Pick AND Finger technique

[mellowinman]

Up until now, I have mostly been a finger player. Thumb on thumbrest, mostly index and middle finger alternating, over the neck pickup, Jazz bass. Sometimes I would float the hand down to the bridge pickup, for a more agressive sound, and attack the strings harder. I've worked hard on dynamics, trying to control volume with nothing but attack. I try to make my "normal" attack where a pluck is the same volume as a hammer-on.

I don't play only bass. I play acoustic, keyboards, harp and do some "naked" lead vocals, so I don't practice as often, or as long as many of you on bass, and my fingers aren't as leather-tough as some of yours. Sometimes, by the third set, I start thinking, "how many more songs do I play bass on tonight?" hoping it's not many, as my fingers are SORE. Maybe I've been overplaying, because the bass wasn't up enough in the mix, or stage mix. Maybe I'm just a wuss.

I never liked playing with a pick, because I'm not very articulate with one on guitar. I've always preferred fingerstyle, using a pick only when I'm strumming out chords, and having some nails for strumming the rest of the time. We were learning "Kicked in the Teeth," by AC/DC, and going off the video for my wife's former band, which had a great bass player, who hammered that thing out with a pick.

I bought some thick picks to try it out, and was very surprised to discover that there are quite a few songs where it really works. I tend to anchor my pinky on the bass body, and pick right where I usually pluck, over the neck pickup, but I've discovered that it's just as nice to float the hand around with the pick as it is fingerstyle. Lots of sounds available! I am even doing one song where I play with fingers and some thumb popping up until the guitar solo, with a pick in my mouth, and grab the pick and go to the bridge pickup to make the bass jump out during that solo, and it's fantastic.

For me, it's starting to be a case of "use every possible tool you can," and it saves wear and tear on my poor precious little fingers as well. I don't know if my technique is "correct" or not, but I find that it's what works for me.

 

[FaithNoMan]

I've seen John Wetton use the same picking technique where he anchors his pinky when using a pick.

 

[MCS4]

Worrying about "correct" technique is a great way to limit your creativity and expression. What you're doing making perfect sense to me... whether I play fingerstyle or pick on a given song, I generally switch plucking-hand positions multiple times depending on the tone, dynamics, etc. that are called for in a given part.

I also keep a pick holder on every bass so I can easily swap between songs or mid-song if needed.

 

[MCS4]

P.S. You can also vary the tone by playing with the rounder ends of the pick rather than the "point." These days I gravitate on using a pick that isn't too fat (1mm Dunlop Tortex, or sometimes .88mm), so that I can get a fatter, rounder tone that sounds closer to fingerstyle by using a rounded end or a tone with more "attack" if I use the point.

 

[bluesdogblues]

I recommend when playing with pick not to anchor your pinky. It's good to prevent injury in mid-long term. Your choice of floating it is already good, use wrist motion instead of thumb. you'll thank later. I read it from JimmyM somewhere here and some other players I know, and I agree with them. Carol Kaye also describe this on her website.
use every possible tool you can...you right...and keep healthy

 

[Walfretless5]

As most guitarists will tell you , anchoring your pinky is not proper technique. As BDB says floating is recommended for proper technique. Having had purists for Bass instructors, picks were considered taboo anyway. I've been tempted myself many times...even just to achieve a particular tone , not for any technical aspects. I myself think there are many great players who utilize a pick and it works great for them, so if you feel it works for you...just go for it.
The few times that I have tried using a pick on my Rickenbackers to get that particular tone , I've used Dunlop Big Stubby 2.0 mm. The stiffer picks seemed to work better for me.

 

[mellowinman]

P.S. You can also vary the tone by playing with the rounder ends of the pick rather than the "point." These days I gravitate on using a pick that isn't too fat (1mm Dunlop Tortex, or sometimes .88mm), so that I can get a fatter, rounder tone that sounds closer to fingerstyle by using a rounded end or a tone with more "attack" if I use the point.

