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Plectrum playing question
- Thread starter green3101
- Start date
You need to know your body and try to understand what's happening. Could this be muscle pain you are experiencing as you are learning a new technique?
My main suggestions for healthy pick playing:
- Use up/down strokes. When I play only down strokes,I get a discomfort pretty quickly.
- Practice standing up and find a bass heigjt that works for you
- Use a thick pick. I use 2mm myself
Of course this is what works for me. You need to try what 's best for you. Cheers!
My main suggestions for healthy pick playing:
- Use up/down strokes. When I play only down strokes,I get a discomfort pretty quickly.
- Practice standing up and find a bass heigjt that works for you
- Use a thick pick. I use 2mm myself
Of course this is what works for me. You need to try what 's best for you. Cheers!
Personally, I find the opposite to be true: The shorter the strap (the higher the bass), the more my forearm is parallel to the strings, so the up-and-down motion of the wrist is perpendicular to the strings rather than striking the strings on a diagonal. In every video I've ever seen of Carol Kaye she has been sitting rather than standing, and the bass is positioned as if on a short strap. The more I lower the bass, the more I find it difficult to avoid striking the strings on an angle -- diagonally -- rather than straight up-and-down.
Yes, it's all personal. Do what works for you, is my suggestion. Just be sure to change what isn't (working)!
I started on guitar and then started playing bass in bands around 1980. I only play with a pick using thumb and index fingers and extend my other three fingers. I use my middle finger for string pops, playing two strings at once and maybe a couple pulloff type pops. We do Led Zep's Rock & Roll and I do some double picking on that and now do ZZ Top's Legs without the doubling echo so I try to try to play the synth part, with distortion, and it's 16th notes I think. Trying to post video so you can see how I play.
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Top left video is Brown Sugar and is the best recorded we have though the
video and music are a little out of sync.
Top left video is Brown Sugar and is the best recorded we have though the
video and music are a little out of sync.
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Keith Richards interview stated the same. WRIST. Rotary motion. Not pendulum.
I’m still getting the hang of the pick myself. Most of what I’m finding is that patience needs to accompany proper technique. It does not come overnight. 99% of us musicians have to exercise conscious determination to make improvements and evolve.
I've been playing with a pick for a while and love it. Some good advice already posted...
I don't hear of too many bass players having a problem that I have, but I cannot play sitting down for long periods of time without my forearm hurting. That being said, I play with my bass low in a standing position. So, along with the quotes above, you'll want to try various adjustments and find what works for you.
Since we're on the subject, I'll plug my Youtube channel by posting a bass cover I recently did using a pick.
I don't hear of too many bass players having a problem that I have, but I cannot play sitting down for long periods of time without my forearm hurting. That being said, I play with my bass low in a standing position. So, along with the quotes above, you'll want to try various adjustments and find what works for you.
Since we're on the subject, I'll plug my Youtube channel by posting a bass cover I recently did using a pick.
I've been playing with a pick for a while and love it. Some good advice already posted...
I don't hear of too many bass players having a problem that I have, but I cannot play sitting down for long periods of time without my forearm hurting. That being said, I play with my bass low in a standing position. So, along with the quotes above, you'll want to try various adjustments and find what works for you.
Since we're on the subject, I'll plug my Youtube channel by posting a bass cover I recently did using a pick.
Liked the cover.
I also started using a pick way after learning playing with my fingers. first of all, I'd definitely take a break if I had pain. do you have pain playing other basses?
regarding the technique, it's always good to watch other players play and listen to their advice, but whatever works for them might not work for you.. I prefer the large triangle picks that are thick. Carol Kaye's choice of pick won't work for me for instance. I prefer to pick close to the bridge, and really like the sound when you palm mute and pick. raising the neck up helps the picking hand ime. I met CJ Ramone in Florida a couple of years a go. he has a different technique than Carol, but it works for him. Good luck!
regarding the technique, it's always good to watch other players play and listen to their advice, but whatever works for them might not work for you.. I prefer the large triangle picks that are thick. Carol Kaye's choice of pick won't work for me for instance. I prefer to pick close to the bridge, and really like the sound when you palm mute and pick. raising the neck up helps the picking hand ime. I met CJ Ramone in Florida a couple of years a go. he has a different technique than Carol, but it works for him. Good luck!
