Playing fast with a pick

[Derp]

So I am a two years' bassist being primarily a pick player. And since I'm the complete opposite of a pocket player I always tend to stuff extra notes everywhere I can, be it 4th 8th and sometimes even 16th's. To succeed at this I have to play fast enough. For some reason descending comes easier than going up the scales, and I sometimes find it difficult to coordinate my picking hand. Any suggestions on how to improve my technique? Thanks in advance

 

[billgwx]

I'm much more of a finger style player, but I do run into the occasional song that's meant to be played with a pick. I can suggest some things that worked for me--first, try playing things at a slower tempo where you can keep your fretting and picking hands more easily in sync, then gradually increase the tempo to where you want it. Second, make sure you work on good alternate picking technique, and take advantage of all fingers on your fretting hand and all the strings to minimize movement up and down the neck and make the job of playing fast runs easier. I stumbled onto things by trial and error--more experienced pick players can probably point you toward specific exercises/techniques to get the job done.

 

[GKon]

I'm no expert, but the little bit I do know suggests that how you hold the pick will also play a big role in being able to use it quickly and
effectively. When learning to play bouzouki my teacher taught me to hold the pick firmly, but not too tightly, having the pick rest
between the first and second knuckle of my pointer finger, and my thumb holding it in place there. This gives the pick a firm enough
hold that you can manipulate it easily, as opposed to holding it in a less firm position and having the pick move up and down as you
are playing.

 

[billgwx]

First and second knuckle? That's far back for my taste but if it works it works.
Another thing I do when picking fast passages is bring the pick across the strings in a sideways fashion, so the pick is going with the grain of the string windings so to speak. Unorthodox maybe but it helps me keep the pick from getting hung up on the strings--obviously more of a potential problem with bass strings than guitar strings.

 

[MalcolmAmos]

For faster notes alternate pick is what I would suggest. It's used by 6 string guitar guys/gals all the time. In case you do not know what this is.....

You sound the string on the up and down stroke. You have to bring the puck up from a down stroke, might as well get a sound in doing so.



Beyond that it's the P word.

 

[Derp]

I'm no expert, but the little bit I do know suggests that how you hold the pick will also play a big role in being able to use it quickly and
effectively. When learning to play bouzouki my teacher taught me to hold the pick firmly, but not too tightly, having the pick rest
between the first and second knuckle of my pointer finger, and my thumb holding it in place there. This gives the pick a firm enough
hold that you can manipulate it easily, as opposed to holding it in a less firm position and having the pick move up and down as you
are playing.

Thank you so much @GKon! Your technique seems to work! Although I feel like I'm gonna have a hard time switching from my previous technique (holding the pick in between the pads of my thumb and my index). Anyway thanks a lot for your help!

 

[GKon]

Thank you so much @GKon! Your technique seems to work! Although I feel like I'm gonna have a hard time switching from my previous technique (holding the pick in between the pads of my thumb and my index). Anyway thanks a lot for your help!

It's my pleasure. More than anything, I'm glad that I could help.

If you have a chance, search on Carol Kaye's website where she explains how to hold and use a pick.
http://www.carolkaye.com/www/education/tips101.htm

Tip 103
Tip 92
Tip 27
Tip 26 FOR SURE
Tip 9 FOR SURE

I believe it's the same as I've mentioned. It gives you a LOT more control , without having to squeeze the pick too hard between your fingers, thus tiring your hand out.

She also (as well as my bouzouki teacher) stresses using the wrist, and not so much arm movement.

And, use as heavy a pick as possible. At least that's her recommendation.

 

[Matty Koff]

I can't speak for using a pick with bass, as I switched to finger style as soon as I picked one up. But when I used to play guitar - what helped me most outside of having a proper grip on the pick was practicing my weak points a little longer than I practiced anything else. For me it took me a long time (because I never got instruction) to realize my faults and the bad habits I'd developed playing.. when picking it's important to remember that when you're using alternating strokes to follow that through even when switching strings. Say your hitting a down stroke on the E string (random fret) and your next note is played on the A string, ideally you want to be able to comfortably hit that A string with an upstroke.. same for if you start on the E with an upstroke, you want to hit the A with a downstroke. Of course double down up, and other techniques work. But I developed more speed and consistency when I grasped this concept of alternate picking that I didn't understand for many years.
Less wordy examples - 5th fret E string down stroke, 3rd fret A string upstroke.. or 5th fret E string upstroke, 3rd fret A string down stroke. Paying attention and practicing changing strings with this method in your scales/riffs at a slow pace will ultimately be what makes you able to play faster.

Taking bass more seriously - I will say - Practice slowly before you try to practice at full speed. Even when I play an awesome new riff that sounded flawless, I find I have to go back and iron out the technique slowly and develop muscle memory before being able to consistently repeat what seemed effortless the first time. I'll wing it when doing improv with some drums+guitars but when I find keepers I take them home, slow them down, and make sure I can play them clearly at a slow and steady pace before trying to play it all full speed. I also look at it this way - when you don't take the time to slow down - it's harder to spot what bad habits might be taking place.

One last thought for when I would play fast with a pick on guitar - It changed the tone of my guitars somewhat, but, I found it easier to play faster when I turned my pick so that the tip rolled over the strings rather than catch and pluck them. It can be a drastic change on your tone, but, really made it easier to play fast. Dynamically it acts as a weaker attack on the string, but if you don't apply pressure the pick will just roll back and forth over the strings as you play. You may have already figured this out by now.. but you never know.

Not sure if I've been any help, but the very few times I've used a pick on bass I still feel the improvements I made on guitar when I started really looking at the flaws of my right hand technique.

 

[billgwx]

One last thought for when I would play fast with a pick on guitar - It changed the tone of my guitars somewhat, but, I found it easier to play faster when I turned my pick so that the tip rolled over the strings rather than catch and pluck them.

Yes exactly. You put that in terms a little easier to understand than I did above. Works especially for bass where you're more likely to get hung up on a string.

I've also found that playing fast passages higher up the neck helps due to lower tension, as does playing them across multiple strings and keeping one's hand in a more fixed position rather than flying up and down the neck on one string. Learned those specifically through practicing to two songs--the Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Parallel Universe" and the Cranberries' "Salvation".

 

[rafitoprtx]

The alternate picking works well, but grab the pick from the center and use picks no more than 1.5mm.