How to have plucking sound like picking?

[KyleTheBassGuy]

My bass mentor is a huge proponent of plucking as opposed to picking, and personally that's fine with me as I'm more comfortable with plucking.

However, when I used a pick it had a much cleaner and harder sound, along with being much louder than what I do while plucking. How can I achieve a similar sound with just my fingers, as plucking harder only results in the pop sound of various slap techniques.

 

[el murdoque]

There are limits to sounding like using a hard piece of plastic to pluck the strings vs using the soft flesh of your fingers. When it's just a few notes that need to ring, you can use your fingernails in different ways. You can pinch your thumb and index finger much like holding a pick and then hit the strings with your nails. For a single downward stroke you can use one of your fingers alone.

The volume on an electric bass guitar is a matter of the amp. You get a different sound when playing softly, digging in hard and playing with a pick. Play in a way that suits you and use the amp to set the volume accordingly.

Most people here on TB agree that an accomplished bass player is competent both with fingers and pick, so they can change the technique to accommodate different situations.

I take it that you have more experience playing with a pick than playing with fingers?
If so, give your fingers a little time to become as experienced plucking strings as they are holding a pick.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

There are limits to sounding like using a hard piece of plastic to pluck the strings vs using the soft flesh of your fingers.

I play as much with my nails as my fingers. It does require nail maintenance to keep the right length and avoid breaking one, though.

 

[Lobster11]

The difference in tone you get with fingers vs. pick is a feature, not a bug. If you prefer the sound of the attack you get with a pick, use a pick. It doesn't make any sense to me to try to replicate the sound of a pick using your fingers -- at least, if you already know how to play with a pick, which you evidently do. If your mentor doesn't understand this, it seems to me that he/she isn't a very good mentor.

As for volume differences, just turn up the amp as @el murdoque said. I'm a big believer in the philosophy of plucking softly (most of the time) and letting the amp do the work. You can always dig in a little harder when you want to get that sound.

 

[Rev J]

One thing that I've found helps is using the Matt Garrison, Hadrien Feraud, Dominique Di Piazza 4 finger (Thumb, Index, Middle, Ring) free stroke technique. It seems no matter how short my nails are I always get a little nail in there with this technique.

C/S,
Rev J

 

[-Asdfgh-]

One thing that I've found helps is using the Matt Garrison, Hadrien Feraud, Dominique Di Piazza 4 finger (Thumb, Index, Middle, Ring) free stroke technique. It seems no matter how short my nails are I always get a little nail in there with this technique.

C/S,
Rev J

For repetitive root octave figures I'll use finger and thumb nail, but I've never managed for fingers. I tried medical finger gloves for a more mellow tone when required (they don't always last an entire song) or rubber thimbles (no feel, may fall off) , but have learned to adjust plucking if required, at least on slower passages. There's a risk of an occasional clanging nail, though.

 

[Chad Michael]

Years ago.... Bass friend played an MTD something or other, not the 535 series. Something about the tone of the bass, his technique, the strings, and the use of a Hartke 410XL.... sounds like he is using a pick, but wasn't.

I guess you had to be there. His name is Dave Low (how cool is that)

 

[Ghook]

Although I mostly use a pick, Carol Kayes are my favorite , using pointy or round edge to get different sounds. I also, mostly on my Hofner Ignition, will , if i can describe it , push down with my thumb while pulling up with my index finger, kinda snapping the string. It doesnt sound "plucked" to my ears but it does articulate , on the D and G string and 7th fret up on E and A. I use flats on my Hofner and doing my pinch thing takes some of the thud out where I don't want it. When I do use fingers I tend to favor my thumb and index rather then assigning a finger to each string. I suspect its because I tend to finger play on slow blues style stuff where speed is not required and its similar to a pickless riff ala Jeff Beck on a 6 stringer. I never gave it much thought till a buddy and a guy at GC said I had weird finger style. I asked if it sounded bad and both said no, just that it looked weird . Hey to each their own right?

 

[two fingers]

Any good mentor would suggest that you know how to do both. I am about 50/50 fingers/picks these days. My mic stand pic holder usually has half a dozen kinds for different attacks.

Other than that, fingernails,p I suppose.