Even on acoustic guitar, I've always held the pick "wrong," using the rounder ends. I just can't do the point, for some reason. On acoustic, I use about the thinnest pick they make; on bass, I use a very heavy one. I don't have one in front of me so I can't tell you the number, but think "very heavy."

If I could lose that pinky anchor, it would make me a better guitar player, as well. I will try.

 

[MCS4]

Maybe try some palm-muting as an intermediate, semi-anchored step (think more Bobby Vega funk, or more of an upright bass tone, rather than guitar-like metal chugging, although that has its place as well). Also a nice tonal option to have in your arsenal.

 

[knumbskull]

Palm-muting with a pick rocks!

The floating thing also works well with a pick, even between different parts of a song.

 

[chungweishan]

As always it depends on what sound I want from what particular song, and the speed I'm picking.

For example: "Locked Out of Heaven", I'm palm-muting by the bridge during the verse because I need the picking-speed and mute sound. I could just do modified muting with my fretting hand, but it slows down changing notes. During the chorus, I still hold the pick and pluck with my middle and ring finger.

For more rock songs with picks, with slower note changes, I use a full strumming technique, like a guitarist, for power, attack-sound (I'm digging into the strings more) and looks (as it seems more dynamic). The full strum, like on guitar, helps my timing as I'm using my whole arm instead of wrist. But that's just me.

I use a 1mm pick as I tend to have more of those around. Anything lighter I like for acoustic as it has more of a percussive sound when full-strumming, but on bass I want something more precise for single-notes.

 

[oldfclefer]

I play a mix of pick and fingers...when I play with my fingers I "palm" the pick in the cup portion of my palm...like a magician would a coin...that way if a portion of the song requires that I use the pick I transfer it to my fingers...took me a few months to get the hang of the transfer to and from my palm...but I do it with ease now...and it keeps the pick out of my mouth -- less slimy that way ...

 

[Febs]

Worrying about "correct" technique is a great way to limit your creativity and expression.

I've always found the opposite: learning good technique is a great way to avoid letting technical deficiencies get in the way of creativity and expression.

 

[MCS4]

I didn't say "learning"... I said "worrying."

There's a big difference between knowing "correct" technique and self-limiting yourself by feeling that you'd be committing a crime if you varied from it. It's a similar principle to the fact that while most everyone can benefit from knowing more about musical theory, it is also true that a lot of great music comes from being willing to break free from technically "correct" or "recommended" harmony/theory principles. As with most everything, a mix of both often produces the best results.

 

[bluesdogblues]

I always thinking about how to have a good/better than I have/do now - technique, and never feel it limits my creativity and expression. Only the opposite of it.

 

[mellowinman]

I'm just happy when I pick up anything new. It makes me a better player. Now I'm almost 50/50 on pick/fingers. I'm going to try that palming thing.

 

[Justin Woodward]

It's weird...I like the idea of playing with my fingers, but I'm 1,000x better when I use a pick. I mean my tone is amazing, my playing is flawless, it just feels and sounds right. My favorite bassist is Geddy Lee so I try hard to emulate his sound with my fingers just because I figure hell if he can do it I should be able to come close! But nope lol. So I stick to pick 90% of the time. Even though it makes me feel like a lesser player.

 

[bswag]

Lots of guitarists use the pick/fingers combination, ie, hold a pick w/thumb & index fingers, use remaining fingers to "finger"-pick. Jimmy Page, eg, uses that trick often, but zillions of others do as well. No reason it shouldn't work for bass just as well, eh? Then there's those of us who gave up on picks 'cause we always drop 'em... Ages ago, for a while I flogged my old Jaguar with the index-fingernail used as a pick (I believe Steve Stills used to do that), but I'm not sure how that would feel on roundwound bass strings! Works OK on tapes, tho.

Which reminds me, when I saw Zep early on, Jimbo dropped his pick mid-solo! Since he was in one of the 13 certified "guitar hero" positions (No. 7: Legs splayed, leaned over so that guitar is 2-3 inches from floor), he grabbed it back whilst keeping the left hand twiddling away. Such a pro!