My picking and finger picking needs work

[Saianyde]

I do both, usually what ever I feel like or fits what I am playing. Though I've noticed that my technique is wrong or has a flaw in it for both. When I use a pick I'll get a scratchy noise when I pluck a string as if my pick is scrapping along (Using Dunlop Tortex 1.14mm). I don't know if it's just me or the pick. It only does it when I start to play faster. Now onto my finger picking, I have noticed two things. 1) Sometimes my finger catches (either middle or index) and takes like a millisecond to play, enough to throw me off beat. Though this is more uncommon than it is often. So I don't catch the string that often but it still bugs me. 2) When I start to play fast (include the second finger) I get a different tone out. It sounds more of a pop than an actual pluck. This occurs in maybe both fingers. When I watch myself I don't seem to do it.

If anyone could help, I would much appreciate it since this is kind of holding me back.

 

[Saianyde]

Bump.

Really would love some tips

 

[Scot]

It's really hard to assess what is going on without actually seeing and hearing you play. It could even be an issue with your fingering/fretting hand or the synchronization between both hands.

Maybe you are tensing up when you try to play things faster. I would suggest that you really focus on relaxing your picking/plucking hand. Keep playing things slowly - get Zen about it. Really feel how your plucking finger and pick address the string. At what angle are you addressing the string? Are you plucking straight up and down or are you pulling the string away from the bass when you pluck/pick?

Bring things up to speed very slowly (use a 'nome incrementing up a notch at a time). Notice at which point you start to tense up or change the way you're plucking/picking/addressing the string.

With that said, there may be an amount of extraneous string noise that will be acceptable and you may even come to like some of it. I used to cringe at every little string noise that came out of my bass but nowadays I regard most of those noises in the same way I do, for example, a vocalist taking a breath between phrases. And, chances are, most if not all of the extraneous noises will not be heard in context with a band or other music. I would have to hear the noises we're talking about, of course, but figured I'd throw that out there.

 

[gdthomas]

Currently reworking my picking technique here. So far the biggest help for me has been to start slow and gradually increase the speed until I feel my hand start to tense up then back off. What I have been working on is picking hard phrases and starting them very slowly working through it X amount of times correctly then increase the speed 5 BPM. Repeat until you feel/hear your technique getting sloppy. It will take some time but it is worth the time and effort.

 

[puddin tame]

You want to be hitting the string with the tips of your fingers so it won't catch. I used to get that until my teacher corrected my technique