• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Pick playing killing stage presence?!

#44
Wolfpackleader6 said:
I've been playing bass for about 3 years now, trained every morning in my schools jazz band and many hours spent doing nothing else. I've been playing with my fingers all these years, now alternating between 2 and 3 fingers.

MY PROBLEM is that I recently got invited into my friend's punk band and I can't play with my fingers fast enough, so I decided to try playing with a pick. I have a Peavey Grind 5 string as that fit the bill perfectly (my current precious is an ibanez sr706). The only pick I could properly use was a large trangular heavy that I banged back and forth on the strings.

When we play gigs, my hand starts to hurt after 2 songs, and is already burning by the time we finish. Because of this, I can' jump around or doing anything that makes punk music fun to watch! I'm also hopelessly out of ideas because it hurts no matter how much I practice.
Click to expand...

If you are a better finger style bassist, then go with what feels the best. I have played hardcore and metal for years without a pick... it has less to do with speed and more to do with using your strengths to lock in with the drums and efficiently fill the space under the guitar. You don't have to play every single 16th note if the drums and guitar are filling those spaces. Syncopate and weave around the other instruments with fewer notes. You can also use the fret board to bounce the strings for extra percussiveness. I use slides to move around the board, etc.

The more you use your natural strengths to your advantage, the better.
 
#45
Wolfpackleader6 said:
I've been playing bass for about 3 years now, trained every morning in my schools jazz band and many hours spent doing nothing else. I've been playing with my fingers all these years, now alternating between 2 and 3 fingers.

MY PROBLEM is that I recently got invited into my friend's punk band and I can't play with my fingers fast enough, so I decided to try playing with a pick. I have a Peavey Grind 5 string as that fit the bill perfectly (my current precious is an ibanez sr706). The only pick I could properly use was a large trangular heavy that I banged back and forth on the strings.

When we play gigs, my hand starts to hurt after 2 songs, and is already burning by the time we finish. Because of this, I can' jump around or doing anything that makes punk music fun to watch! I'm also hopelessly out of ideas because it hurts no matter how much I practice.
Click to expand...

When I was in a death metal band I used a pick so I could do the tremolo picking that was prevalent at the time. I would start getting really bad cramps in my thumb (actually the muscle below my thumb in my palm) after playing for a while. After messing with it for a while I discovered a few things that were aggravating it. I was down tuning to D, but using .115 strings, which are really too heavy for that tuning, so when the pick hit the string it would resist more and put more strain on my thumb. Also, the gauge of the pick could affect how much of the shock would go into my hand. When I lowered my string gauge and used slightly thinner picks, the pain wasn't as bad.
Look into those mechanics, as well as where you strike the string, or how much you alternate your up and down strokes. Finally, as others have pointed out, you have to relax you hand a little. If you aren't used to picking it will make you tense up and lead to all sorts of problems.
 
#46
Tons of great information here. Makes it hard to add my .02 but I'm gonna try....

1) Don't grip the pic so hard. If you are having a hard time actually holding on to it, try these...

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I use the .96 for bass and have for years. LOVE 'EM.

2) Learn to play accurately with power, then with speed. This song is a great practice tune for warming up your speed. Learn it in half time, then start to play it properly when you can keep up....

http://youtu.be/CuNSn1z6ric

Also, Mark Hoppus has raised his bass up quite a bit over the years and it has helped both his accuracy, and speed immensely since. Dude has style for days and has NEVER lacked in stage presence. I'm glad is quality of playing has finally started to catch up to his level of fame....
 
#47
lfmn16 said:
StrangerDanger said:
I think its been proven that "most" people can play more notes faster fingerstyle with a pick. I know I can. But I still use a pick on occasion for the attack. If you want to play with a pick for the sound then do so but if its for speed, well just practice. Dont worry about it bro, it'll be fine.
Click to expand...

Care to share who proved it and how they proved it?
Click to expand...
I thought not.

I has been proven that 85.7% of the people who post this stuff are making it up. :D
 
#49
I'm just new in bass, but I had the same problem when I started tremolo picking on guitar.

