Getting a Pick Tone playing with fingers?

[oniman7]

If you want it to sound just like a pick, I've not found a remedy for that yet.

However, I started turning the gain knob on my amp way up. I grow out my finger nails and attack the string harder. Flipped the pickup knob from neck to bridge, started playing down closer to the bridge. Not a pick sound, but definitely has the attack for pick type sutff.

 

[Ric5]

I disagree, unless it sounds like a pick player going insane with force and trying to "pick through" the strings, rather than "attack" them with speed...which can work sometimes. But it sounds much "sloppier" to my ears than what you normally hear with a pick being used.

I know you play with both styles and Geddy is a pro, but I'm just going with what I hear.

When I first heard some of Geddy's bass lines I was convinced he played with a pick.

 

[Luckydog]

Really,i Want to get a tone like i'm playing with a pick but playing with my fingers..
Anything?
I have some distortion here.. i think i could use that but i don't really know how '-'
And i already tried playing with a pick,i just cant.

break one of your plucking fingers like like I did. Then you will be forced to learn/relearn pick playing very rapidly, or quit the game. Pain and pins in your bones are excellent motivators.

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

Hold your index and thumb like you're holding a pick, and use your index fingernail as your pic.
Works great.
Also see "chuckin" which is attributed to Bernard Edwards, which seems silly, because it's just something obvious to do.

 

[factory presets]

You could try fingeroicks. Probably not much easier than learning flat pick by the time you get a good tone out of them. Digging in near the bridge will get you an aggressive tone. It's not really pick like. But it might be appropriate. Finger nails or popping like a slappermight get you in the ballpark. Depends what exact time you are after.

Other than that, you're probably looking at the wood shed. That'd be my first choice coz only a flat pick will get you that palm muted chugging rock sound

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

I've played bass many years. I was a mediocre pick player who decided to make it sound better. Deliberate practice started last summer. I'm finally feeling super comfortable and loose playing pick in various ways. Patience is your friend (as long as you practice!!).

 

[hrodbert696]

Thirteen years later, I hope the OP figured it out...

 

[KenSmithFan]

Practice.

+1

Most people grab a pick, play for a few minutes and when they don’t sound like they’ve been playing with a pick for 10 years, give up.