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Picking!

#21
Hmm...
pick use?

When I use a pick, I never really take notice of how I play. I just play however feels comfortable, and I leave my bass right around hip level. Meaning the lower half of hte bass is sorta covering my...erm...schlong? :p And the upper half is right around waist level.

So my advice? Well...it's not really advice, I guess, but I'd say experiment with what feels right, and what feels right most likely isn't going to hurt or strain your arm, unless you're a masochist or something. :D

As for anti/pro-pick people...
Who cares? Why not play both, and find out exactly what the other guys is saying you're missing out on, instead of complaining and whining about it because you personally don't like to.
And if you don't want to try it...then stop slandering other pepole who DO do it, because chances are you're just jealous that they're more versatile than you. ;)

Looky! It's a 2-in-1 post! :D:p
 
#22
Well said Sheep Man!
I cannot understand what some of these people have aginst playing with a pick. It takes no special talent to use your fingers, its just as easy, just a different technique. I use fingers most of the time, simply because I like a deeper sound, but I often bring out the pick for some songs simply because they sound better that way. Try something like 'Roadhouse Blues' with fingers then pick, and tell me which way sounds best. I think you will find the pick sounds much better.
Also, I think players who have only ever used a pick should give using fingers a go, it is much easier than you think. And the girls prefer it too ;) I was always a pick man until I showed up to a gig without any picks, so I was forced to learn how to play with my fingers on the spot, and it was far easier than I thought it would be.
Jim
 
#23
Paul McCartney
Lemmy Kilmister
John Entwistle
Noel Redding

Several more. Pick-playing is an absolutely inalienable skill for rock and metal music. In these genres it is far superior to fingerstyle. If you can't see that then you're stupid.

Back to the technique, um, I try to play from the elbow, but I usullay end up hitting so hard that i get fret-buzz, so sometimes i just put my hand on the bridge and pick from the wrist. Do what feels good.

And I use all picks from 0.6mm to around 3mm. As a general rule, thicker = heavier sound, so better for metal. But thinner picks are much faster.

Find a happy medium. :)
 
#26
Not only will playing with a pick hold you back in your playing, but so will playing with a strap. No one worth a damn ever played with a strap. Same with pickups and tuning pegs. If anything will hold you back in your playing, it's those things.


[Note: this post is complete sarcasm. If you couldn't figure that out, maybe it's because you're using a mouse to read this.]
 
#27
Originally posted by *ToNeS*
some may feel compelled to add that Geddy doesn't play metal and that Burton was just that tincy bit inaudible ... :eek:
Click to expand...
Ah yes...but then the counter-argument would be that my original response was to the comment that pick playing is essential to ROCK and metal, and Geddy played rock. :D

And even if Cliff Burton was just "that teensy bit inaudible..." then...well, that doesn't mean he wasn't good, now does it? ;):):D
 
#29
Originally posted by Sheep Man
Ah yes...but then the counter-argument would be that my original response was to the comment that pick playing is essential to ROCK and metal, and Geddy played rock. :D
when i hear a band classified as "rock" i think "mosh" ... and i'd never mosh to Rush. i would agree that pick-usage is essential to metal, but certainly not to rock. there are too many awesome players in rock who shirk at the use of plectrums.
And even if Cliff Burton was just "that teensy bit inaudible..." then...well, that doesn't mean he wasn't good, now does it? ;):):D
i wouldn't know. i could never hear him :p
Click to expand...
 
#30
I could hear both plenty. And I could name plenty more good finger-style bassists in those genres, BUT I believe as far as sound goes in those genres a pick is far superior, and I so actually think it is necessary in rock and metal.

I think it's quite narrow-minded to claim that finger-style can suffice by itself for rock and metal.
 
#35
ok, then. there's no set "technique".

Just do whatever doesn't hurt your right hand.

BUT as a side note, you may find it easier playing with a pick on flatwound strings. Regular strings make scraping noises against picks.

I usually have to keep my neck horizontal to make sure the pick face hits the string at a right angle. otherwise I get a horrible scraping noise.

So yeah, try flatwounds, or get used to fretting a horizontal neck.
 
#37
Holy crap!! I can't believe this whole finger vs. pick thing and how you all get so worked up about it. Why in the world wouldn't you want to be able to do both? I'm a long way from being a great bassist but I'm smart enough to know that sometimes finger style sounds best, sometimes a pick does and sometimes slap fits well, which is why I'm striving to become proficient in all these techniques. Oh yeah and Jason Newstead is just as quiet as Cliff Burton despite using a pick.
 
#39
well I use both pick and fingers and teeth. when using a pick i use my whole arm at differnt intervals. either wrist, shoulder, even use my fingers in this wierd highbred sort of style that makes it extremly fast. I can play 64th notes piece of piss. I rest my picking hand on the bridge (not touching the strings) this is where the strings tension is at it's greatst and in turn making it extremely easy to pick really really fast. but enough with picking fast. most of the time I use the resting my hand on the bridge thing except when I want differnt tones I'll move my picking had anywhere even right up to the third fret if it makes the right sound.
 
#40
Yeah, I'm working on getting good with a pick, I use my wrist too. I was watching roger waters play (I know he's not punk or anything, but whatever) and I was watching his technique and I was like, whoa that looks crazy, how can he play like that? Then I started getting good with a pick and I found myself using that same technique. But anyways, I was always thinking to myself, damn, how come I can't get that Tool sound out of my bass, then I tried new strings and a pick and much to my suprise it worked. Hah, apparently these rock stars can afford fancy things like "new strings".
 

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