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Good pick technique

A

A Rooty Bassist

Jan 31, 2012
2
0
St Helens
#1
I have been playing bass for about 2 years on and off, but have only ever played finger style. Lately however me and my friends have been doing pop punk covers such as blink-182, so I am trying to learn to play with a plectrum to get the right type of sound.

However, I just can't seem to get a good grip of the plectrum. It always seems to slide round in my fingers and I also frequently drop it. I also generate a very scratchy sound. I'm wondering if any of you have any decent tips you could share with me to help improve my picking

Much appreciated
 
#2
Used to happen to me to. Unfortunately, the only real solution is practice, practice, practice. I hold my pick with the fleshy part of my thumb and the side of my first finger with just enough of the tip coming out to pick the string, but will frequently get a little but of my thumb hitting right after on the downstroke. As for "scratchy", that's not necessarily bad, but the remedy is to either strum at more of a right angle to the string or hit the string harder.
 
#3
I hold the pick between the fleshy part of my finger and thumb, for me drilling a hole in the pick where I hold it, stops it moving around. The scratchy sound is because you're hitting the strings at an angle, to me it's not a big deal since I can't hear it when the bass is mixed with everybody else.
 
#5
I'm starting to use a pick, too...for the same reasons you are. What I found is that I started by holding it too tightly, which impacted the sound and also hurt my hand.

I've switched to Snarling Dog Brain Picks, which are textured. Since I am no longer concerned about dropping them, my hand is far more relaxed. Just having the hand more relaxed makes the attack sound better.

Try them out - they worked for me.

- netgeist
 
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#6
Shape, size and thickness of a pick are for the most part preferential. My guitarist turned me on the the Jim Dunlop lil stubby 2 mil pick. I like the thickness because it feels very solid and does not bend at all. The size of it makes me hold on to it and pick in a more precise way, plus it has a circular concave in it that my fingers sit in. Now everything else feels like a giant dorito chip in my hand. The scratching is all due to pick to string angle, make it more parallel with the string and you'll get clearer notes, unless you like that sound. I usually play with my fingers but sometimes the pick sound is just what's called for. If you plan on playing many styles with lots of different folks I'd recommend becoming proficient with both styles.
 
#7
keiththebassist said:
Shape, size and thickness of a pick are for the most part preferential. My guitarist turned me on the the Jim Dunlop lil stubby 2 mil pick. I like the thickness because it feels very solid and does not bend at all. The size of it makes me hold on to it and pick in a more precise way, plus it has a circular concave in it that my fingers sit in. Now everything else feels like a giant dorito chip in my hand. The scratching is all due to pick to string angle, make it more parallel with the string and you'll get clearer notes, unless you like that sound. I usually play with my fingers but sometimes the pick sound is just what's called for. If you plan on playing many styles with lots of different folks I'd recommend becoming proficient with both styles.
Click to expand...

^ This is the correct answer. And I'm primarily s pick player but have learned to use both styles as necessary. :bassist:
 
#9
I second the idea of having both styles. I almost always practice with both (or one style one session, the other the next).

I been shifting from a thicker pick (1.5mm) to a slimmer one (.7-1mm). Reason is, I am way slower with a thicker pick. I've been thinking of trying one of those you fit in your thumb like a nail, and that way you can easily switch from fingerstyle to plectrum style without hiding or dropping the pick.

As for technique: remember to practice your upstrokes and downstrokes, as both sound different, and if you use them both, you can be faster when needed.

Also do mind on how you strike the string. The edge of the pick has to strike it flat. No angles, preferrably. And practice the strength of each stroke, because too weak makes the sound scratchy, but too strong may mute the notes.

And also try to pick so that each stroke goes beyond the string and onto the next one. Meaning, don't do superficial strokes. And use your wrist.

I would know as I used to play guitar for a while too.
 
#10
I agree with everything said here. Lots of good advice.

It certainly takes time to get a handle on playing with a pick if you started fingerstyle, and there's definitely a skill gap between the two techniques, which can be frustrating.

I've been playing electric bass for about 8 years, and it wasn't until I got an acoustic-electric bass guitar about 4 years ago that I was interested in playing with a pick.
Even then, I've only started really playing with one in the last couple of years.

One thing that has helped me a lot is watching other people play with picks. Obviously watching other bassists is preferable, but (in my experience anyway) I've not jammed with too many other electric bassists, so I end up watching guitarists.
They really know what they're doing with a pick, and can give you an example if you're fumbling for the right technique, even though there's some adaptation between picking a guitar and picking a bass.
 
#11
A Rooty Bassist said:
I have been playing bass for about 2 years on and off, but have only ever played finger style. Lately however me and my friends have been doing pop punk covers such as blink-182, so I am trying to learn to play with a plectrum to get the right type of sound.

However, I just can't seem to get a good grip of the plectrum. It always seems to slide round in my fingers and I also frequently drop it. I also generate a very scratchy sound. I'm wondering if any of you have any decent tips you could share with me to help improve my picking

Much appreciated
Click to expand...
Perhaps these pages, by Tuck Andress, will give you some useful ideas to try;

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
#13
A Carol Kaye DVD will do wonders for helping you get comfortable with a pick quickly. She picks hard (and with a hard pick) but makes it relaxed and effortless. Great economy of motion, all they energy goes into the string and it sounds great.

For those who don't care for her, you can turn the sound off and just watch the hand. It's good stuff.
 
#18
It's all about right angles between the pick and the string, if you can beg/borrow/steal a n electric guitar and learn to strum some chords with a pick: it will make your picking hand more fluid and natural - something that certainly benefited my picking technique!
Good luck,
 

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