I'd suggest practicing alternate picking slow and go faster and faster as you get more "stamina", it worked for me.
 
#51
I am mainly a pick player 32nd notes are no problem with a pick. Ditch the triangle, use heavy to extra heavy gauge this will give you more control light gauge picks flop around and make accurate picking difficult. Here is what I use Fender extra heavy. Also I keep only about a 1/8" of the pick exposed.
picks001.jpg
pool-Hogarosa2012010.jpg
JOHNNYSMOKEBuffaloNYwaterfront8-19-13144.jpg
 
#52
-Grip the pick firmly enough so it does not move, but no harder, and focus on keeping everything else in your arm loose. Practice playing very lightly, then progressively dig in harder and harder. Listen to and feel the results.

-Try different joint and muscle group combinations - using the wrist, oscillating the wrist, using the thumb and finger for scalpel/cirlce picking, using the whole arm, and figure out what combination or choice works best for you.

-Practice slowly, and build up speed, but also practice bursts of playing as fast as you can (with no pain!). This will build up the fast twitch muscle fibres you need to get that pick cruising.

-Check out an Indian instrument called the Sarrod (or sarod), that pick technique translates well to bass. It's primarily a wrist oscillation. Steal some Sarod licks while you're there.

- I learned my picking technique on guitar by checking out guys like John Mclaughlin, George Benson, and Shawn lane, and listening to and researching how they did it. That said, one of my favorite things about playing bass is to play with my fingers, and not have to play a trillion notes to make something that sounds cool.

-There is no one "right way", just practicing what works best for you. Stay focused and be patient, and I promise you'll get there!
 
#53
As for technique I use up and down strokes, down strokes and circular picking (something I read years ago in Guitar Player mag. I guess jazz guitarists use it) I also use the front edge of the pick to dig in a bit for a raspy aggressive sound. Obviously from the pics I palm mute a lot. I also use my middle, ring finger and pinky to play octaves. When I play cords which I do often I sort of bow the pick across the strings......................I never thought much about what I do it just happens.
 
#54
obimark said:
I play both, but with my cover band mostly do pick, and an amazing thing happens, I don't have to "think" as hard about what I am doing when I use the pick! So I can walk around, talk to the drummer/guitards, etc... actually put on a "show". Don't know if others have experienced this, and I started out playing only FINGERS for 18 years, but the pick has freed my mind.
Click to expand...

guy n. cognito said:
Hmm. I play fingerstyle, and I can't say I have to put any thought into what my right hand is doing.
Click to expand...

so there really are different strokes for different folks? i thought that was just a saying.
 
#55
Loosen up your grip on the pick, and turn up some so you're not having to slam the strings so hard. I play about 60/40 in favor of a pick. Totally different sound between the two, which is why I switch it up. Has little to none to do with "ability" between the two techniques. I learned by watching Newsted and Rex.
 
#57
Wolfpackleader6 said:
When we play gigs, my hand starts to hurt after 2 songs, and is already burning by the time we finish.
Click to expand...

The pick you are using is too thick, you need extra energy from your hand to get it past the strings and this is what is making you tired.

I use three picks:

1 - 2.5mm for melodic stuff like Thin Lizzy

2 - 1.5mm for eight notes alternating

3 - 0.88mm for 16th notes alternating

Different picks for different styles balances the energy required overall. A thinner pick however means less bottom end.
 
#59
Hi Wolfpackleader6 , look around some photos of best gays out there - Dave Eleffson,Rex Brown,Duff Mc and etc. and you will see that (almost if not everyone of them) their bass-bodies position is pointed downward around their groins.That help a lot to not to make you flexors and extensors get excessively and unnecessary tension when you play.You arm have to be as mush relaxed as possible.What i suggest is that you should play standing up and try different bass position - your arm will "tell" you when gets exactly right spot to it.Use at least 1mm thick picks and medium gauge strings.You don not have to practice a lot when you got right position and technics.And remember that injures comes from having not right approach (arm angle etc.) plus excessively practice that way.Good luck :bassist:
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back