How do I get a Pick Sound using Fingers?

[kanonfodr]

Nobody has given our poor OP the technically easiest answer:

Flatten the neck, drop the action, and make sure you are running your bass flat out while you bang the strings against the fretboard. The key is the bass's action - it has to be just on the favorable side of unplayable. You will have almost no sustain anywhere on the fretboard, and pretty much no sound after the 12th fret, but you'll have your pick-style attack. If you still need some more after that, boost your 800-900hz section on your EQ.

Peace,
Greg

 

[FaithNoMan]

That would sound horrible, I think. I use medium/high action and strings clacking that badly against bottomed-out frets with that much downforce sounds like a headache.

And it depends what player you're emulating on pick. My 900hz area is not boosted. 2-2.5k, that is boosted.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

If I want that "pick clank" I sometimes play very percussively over the frets - it comes close; If I want that "Pick thump", I play sharply with a palm mute. But I rarely want to sound like I'm playing with a pick.

 

[FaithNoMan]

If I want that "pick clank" I sometimes play very percussively over the frets - it comes close

That's what Geezer Butler did. It was percussive. Not nearly as neat as a pick can be though. I liked it.

 

[BlueTalon]

Flatten the neck, drop the action, and make sure you are running your bass flat out while you bang the strings against the fretboard. The key is the bass's action - it has to be just on the favorable side of unplayable. You will have almost no sustain anywhere on the fretboard, and pretty much no sound after the 12th fret, but you'll have your pick-style attack.

Nothing you described has anything to do with attack (except "bang the strings", which isn't terribly helpful). Doing what you suggested will just result in a noisy buzzy bass.

 

[Ferret]

Hmmm, good idea regarding the clear nail polish, thanks for sharing.

I agree, it's great to have sharp attack or fingerstyle thumpiness at will.

I keep all my nails a little longer on my right hand (I'm also a fingerstyle guitarist).

I find a slightly grown out nail translates perfectly for bass although unlike some of the more serious fingerstyle guitarists I would not grow mine out much more than a 1/6" past my finger at most, as I do enjoy a very aggressive attack and sound on my bass for many situations.

Stay away from polish it weakens the nails, they will harden over time. Shape them right, bit if an angle, sort of a dull point. Will post pic of mine and works for 35 years people think I use one.

 

[David Jayne]

Nobody has given our poor OP the technically easiest answer:

Flatten the neck, drop the action, and make sure you are running your bass flat out while you bang the strings against the fretboard. The key is the bass's action - it has to be just on the favorable side of unplayable. You will have almost no sustain anywhere on the fretboard, and pretty much no sound after the 12th fret, but you'll have your pick-style attack. If you still need some more after that, boost your 800-900hz section on your EQ.

Yes, this is a great solution. So much better than just using a pick.

 

[Reaper Man]

I can't replicate exactly, but I usually go with what Bryan Beller is talking about here:

 

[kanonfodr]

I can't replicate exactly, but I usually go with what Bryan Beller is talking about here:

That's freakin' spot on. And if you look closely at the action of that Mike Lull T-bird bass, you will notice that there is almost no space between the strings and the neck - that's what I was talking about in regards to action height. Additionally, the technique in the actual attack is key - you are basically beating the strings against the fretboard. He's also running quite a bit of gain on his bass - the fret clank and the fuzz from the gain is pretty much going to disappear against 'heavier' guitars in the mix, in a perfect world they stick out just enough to emphasize the attack of the bass which draws the listener's ear to the lower fundamental tone that is (hopefully) going to be existing somewhere in the audio spectrum between the kick drum and the bottom end of the guitars.

Peace,
Greg

 

[kanonfodr]

That would sound horrible, I think. I use medium/high action and strings clacking that badly against bottomed-out frets with that much downforce sounds like a headache.

And it depends what player you're emulating on pick. My 900hz area is not boosted. 2-2.5k, that is boosted.

