Picking Position

[Memphis Soul]

For those of you who play with a pick do you pick back near the bridge or closer to the neck. I pick very close to the neck but it not a conscious decision. It’s just where my arm naturally falls. I play the same way on guitar. I don’t know if it’s because I have long arms or what. I see people picking near the bridge and think that looks so uncomfortable. What made me think of it was the video on the bassist sub forum that shows the band Montrose with Sammy Hagar. The bass player looks like he his playing right near the bridge. I also don’t like the sound I get from picking in that area. I like a really low sound so I roll my P Bass tone knob about half way and when I play near the neck I really like the sound I get. Like I said though I don’t do it on purpose.

 

[Andre678]

I too like a deeper sound and find myself picking roughly where a jazz neck pickup would be.

Since I got my passive Stingray I have found myself naturally and unconsciously moving my plucking hand as I a play to change the tone and this happens at lot more when playing with a pick than with fingers. Just now I noticed as I was jamming once I started playing higher on the neck my picking hand also naturally went a little closer to the bridge to help with those high notes. Although I still play the majority of the time near a neck pickup position.

 

[Groove Doctor]

I pick anywhere from the bridge to over the end of the fretboard. I like a variety of tones.

 

[gregmon79]

I use an Ibanez ATK 300 and I think I usually pick towards the back of the pick closer to the bridge. Kind in between the pickup and the bridge but still over the pickup. It depends on the sound I'm after. Stringed instruments are so cool that way, in that you can change your picking/striking position and it can have a really adverse effect on the sound/tone you get. If I want a warmer more round sound, I go closer to the neck.

 

[Memphis Soul]

I do try to pick in different locations to get different tones but I always wind up going back to my close to the neck position.

 

[JimmyO]

Playing a lot of garage rock and punk type stuff these days, so I’m using a pick 90% of the time and find myself down near the bridge on my 4003 mostly. But, just like with finger style, I’ll adjust that based on the tonal needs of the song.

 

[Pdaddy1978]

<--------- As you can see, I pick right in front of the bridge. SNAPPY!

 

[Groove Doctor]

I do try to pick in different locations to get different tones but I always wind up going back to my close to the neck position.

Probably ergonomics related.
Is it the same standing and sitting?
Have you tried lowering your bass by lengthening the strap?

When sitting I pick & pluck near the neck too. Standing is the only time I can play near bridge for any extended time. It’s also better for practicing my singing while playing. Also builds stamina for gigging standing etc.

 

[Memphis Soul]

Probably ergonomics related.
Is it the same standing and sitting?
Have you tried lowering your bass by lengthening the strap?

When sitting I pick & pluck near the neck too. Standing is the only time I can play near bridge for any extended time.

I play there sitting or standing although it’s like you say. Standing makes playing near the bridge a lot easier.

 

[pepj]

I strike the string at any place that gets the sound I'm going for.

Its just something that comes from endless hrs of playing time built up over decades.

 

[Killing Floor]

Between the saddle and as high as a fret up the finger board.

 

[Hyoga]

Near the neck is the most natural position. However, there are other parameters which make me adjust this. The obvious one is the tone. The other one is the ease of play when speeding up (I'm playing mostly metal): when playing close to the neck the strings are too loose for fast and "powerful" play - need to get closer to the bridge, but in general I find that in-between the PUs is fine. Very close to the bridge is generally uncomfortable and difficult to keep, my hand will go back in the middle naturally.