I won't bore you with my life story- but been a guitar player, singer songwriter since the age of 15. I just naturally could play instruments when I picked them up- guitar, drums and piano to start. I always took bass for granted. When I tracked demos leading up to being signed (many years ago) I used a pick and I basically played the root notes. I have really been trying to learn how to get the sounds that I love on the records that I hold in high esteem. I have been recording for about 15 years now, but recently I stopped believing that I could buy the sounds.
I am learning two finger technique right now- planting my thumb above the pickup and brushing instead of pulling. That has been fun and I have been studying arrangement and production where the bass parts are concerned too.
I went through all of this buying gear, basses mic pre's and direct boxes only to discover that one of the recordings I really loved, our bass player had used a pick and side-palm partial muted to get a Paul McCartney Hofner type effect. I assumed it was the bass, his direct box etc..
My question is- who have you came back full circle to using a pick over finger technique.
I don't like sharp modern sounding bass, but I love what I can do with a pick and understanding what bass is supposed to serve in a song. I'm thinking one way to get a more vintage (almost motown) sound is to let the strings break in and then use this pick an palm mute technique to play bass.
What are some things you have learned about how to achieve sounds that may have been so simple that you didn't try them. Like flat wounds, pick no pick, using compression EQ on the way in.?
I am learning two finger technique right now- planting my thumb above the pickup and brushing instead of pulling. That has been fun and I have been studying arrangement and production where the bass parts are concerned too.
I went through all of this buying gear, basses mic pre's and direct boxes only to discover that one of the recordings I really loved, our bass player had used a pick and side-palm partial muted to get a Paul McCartney Hofner type effect. I assumed it was the bass, his direct box etc..
My question is- who have you came back full circle to using a pick over finger technique.
I don't like sharp modern sounding bass, but I love what I can do with a pick and understanding what bass is supposed to serve in a song. I'm thinking one way to get a more vintage (almost motown) sound is to let the strings break in and then use this pick an palm mute technique to play bass.
What are some things you have learned about how to achieve sounds that may have been so simple that you didn't try them. Like flat wounds, pick no pick, using compression EQ on the way in.?
