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From fingers to a pick

#61
I'll echo my experience here as well.
I started out years ago as a speed metal guitarist. 8-9years later When I switched to bass, I did so for a much more mellow type of music in the band I was in. So I learned finger style. It came very naturally to me. I just went with it. I was exclusively fingerstyle for nigh on 15years.
The cover band I'm in currently though, does a lot of 90s pop punk and 80s rock. 4hrs of 16th notes will wear any fingerplayer out. On one brutal, three show weekend, I was all blistered up and had no choice but to play the last hour or so with the guitarists pick. I felt clumsy, had trouble holding on to the pick, but got through the set. I enjoyed the sound esp on the he pop punk stuff. On the drive home, I realized I was killing myself for no reseal reason. I don't have to prove anything to anyone, and I know if I need to....I can play say, "Kickstart my Heart" with my fingers. But why would I??? Why was I trying to??? The original recording is a pick, it sounds better with a pick, and it's easier on my hands/ wrist with a pick.

So now I am playing maybe 70/30 fingerstyle, but on 3 show weekends, I don't mind trying to cover almost all the songs with a pick now on set two and three on day three. Lol. It's kind of a relief. I've gotten to where I will do some songs with a pick, just for giggles to rest my hand. It's quite freeing.

I need to work on my technique as well however, as I am burning the top of my index fingernail when picking. I'm going to do what you should do OP and follow the advice of these guys and check out some instructional videos.
 
#62
consectaneus said:
I wonder if people who associate Carol with Pet Sounds and '60s pop are aware of how funky she was in her own right?


I think the pick not only has an effect on the sound, but by its physical nature affects the way you play, and even musical (note and rhythmic) choices. You may have been transferring things you have played fingerstyle over to the pick and finding it tricky for that reason. IMO, some things just lend themselves better to one style than the other. Not to say the pick is limited, though.
Click to expand...


I rarely play with a pick, but I tend to use a fair amount of nail with fingers (although shorter nails than when I was younger) and have tough nails* , so can get a lot of attack. But for me the different note choice is very much there with the different techniques.

* Once just caught a long thumbnail on a door jamb, and gouged a chunk out of the jamb.
 
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#63
When I had longer nails a viable alternative was holding my index finger like a pick and using the nail. Doing that on guitar and strumming led to the nail starting to wear out, which I initially countered with nail varnish before swapping to a pick on guitar.
 
#65
The relaxation thing others describe is key, I used to hold them in a death grip, tried cross hatching them with an xacto, sanding them, getting ones with built in grips like Herco, etc, still squirmed out of my fingers. Now I have a light relaxed grip on a smooth pick and never seem to drop them.
 
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#66
My son has been adept with both fingers and a pick for years. I always loved the tone he was able to get with a pick.

I had always been a finger player, even in my Beatles band. However, I learned how to play with a pick about a year ago, which was absolutely necessary in order for me to emulate the attitude and attack of many of Paul's bass lines.

The pick on my Ric with TI Flats - fuggetaboutit!
 
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#67
I'm in a tribute act and my band would prefer pick, as to be as real as possible, so I'm starting to try and practice. Biggest issues are building speed, octaves and my thumb going numb after a half hour or so. Fingers just feel natural and I can swing my bass lower when using fingers. Seems more easier to pick if I raise my bass higher up.
 
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#69
I'm also forcing myself to learn to play th a pick, and since I've never been a guitar player and have no reference point, it feels like I'm learning a new instrument...totally crazy how different it is. I'm still trying to get used to the feeling of being detached from the strings. One thing I noticed right away (maybe someone mentioned this already, haven't read the whole thread) is that I have more success if I hold the pick so that the rounded side hits the strings, instead of the point. This is probably because I don't have the feel for where my picking hand should be yet, which will obviously come with practice.
 
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#70
For those saying you need to use a pick to get a certain attack, ask Karl Alvarez about that ;-) I don't think that's true. And in many cases, fingerstyle can yield both excellent attack but also retain some girth that a picked approach often doesn't. Just my opinion.
 
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#71
I play both as I have always thought that both techniques are essential for every bass player. Depending on different styles, artists or as each and every song requires it. I've always been in cover and tribute bands so a lot of different styles have been around my ears and eyes. Whenever I play something from Incubus it ALWAYS is with the fingers. Green day: pick. The Beatles: as the song requires. For example, Don't let me down: fingers. Get back: pick.

It depends on how comfortable you feel and yes it will take you a while to get used to a new technique.

My two cents.
 
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#72
I found out how much I enjoy playing with a pic pretty recently, myself. Someones description of feeling "disconnected" hit the nail on the head. But similarly, I liked the sound I get from picking quite a bit. Fits certain songs so much better than fingerstyle. And once you start to hone in on the strings and make the necessary transitions, it becomes really fun to play with a pick.
In a way, I almost feel like my tempo management and feel improve a little with a pick.
 
#73
I play with a pick most of the time. If you use a pick wrong on a bass you really do run the risk of injury. I have my own modified version of what Carol Kaye does. I can still palm mute without using my wrist wrong. I do it just like she explains, but I put my hand on the strings when necessary to mute. If I do it like a guitar, my wrist hurts. I keep my arm more solid and use my wrist parallel to the top of the strings, if that makes any sense. I have also learned to be consistent with my up and down pick-strokes. Carol has been playing for a long time. It made sense for me to listen to her with her many years of experience.

I don't have any problem playing with my fingers whatsoever and do so sometimes. I just play more solid and on time with a pick. I also play double bass where it is all fingers.
 
#76
I use to be a pick player only for about 4 years. Yet,I've been playing exclusively fingerstyle for about 3 years.

So naturally I think I'm a slightly better pick player but I feel more connected with my instrument playing fingerstyle. Plus I like the tone a little bit more.

However, I can interchange between them really easily. I can play any song I would normally play with fingers with a pick.
 
#77
Played with my fingers for several years, started playing with a pick several months ago. If it seems like a song is more suited to a pick I will use one. I keep one handy when I am playing and switch back and forth.
It was a little different at first but I am getting more accustomed to it. Started with a song that was a steady four count down beat almost like a march. I started the song muting the strings with my right hand while I picked. Decreased the mute as the song built and eventually was hitting the strings hard slightly above the pickup on my Precision.
It have also gotten better on muting adjoining strings with my left hand something that helps if I am using a pick or not. I use the thumb on my left hand to mute the E string if I am playing the A or D string.
It seems like I have more dynamics with a pick. Sometimes I will play near the bridge or near the pickup or right on top of the neck, depends on what tone I am looking for.
All of this is probably basic stuff for a lot of folks here but for me it is growth.
 
#79
I started playing using a pick, then switched to finger style, then played some music I felt i could play better with a pick. I usually play fingerstyle now, but occasionally use pick. It honestly seems easier to play with a pick on some of my basses, and fingerstyle on others. It might take some practice, but it's nice to be able to do both.
 

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