Getting comfortable again with pick

[BlueTalon]

Good point on more flexible picks. In my case a flexible pick might allow more smooth motions (less sloppiness) and more consistent attack. Do you find a more flexible pick helps in this way?

I find exactly the opposite. If I'm using a pick, a more flexible pick works against me, and I feel like I have less control over the attack. I like the pick to have very little give to it, that way I control the attack, and can get a more consistent attack that way.

By the way, condolences for the temporary loss of the use of your finger. I have had big dogs in the past (five Russian wolfhounds, to be precise), and I'm familiar with the phenomenon of sudden lunges. I only ever used leashes used for lure-coursing -- big padded collars attached to a thick canvas-web (nigh unbreakable) type leash. I would usually slip my hand through the handle loop so that it's around my wrist, giving me a double grip on the leash. Usually my dogs were calm and mild mannered, but on more than one occasion they would see a squirrel and take off. They'd get about six feet before my arm would go YOINK and I'm suddenly on the ground. Fortunately, it didn't happen that often.

 

[SunByrne]

Yikes--hope you heal fully and quickly!

My dog is part boxer so she runs like a deer—fortunately she's smaller than a full-sized boxer, but she can still pull surprisingly hard. I use a retractable but one walk with her using a more traditional wire-style cable had me finding a ribbon right away. I recently bought a new one that I love, a FLEXI. German, best retraction mechanism ever, nice soft tape.

Anyway, using a pick should come back to you pretty quickly. I switch between fingers/pick/slap on a per-song basis and have been doing so for a while and it does help to keep in practice with all three. However, every once in while I'll spend a couple months not doing pick or slap and it can be a little weird to come back at first. Doesn't take too long to get it back, though.

Obviously everyone has their favorite pick. I use a Bog Street Battle Axe Light. 1.5mm but more flexible than many picks that thick because there's a hole in the center of the pick, which also gives it a great grip since your finger and thumb actually touch when you hold it. I use an even thicker one (the Textured) if I'm playing something where I'm really digging in right by the bridge (e.g., Chris Squire, Peter Hook) but of course YMMV.

 

[JRA]

What has been your experiences with this type of situation?

none --- i can't imagine it without cringing --- i hope you heal fast and well!

but kudos for playing through and getting your picking up to speed! i'm not to good with one, so my hat's off to you there, too!

 

[Luckydog]

Thanks for all the excellent advice! I will charge ahead with pick focus.

 

[DrBnz]

I had a similar experience in that I used to be mediocre (at best) with a pick. But then I was out of town for a couple weeks when my dad passed and didn't take a bass. When I got back I was prepared to sound "rough". To my surprise, I wasn't all that bad. More surprising to me is that I had improved dramatically with a pick. Apparently I'd forgotten the bad habits that were holding me back. Now I kinda prefer it - I'm faster with it, that's for sure

 

[Groove Doctor]

Whatever pick suits you best is the right pick.
simplify your bass lines if you struggle with speed or stamina.

Hope you recovery fully.
Definitely see a professional or three for advice, rehab, do’s/don’t do’s, etc.

A choker chain is best for bigger dogs IME. Obedience classes are a must for both of you. Maintain focus at all times.

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

Last six months I've been focusing on getting better with a pick. Really getting into a relaxed, happy place now and my conclusion is you get better playing with a pick .... when you play a lot with a pick! At least 75% of my playing time is with a pick, maybe more. I tried a slew of picks, flexibilities, sizes, etc. etc. and came to prefer a Fender Heavy pick. More precise control, nice, comfortable feel, just the right size and shape. Previously I was playing only a Fender Precision with TI Jazz flats. But this summer I bought a Fender Jazz bass and after trying a slew of different strings, settled on TI Jazz Rounds. They're more supple than the flats, and maybe this is one reason why I prefer using the pick on those particular rounds than flats. The extra give in the string helps enable a ton of expressiveness with picking. I'm also liking the picked tone more and more -- especially for tracking. Anyway, good luck with your recovery and hope these ideas help.

 

[Snarf]

Nearly a week ago, I was outside in the pitch dark with my big dog on a retractable leash (with nylon rope line, not strap), when he saw a possum. His instinct kicked in, and he went from 0 to 60 in just a couple of seconds, determined to rid his yard of this intruder. It was so dark I couldn't see what he was doing (flashlight in hand but not yet turned on). Next second, the rope section of the leash wrapped around my right hand middle finger and I was violently yanked forward. I was able to get slack in the leash and dropped it. Possum got away and I retrieved my dog and leash. My middle finger was a mess and the pain was horrible. The tip of it was tilted sideways toward my index finger and I knew it was broken, dislocated or both.