I can relate to that, probably nerves or tendons indeed. You should not force it.
I'd recommend this as it helped me :
I'd recommend this as it helped me :
25 year veteran pick player here. There is some good advice here already. Here are a couple of things I can add:
You don’t need a thick pick. I use a .73mm and its fine. It allows flexibility and takes tention off of your fingers. This can help with speed and stamina while alternate picking.
Wrist pain can be caused by the angle in which you are playing. Try adjusting your attack and arm position. I find being seated and picking for hours an uncomfortable position for my wrist. Try standing and allowing your arm to extend and relax.
There is only one way to know what’s best for you. Allow your wrist to heal and keep at it. You will find the way and eventually you won’t even think about it.
You don’t need a thick pick. I use a .73mm and its fine. It allows flexibility and takes tention off of your fingers. This can help with speed and stamina while alternate picking.
Wrist pain can be caused by the angle in which you are playing. Try adjusting your attack and arm position. I find being seated and picking for hours an uncomfortable position for my wrist. Try standing and allowing your arm to extend and relax.
There is only one way to know what’s best for you. Allow your wrist to heal and keep at it. You will find the way and eventually you won’t even think about it.
Looking at those pictures, I'd suggest you change your right forearm position a bit further to the bridge and a bit more backward. Try to find a natural position where your body, shoulders, arms etc all are relaxed and in line, which isn't the case on those pics. Your body doen't seem to be in a normal, relaxed position. Always use a strap and make sure your instrument always is at the same height when standing or sitting. This is VERY important.
Keep practicing, but always warm up! If it's just muscle pain: that's not abnormal since you have to train those muscles. It has taken me about a year of practicing before I could play a full show with a pick without getting tired in my hand or forearm. Switch to fingers if you get tired.
Keep practicing, but always warm up! If it's just muscle pain: that's not abnormal since you have to train those muscles. It has taken me about a year of practicing before I could play a full show with a pick without getting tired in my hand or forearm. Switch to fingers if you get tired.
I never paid much attention, but after watching this, it turns out I play my violin bass (with a pick) the same way (left handed, too
) . Sir Paul is resting most of his hand on the strings just behind the bridge, with his fingers arching over the bridge. It's possible to get the front edge of your palm just barely touching the back edge - like he's doing - but, it doesn't take much pressure to mute the strings to death on that bridge. But, he's had a whole lot more practice on one of these things than I have. I need to stay just a hair further back...
You use a different muscle group for playing pick, this needs to be trained.
Don't ever strain and try to keep a constant 8th or 16th pulse going so the whole thing becomes one effortless motion that keeps going.
Check out Cody Wright and Bobby Vega videos
Don't ever strain and try to keep a constant 8th or 16th pulse going so the whole thing becomes one effortless motion that keeps going.
Check out Cody Wright and Bobby Vega videos
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I'm not stating anything new here. But, just to reiterate, watch the pain. Beware the Death Grip — it's unnecessary and will cause strife.
Relax: you'll learn how to hang on, as a matter of course, so focus on relaxing.
After an initial period, where your focus should be on good technique and not stamina, it's okay to push a little but be wary,
Pain is the enemy: short bursts will give you what you need, stamina-wise, over time. Don't rush this.
Massage helps: because you're building muscle, blood-flow is critical and so is adequate recuperation time.
Be patient: trust your brain and the learning experience. Everything else will fall into place.
If you're getting these things right, over time, your staying power will improve out-of-sight, and so will your technique, no matter which way you go
Relax: you'll learn how to hang on, as a matter of course, so focus on relaxing.
After an initial period, where your focus should be on good technique and not stamina, it's okay to push a little but be wary,
Pain is the enemy: short bursts will give you what you need, stamina-wise, over time. Don't rush this.
Massage helps: because you're building muscle, blood-flow is critical and so is adequate recuperation time.
Be patient: trust your brain and the learning experience. Everything else will fall into place.
If you're getting these things right, over time, your staying power will improve out-of-sight, and so will your technique, no matter which way you go
