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Fingerstyle sounds terrible after playing with a pick!

#41
I played many years with both fingers and pick. Some things just sounded better with a pick. I went to amps with 2 foot-switchable channels, because volume and eq were so different. Worked fine for me, and didn't slow down the show while I reset everything.
 
#44
taylor16 said:
Damn. Didn't expect to turn this into a pick vs finger style war. Curiously, after waking up this morning and plugging in and playing with my fingers, everything sounded "normal" again to me. Then I picked up the pick and I was floored with the punch and attack. I just think that after playing last night for a couple of hours with a pick, my ear just became used to the tone abe the alternative just appeared dull to me. Just a matter of perspective, I guess.
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You love the sound, so you should stick with it. Whatever compels you to pick up the axe and get some woodshedding in. :thumbsup:

Consider Miles Davis! There was a time when he wouldn't play without a harmon mute in his trumpet and he greatly influenced jazz and contemporary music in general. His muted trumpet sound became iconic.

I wonder if Miles had to deal with ass'es like me riding him for not using the full tonal capabilities of his horn? :roflmao:
 
#45
ticol07 said:
The thing is that pick playing produces a sound with less lows and more mids and highs than finger playing.
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Not always true ...

There are many ways to use a pick and many ways to use your fingers.

For instance if you palm mute while pick playing then you get a thud sound. If you use the Entwistle typewriter method you get a lot of treble and mid overtones. Slapping can produce a tone similar to picking.
 
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#48
IMO, there's nothing better than a brand new fresh set of stainless steel strings (especially Rotosounds), played with a pick, thru a really clean sounding rig. Who needs pedals!! But, I look at things realistically and realize that I can simply do more with the 3 fingers and a thumb technique. So, I have to compromise. Therefore, I'm a 65%/35% (fingers/pick) player.
I would say that's what defines my tone. That was the main reason that when I was gigging steady, I'd change strings on my basses that I gigged every single week, religiously. I love that really springy, stainless steel string grind with a pick-type of tone for rock and metal.
 
#55
taylor16 said:
I've been forcing myself to learn to play with a pick the last few weeks and have really come to like the tone and attack of the pick sound. Sounds great with overdrive as well. Problem is that going back to fingerstyle sounds lifeless and dull. Fortunately, I have set up my pedals and preamp such that my attack is just sharp enough on my Precision basses with the tone rolled down halfway leaving me to crank the tone knob all the way up for playing with my fingers. Anyone else come across this? Am I the only one? And I used to be one of those snobs who looked down on pick players!
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It's the contrary for me. I force myself to play with a pick for a few hours, then go back to fingerstyle and feel like I'm really playing. I'm not a snob so whatever works for you, works... It just doesn't work for me. :D
 

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