After a while I could gain some composure, and my next thought was, cr*p, I have a sh*t load of gigs coming up…what am I gonna do? As a teen I played bass with a pick, but I haven’t done that in many many years. Christmas Eve Eve gig I didn't know what to expect (besides embarrasment), but I got a splint and managed to chug through it using my index and ring fingers. I certainly was not able to cross strings easily, nor play very rapidly, since my ring finger has not typically “participated much” in my gigs. All I could think about was how the h*ll could Jamerson be so nimble with just one friggn finger! I finished the night after a few clams, but nothing really bad. So now, with a bunch more gigs coming up, and my realization that it will take a few weeks more for my middle finger to even begin to get back in the game again, I thought of picking up a pick again. I always liked a picked bass tone (Peter Cetera, etc), but lacked any recent experience to make it work well for me. I probably should have been using pick style at least occasionally over the last few years in order to be more versatile….but no, my laziness and decent finger style discouraged me from venturing into pick-world again.

Well, now, with a long recovery time for my digit, and a bunch of gigs ahead, I need a backup plan. I spent a couple hours this morning woodshedding with various picks, and I think it is going to work out ok. A little rough, but I can make it work. I’m preferring a Dunlop pick with some raised dots that helps with gripping. I’m hoping my newly restarted pick-style, that I’ll see some fairly rapid incremental improvements.

Have any of you been in a similar situation, and recovered lost pick skills rapidly? I suspect I will be ok, but wondered about others’ experience. There is a chance that my middle finger joints will never fully recover, and I might not be able to regain finger flexibility or even the ability to bend that finger adequately at the first and second joints. That would result in me using picks for a large portion of my playing.

What has been your experiences with this type of situation?

I've always played certain songs with a pick, but never done whole gigs with it. So I have a certain level of facility, but certainly not playing more complicated fingerstyle lines. One gig, though, I had to play upright for an extended 90 minute cocktail hour before doing the 4-hour reception. I hadn't played the big bass very much leading up to that gig, and I ended up with gigantic blisters that were going to make it impossible to play fingerstyle on the reception.

I made it through playing the whole gig with the pick just fine, with a couple issues: I wasn't used to gripping a pick for that long, so my right hand got kind of tired. There were also a few lines here and there that were pretty rough to play with a pick, though I can't recall which songs they were in.

 

[Methaneman]

Nearly a week ago, I was outside in the pitch dark with my big dog on a retractable leash (with nylon rope line, not strap), when he saw a possum. His instinct kicked in, and he went from 0 to 60 in just a couple of seconds, determined to rid his yard of this intruder. It was so dark I couldn't see what he was doing (flashlight in hand but not yet turned on). Next second, the rope section of the leash wrapped around my right hand middle finger and I was violently yanked forward. I was able to get slack in the leash and dropped it. Possum got away and I retrieved my dog and leash. My middle finger was a mess and the pain was horrible. The tip of it was tilted sideways toward my index finger and I knew it was broken, dislocated or both.

After a while I could gain some composure, and my next thought was, cr*p, I have a sh*t load of gigs coming up…what am I gonna do? As a teen I played bass with a pick, but I haven’t done that in many many years. Christmas Eve Eve gig I didn't know what to expect (besides embarrasment), but I got a splint and managed to chug through it using my index and ring fingers. I certainly was not able to cross strings easily, nor play very rapidly, since my ring finger has not typically “participated much” in my gigs. All I could think about was how the h*ll could Jamerson be so nimble with just one friggn finger! I finished the night after a few clams, but nothing really bad. So now, with a bunch more gigs coming up, and my realization that it will take a few weeks more for my middle finger to even begin to get back in the game again, I thought of picking up a pick again. I always liked a picked bass tone (Peter Cetera, etc), but lacked any recent experience to make it work well for me. I probably should have been using pick style at least occasionally over the last few years in order to be more versatile….but no, my laziness and decent finger style discouraged me from venturing into pick-world again.

Well, now, with a long recovery time for my digit, and a bunch of gigs ahead, I need a backup plan. I spent a couple hours this morning woodshedding with various picks, and I think it is going to work out ok. A little rough, but I can make it work. I’m preferring a Dunlop pick with some raised dots that helps with gripping. I’m hoping my newly restarted pick-style, that I’ll see some fairly rapid incremental improvements.

Have any of you been in a similar situation, and recovered lost pick skills rapidly? I suspect I will be ok, but wondered about others’ experience. There is a chance that my middle finger joints will never fully recover, and I might not be able to regain finger flexibility or even the ability to bend that finger adequately at the first and second joints. That would result in me using picks for a large portion of my playing.

What has been your experiences with this type of situation?

I've been using Fender heavys for years. I find most stuff is easier with fingers, but some songs were recorded with a pick. More of a challenge with a pick but I like playing with a pick. Just practice and you should do good. Hope your finger gets better.

 

[vcs700s]

I love playing with a pick.

I use a medium Black Mountain. Works perfect.

The Black Mountain is a spring loaded thumb pick.
It is a comfortable pick and I never have to worry about dropping it.

 

[Bar Band Bassman]

I am confident you will find a way that works. We are resilient and resourceful. When I was very new I used a thumb pick. I still carry one just in case. I rarely use picks these days but would not want to be a without one. Various flat picks, various gauges and sizes, and that thumb pick...

