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Playing with a pick easier than with fingers???

M

Music_for_life

Aug 6, 2010
627
9
#1
Hi, I am playing with my fingers for more than 10 years, I can play fast with two fingers, at 145 bpm 16th notes with a metronome with consistent endurance. I play in a power metal band and progresive metal, and in some new songs we are needing some more speed. I started practising with a pick and it wasn`t as easy I tought it should be. I also like the agressive tone of the pick for some songs.
Do you think playing with a pick is easier??
It is very difficult to get a lot of spped with a pick and make it sound good??
What do you recomend me to practise??
 
#3
Are you practicing both the down and up strokes? Using down - up - down - up - etc. should get you to some good, fast speed. It's all in the wrist.

For me, pick playing is faster when playing the same note / same string in succession. However, if I'm jumping between strings, I'm faster using finger-style.
 
#4
PaulMacCnj said:
Are you practicing both the down and up strokes? Using down - up - down - up - etc. should get you to some good, fast speed. It's all in the wrist.

For me, pick playing is faster when playing the same note / same string in succession. However, if I'm jumping between strings, I'm faster using finger-style.
Click to expand...

I am playing down and up, but with part of the pick I shoud play, with the side??? The difficult think is to get a consistent and the same tone always.
Today I will start learning some tom hamilton and cliff williams lines!
 
#5
I find pick easyer to build up speed on one string or only 2 string skipping.

But when you need to make a lot of string changes, fingers are way easier. Even more if you take the muting in account.
 
#6
I have been playing a pick well, always I started pick and still use to this day. Though I do practice a little with fingers. As for holding the pick I learned that if you hold the pick as close to the pointed tip as you can with out actually touching the strings you can get more speed. Also try experimenting with various gauges of picks. I've tried everything from .55 up to 2.0mm. I found that the Jim Dunlop nylon .88mm works best for me. Not too stiff not to flexable. Also what material the pick is made of may ipact performance. As I said I use a nylon pick. I have a pretty heavy hand so the nylons don't shatter after one or two songs. Try out Brain Picks they have a good texture for great grip and less slip.
 
#12
I can play with my fingers, I am looking after more versatility and speed, and with speed I mean 16th notes at more than 150 bpm, that sound coonsistent, clear, clean and neat. I can name few bassist that can do that correctly...Yeah I listen some in youtube faking that, very good technique they can play at that speed with the fingers but right???? IMO NO!, most of the times that don`t sound at a professional level...With a pick it is easier to get a good tone at high speeds.
 
#13
Music_for_life said:
I can play with my fingers, I am looking after more versatility and speed, and with speed I mean 16th notes at more than 150 bpm, that sound coonsistent, clear, clean and neat. I can name few bassist that can do that correctly...Yeah I listen some in youtube faking that, very good technique they can play at that speed with the fingers but right???? IMO NO!, most of the times that don`t sound at a professional level...With a pick it is easier to get a good tone at high speeds.
Click to expand...

+1 so true
 
#16
My problem with the pick is muting. I find palm muting awkward. Somehow I've internalized the right hand floating thumb low string damping + left hand high string damping while playing fingerstyle, but the palm is either too close or not close enough when picking. Any suggestions, other than practice more? :-)
 
#17
Neon Scribe said:
My problem with the pick is muting. I find palm muting awkward. Somehow I've internalized the right hand floating thumb low string damping + left hand high string damping while playing fingerstyle, but the palm is either too close or not close enough when picking. Any suggestions, other than practice more? :-)
Click to expand...

Funny - the one thing I *do* like doing with a pick is muting to get that big "dub" sound...
 
#19
Spino said:
Throw away your pick and pick your nose if you must pick something .Fingers are much more versatile and give a much better / varied / dynamic sound .
Click to expand...

I don't disagree with you, but one tone you really can't get with your fingers is the tone you get with a pick. I play all my instruments with my fingers primarily... guitar, bass, baritone... but if the song is asking for a pick, I keep one handy, just in case. However, I'm lucky enough to have started as a pick player and then switched, so my pick technique is pretty much down pat; even if I go for months or years without touching one, I can pick up a pick and everything I used to do comes right back, no problem.
 
#20
I played for 22 years with pretty much only a pick. My first teacher started me out using one and I took lessons from him for the first 3 years I played. About 3 years ago I wanted to start using my fingers more so I worked hard to do it. My reasons were because I was in a cover band and needed both types of tones in my arsenal. The finger/pick debate is just personal preference, one is not any better than the other.

As far as holding the pick, I like larger picks and hold it parallel to the string. So in my index and thumb, I keep the "top" or tip of the "triangle" pointing towards the head of the bass, and the edge of the pick in line with the string. I can cover alot of tones using just a pick.
 

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