I'm not going to lie, getting used to the way the clank sounds (especially in the bedroom, where all bets are off versus what sounds good in the mix) takes some work. But in the mix, the clank cuts through just enough to make your attack more defined like playing with a pick would.

Peace,
Gre

 

[FaithNoMan]

I'm not going to lie, getting used to the way the clank sounds (especially in the bedroom, where all bets are off versus what sounds good in the mix) takes some work. But in the mix, the clank cuts through just enough to make your attack more defined like playing with a pick would.

Peace,
Gre

Oh, you don't have to tell me about clank That's what I go for and it usually doesn't sound "nice" by itself.

But I still think we are talking about two different types of clank. I have medium/high action, and believe a pick sounds way different than fretbuzz.

Here is some crappy scratchtracks of mine:

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And here, the bass is pretty dirty under those guitars. I'm a little less sloppy after the halfway point:
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[BlueTalon]

The pick sound is characterized by attack. You can get a good attack with your fingers, and you don't need long fingernails or fingernail polish or even thick calluses. The trick is speed. Not the pace of the song, but the speed of your fingertip as it strikes the string.

Think of water. It's soft and accommodating when you jump in a pool from the low board. But jump into the water off a bridge or cliff and it gets a lot harder. Hit it at terminal velocity and it's like concrete. It's the same stuff, but the speed at which you hit it makes all the difference.

Getting that kind of attack with your fingers, though, means a longer travel to get the velocity.

And yes, growing your fingernails out just a little can be very helpful.

I never use a pick any more. Occasionally in a song, the mechanics of picking are just superior to fingering. At those times, I hold my index fingertip between my thumb and middle finger and use it as a pick. It allows me to switch back and forth within a song, and I never have to worry about finding/dropping/losing a pick.

I can't replicate exactly, but I usually go with what Bryan Beller is talking about here:

Validated by Bryan Beller!

 

[Mr. Sound]

A pick could damage your bass.... use a plectrum!

 

[FaithNoMan]

Validated by Bryan Beller!

I think that's how Geddy gets his attack almost more than his nails.

But do the same thing with a pick, and "sparks" will fly. Plus, for ultra-fast sections, a pick sounds cleaner and more consistent almost all of the time.

 

[Luke575443]

If you don't want to buy anything that people are suggesting etc etc, simply play very close to the bridge, like an inch away, and pluck hard. I usually play there when my band covers a punk rock song because it suits it with a pick sound

 

[Ezmar]

As far as my experience tells me, your two options are using a pick, or growing out your nails. Geddy Lee used the latter technique, and it gives a slightly different, perhaps more organic sound. Although Geddy was a huge impersonal mentor when I was starting out, I couldn't reconcile myself to that, since I like to keep my nails short for clean fingerstyle, so unless I'm strumming flamenco style a la Les Claypool, if I want a pick sound, I'll use a pick. There's nothing wrong with using a pick, it's just logistically a little different, and you don't have the options that you'd have if you're solely using your fingers for everything. I don't use a pick too often, so it works for me, but if you want to use your fingers, and really get a pick tone, you have to grow out your nails and use them. the rest of the finger is just too soft, unless you're a robot.

 

[FaithNoMan]

^ Exactly. And, as a lot of other have said - part of the pick sound involves the physics of the pick movement itself. Aka: alternate picking.

And windmills.

 

[Joe Louvar]

How do I get a Pick Sound using Fingers?

Hey everyone. I know this is kind of a crazy question... But does anyone know how I can get a pick type sound while using my fingers to play my bass? Chorus Pedal? Different Strings? New Amp.? I really like the sound I get with a pick, but I'd rather play with my fingers... Any ideas?

You can't. If you want a pick sound (expressly double picking) - use a pick.

 

[Eric66]

No ideas. It does not work. Try to learn both.

 

[Watchootognbout]

Use a Mizrab.This is what Sitar players use to pluck the Sitar strings.(picture)Google it.There are files that tell you how to make them out of wire.