The Bar Band Bassman

 

[Riff Ranger]

I've always played certain songs with a pick, but never done whole gigs with it. So I have a certain level of facility, but certainly not playing more complicated fingerstyle lines. One gig, though, I had to play upright for an extended 90 minute cocktail hour before doing the 4-hour reception. I hadn't played the big bass very much leading up to that gig, and I ended up with gigantic blisters that were going to make it impossible to play fingerstyle on the reception.

I made it through playing the whole gig with the pick just fine, with a couple issues: I wasn't used to gripping a pick for that long, so my right hand got kind of tired. There were also a few lines here and there that were pretty rough to play with a pick, though I can't recall which songs they were in.

Yup. Even back when I only used a pick “if I had to,” I sometimes “had to” because I had temporarily destroyed my plucking fingers.

 

[jschulman]

I'd been a fingerstyle player for decades, until my friends and I started a project that required picked bass. I had mixed feelings - I thought the sound of picked bass was nearly always preferable to fingerstyle, but fingerstyle was just more fun.

That is until our singer introduced me to felt ukulele picks. Something about the thump, and they way they flex around the string, is a pleasure to play. Now I almost always play with a pick, and only use fingerstyle in certain cases.

The big misunderstanding around picked bass is that it's more aggressive, or more suited to aggressive music. That's not true. You can be just as dynamic and just as funky with a pick - you just have to get used to the nuances of the technique. That includes learning how to mute on both upstrokes and downstrokes.

 

[GroovyBaby]

Ouch! I hope you heal up fast. I play guitar some but mostly just chords and my bass playing is all finger style. But a few months ago I decided I needed to be competent with a pick. I just started working my repertoire with the pick and played at practice with a pick to force myself to work on technique. Then we added a song that required a faster tempo than I could pull off finger style (TROUBLE, ).

Since then, I’ve been drilling with a metronome to see how fast I can do finger style without too many errors, and then I switch to pick and take it from there. The metronome work has been good for my pick technique. Picks are certainly personal. For me, I find the more flexible the more it screws with my technique. I use a firm pick and my favorite is a Carol Kaye pick (Checkout | Carol Kaye Store).

Best advice I have is just practice up and you’ll be fine. Best of luck!

 

[getBAK]

I'm a finger style guy, but picks have their place... especially when there's no choice
I'm all about THICK picks. Like anything smaller than a 1.25mm feels like a toy. Depending on the gig, If you are coming off fingertyle, you might consider something like a Felt Pick to get rid of some of the 'click'.
8012P FELT PK STANDARD-3/PLYPK

Let me suggest

 

[spvmhc]

I surveyed picks to find the kind most comfortable. For me, Fender Mojo picks have worked well. More than a pick, it's a sleeve that fits over a standard pick. This allows you to select the thickness you prefer. The sleeve gives a firmer grip.

I'm hoping your recovery goes well and quickly.

 

[akukulich]

I didn’t use a pick until I’d been playing for decades. It always felt foreign to me. But after getting serious about playing guitar, it started to feel much more natural to me.

One thing I learned is that a stiff pick works best for me. It feels like it transfers energy to the string more efficiently, but once a pick gets too thick, it gets uncomfortable to hold. So something in the 1.2 - 1.4 mm range works best for me. I’ve been using a Blue Chip large jazz pick, and I really like it.

 

[lark_z]

Throw away the retractable leash. They promote terrible behavior in the dog. With a normal leash, the loop goes on the right wrist, then across the body, and then left hand holds the leash maybe a foot above the dog.

SORRY - It's a real pet peeve. I can't tell you how many times I've had one of my neighbor's retractable leads wrapped around my legs with a dog attached.

 

[five7]

Using a pick will come back to you. Try double thumb method also.

 

[andruca]

Sorry to read that. I think as long as your middle finger can provide minimal support function under your index (retracted probably), you'll be fine handling a pick. I recommend you use a soft pick. It adds compression and overall fatness. Work on a firm picking stance with your hand, but don't overthink it, IME proper bass picking is not really that far from how you'd pick on a guitar, except for being more vigilant to your left hand muting (practice as much of it as you can, left hand muting definitely eases the work on your right hand).

For my first 20 years playing bass, using a pick was a rare and traumatic event, it (I) felt clumsy a/f, even tho' I've always been proficient at it on guitar. Then around 2008 I started my own melodic HC band and I basically learned to pick on bass from scratch, mostly mimicking my guitarist's motion and overall groove/feel. Totally changed my bass playing, made me way more rhythmic, also my fingerstyle (I like myself more as a bass player now more than ever).

The glass half full for you is this might be a great chance to experience the songs you play often from a new perspective. I'm sure you'll find pieces you like more played with a pick. IME fingers/pick choice depends entirely on groove. Some bass lines do groove better/more naturally with your fingers, some will feel/sound better with a pick (most riff based rock music). You can find value in that, despite the tragic contingency.

Hope you both heal soon and come out a better bass player