 

[lz4005]

My bass mentor is a huge proponent of plucking as opposed to picking, and personally that's fine with me as I'm more comfortable with plucking.

However, when I used a pick it had a much cleaner and harder sound, along with being much louder than what I do while plucking. How can I achieve a similar sound with just my fingers, as plucking harder only results in the pop sound of various slap techniques.

Picks sound like picks and fingers sound like fingers. Use the one that gets you the appropriate sound for the song you're playing. If your mentor doesn't get that you should get a different mentor.

 

[LBS-bass]

Acrylic nail extensions. You can get them at any decent nail salon, with clear polish if you don't want them to stand out. You don't need them really long. After a few weeks you'll learn how to change your fingering approach depending on what sounds you want.

 

[lfmn16]

The difference in tone you get with fingers vs. pick is a feature, not a bug. If you prefer the sound of the attack you get with a pick, use a pick. It doesn't make any sense to me to try to replicate the sound of a pick using your fingers -- at least, if you already know how to play with a pick, which you evidently do. If your mentor doesn't understand this, it seems to me that he/she isn't a very good mentor.

As for volume differences, just turn up the amp as @el murdoque said. I'm a big believer in the philosophy of plucking softly (most of the time) and letting the amp do the work. You can always dig in a little harder when you want to get that sound.

Yes, Yes, Yes!

I'll never understand the "I love the way the pick sounds, but I don't want to use one" mentality. Isn't the whole purpose of playing to reproduce the sound in your head? You don't get extra points for making it harder on yourself.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

Yes, Yes, Yes!

I'll never understand the "I love the way the pick sounds, but I don't want to use one" mentality. Isn't the whole purpose of playing to reproduce the sound in your head? You don't get extra points for making it harder on yourself.

To me playing with a pick is making it harder on myself.

 

[GBBSbassist]

If you want pick sound, you use a pick. That's pretty much it. And for anyone who says to use your fingernail, what kind of songs are you talking about? You're certainly not going to be hammering your finger nail on the strings night after night doing Ace of Spades without causing some permanent damage to your nails/fingers.

To me playing with a pick is making it harder on myself.

You may think that, but if you ask me, going to such lengths as using medical latex gloves and finger condoms as you previously described sounds like a hell of a lot more effort than just practicing a bit with a pick to get used to it if needed.

 

[LBS-bass]

And for anyone who says to use your fingernail, what kind of songs are you talking about? You're certainly not going to be hammering your finger nail on the strings night after night doing Ace of Spades without causing some permanent damage to your nails/fingers.

That's why I use acrylic extensions. They are much, much tougher than your actual nails and will take a serious beating. You can definitely dig in with them.

 

[dreamadream99]

My bass mentor is a huge proponent of plucking as opposed to picking

I question any teacher who forbids tools in your toolbox. Bassists should be able to initiate with fingertips, thumb, nails, and picks—whichever best serves the song.

How can I achieve a similar sound with just my fingers

Put your thumb on your finger, like you have a pick, then downstroke with your index nail. It doesn't have to be long to do this.

 

[lfmn16]

To me playing with a pick is making it harder on myself.

That's why practice was invented.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

You may think that, but if you ask me, going to such lengths as using medical latex gloves and finger condoms as you previously described sounds like a hell of a lot more effort than just practicing a bit with a pick to get used to it if needed.

To be fair, that was a long time ago (about ten years) that I briefly experimented with that, and I have modified my technique to illicit a greater variety of sounds when required, plus greater use of EQ and the tone knob.

 

[Tuhnedr]

Here are some good examples I think of what you are looking for:



Should also remember that they used brand new strings (with a low action) and set their amps to accentuate that tone, but it's a good example of technique that gets you that treble and bite.

 

[sean_on_bass]

Most of us think of finger plucking and pick playing as two separate sounds, and learn to use both to achieve those sounds, switching back and forth as the musical situation demands it.

If you are having trouble getting the same presence with fingers compared to a pick, it might involve changing some amp settings for finger playing. Try increasing the volume on the amp as well as EQing out frequencies you don't care for. Finger plucking can produce a more subdued tone compared to the pick. To prove that, just play the bass acoustically with no amp turned on. When you play with a pick, you can hear the bass alot better right?