Need your $0.02 on picking volume...

[basslover24]

Hey y'all!
So I play in a hard rock/metal band and for the most part, I like to play with my fingers. But, there are a few songs that just require a pick, usually because there is some speed picking or what have you. My dilemma is this: whenever I find the perfect volume on stage for my fingers, it always ends up being way too loud for a pick. Is the solution a matter of turning the volume down? Or are there tricks of the trade for a hybrid player such as myself?

Any help appreciated.

I play a Fender J, btw...

 

[JackANSI]

Play lighter with the pick or harder with the fingers?

You can also try different thickness picks, try smaller AND bigger. I find more volume control with a thicker pick surprisingly.

 

[ga_edwards]

Or compression/limiter. Set the threshold so that it only kicks in when you're using the pick. I use a pick occaisionally with a healthy dollop of compression and don't have any level variation problems. You may even find that setting the threshold slightly higher so that it catches the peaks of your finger style helps a lot too.

Or perhaps a channel switching pedal like the bassbone, microbass II, sansamp deluxe, even a simple boss eq pedal. You can then switch between different volume settings and eq curves to keep the volume and tone more conisitent.

 

[Nick Kay]

*points to volume knob* It's there for a reason.

 

[OtterOnBass]

I guesstimate that 75% volume with a pick is the same as 100% with fingers. Also, when I slap I go to 75%.

 

[badstonebass]

Use a lighter guage pick.

I play exclusively with a pick and when I want less volume I hold the pick loose and lightly.

 

[Greyvagabond]

I switch back and forth all the time, and generally, the tube-compression in my amp evens out most of the difference. But, I tend to play a bit harder with my fingers, back further on the bridge, to get a perfectly even sound. Thicker gauge strings will also tend to be more even between picking and fingers. Trying lightening up a bit on your pick attack during the quieter parts of the song (Yay Dynamics!)

 

[avatar>ampeg]

my uncle built me a volume pedal to switch between 100 75 50 25

 

[JimmyM]

Just lighten up on the attack with a pick. It'll probably sound better, too. I'm a big fan of solving problems like this with technique instead of technology.