fret attack.

 

[bofus]

Try this: longer fingernails

When I spent some time on the acoustic, the pads of my fingers don't sound nearly as nice as the nails, so I grew them out on my right hand. I went to play bass with the longer nails and I liked the added "attack" that the nails gave. It sounds more like a pick, but it isn't and I didn't need to adjust my playing style.

 

[TH63]

I would tell him to play with his hands

Tell him to use chicken drumsticks, then tell him to use chopsticks, then toothpicks. Then tell him to chop off his hands at the wrists and play drums with bloody stumps. Then tell him to stop teling other musicians how to play their instruments!

 

[Gregory Becmer]

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 I should use a pick.... Any way I can dumb it down for him?

Tell him to mind his own shaging business. Play what you, YOU feel comfortable with. Or find a new Band !!!

 

[Hooskerdu]

He keeps saying he only wants me to "level up" he's a lot better at music in general . Phenominal guitar player and drummer, we just keep bumping heads and I don't understand his persistence... Because a lot of outlandishly good bass players use fingers, and a lot use picks, so I don't see why he prefers I use a pick. Enspecailly since they'll be a learning curve since I've been using fingers since I started. I used a pick back when I was in a metal band but now I can play fast enough to not need to use a pick.

I also think a pick sounds better in some cases. It also cuts through the mix better than finger playing. I use mostly fingers, but play with a pick on the songs...She Sells Sanctuary (The Cult), Teen Angst (Cracker), Saturday Nights Alright For Fighting, (Elton John), Dancing With Myself (Billy Idol), Learn to Fly (Foo Fighters), Rocking in the Free World (Neil Young), and Flagpole Sitta (Harvey Danger). Mostly songs with 16th notes, because it just sounds better overall, IMO. So, I suppose I play fingers probably 85% and with a pick 15%.

 

[bassinplace]

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 I should use a pick.... Any way I can dumb it down for him?

Your playing is your expression and you are free to do it any way you wish. If you don't want to play with a pick, then tell him you won't be doing so. Then you can get back to the business of playing.

 

[JacqueHarper]

I would tell him to play with his hands

Also tell your drummer he should be using nylon tip sticks. Or heavier ones, or lighter ones. Or wood tip sticks. Or brushes. Or Blastix. Or changing the heads on his drums to those oil-filled ones. Or putting the second head back on his bass drum. Or taking the second head off his bass drum. Or putting dampening tape on his tom heads. Or taking the dampening tape off his drum heads. Or using a felt beater on the bass drum. Or not using a felt beater on the bass drum.

Geez. What DO you say to someone who gets up in your business about how to play, especially when the choice has very particular stylistic and tonal implications? Maybe the thing to say is "I quit. I'll go find a band where I'm given the opportunity to improve without stupid and misdirected 'advice.'"