Plectrums

[logdrum]

Double thumping is not economy picking. For example, there is no root, 5th, octave pattern with one motion on adjacent strings. Basically a sweep going down and a sweep going up. That’s a completely different advantage from playing with double thumping.

Although I can do sweep picking on guitar, I do not see the value of in bass especially groove playing. And because you need a thin pick, it sounds thin and even splatty on bass. I also tend to use stiff picks or even a penny as a pick. Maybe you are really good at it. I'd like to see sweep picking examples on bass. Our in-house prog master @Les Fret may have some input on this. He can play a fast solo or two

 

[Tedthulhu]

I explained that also.
You can get closer tonally with each in the opposite direction by adjusting techniques.

You can still get a great muted Motown sound from palm muting with a pick.
Double thumping a zeppelin song can work, sure, but it’s going to be a very different sound.

The main point I was making that you contested is about economy picking.

Double thumping is not economy picking. For example, there is no root, 5th, octave pattern with one motion on adjacent strings. Basically a sweep going down and a sweep going up. That’s a completely different advantage from playing with double thumping.

If you feel so inclined, play “good times by times” by zeppelin. That main riff (with all of the root, 5th, octaves) is going to be way easier with economy picking with a pick than double thumping. It’s probably going to sound better too.

Cult of Personality would be another great example. Easiest with economy picking

If I wanted the Motown sound, a pick is literally the LAST thing I would ever consider. I play some Motown, and I use the same technique for those songs that Jamerson did - put a foam mute just above the bridge, before the pups. Ugh. I find the thought of playing Jamerson's bass lines with a pick rather grotesque, honestly. Just my opinion, obviously, and YMMV. Do whatever works best for you. I was more curious as to why other bassists use picks than anything else. I understand the differences, I just don't like playing with a plectrum, and I'm not particularly enamored with the idea of investing the time and effort to master a technique I honestly have no interest in. Someone mentioned speed with a pick, and I had a good chuckle. The last band I was in had songs that clocked between 140 BPM, and 210 BPM. I play with three fingers on my plucking hand, and can rock triplets for days, so attaining clean speed with my fingers was a priority. When you're trying to learn Megadeth, Metallica, Pantera, and other high speed metal tunes in your first years as a bassist, speed really matters, so I prioritized becoming fast with my fingers. Just something I needed to be good at so I could play the kind of music I enjoyed playing. An hour long set averaging 140 to 210 BPM the entire time is a workout until you get used to it.

 

[Tedthulhu]

Adding some notes, for clarity's sake. The bassists who inspired me to pick up a bass in the first place were James Jamerson, Les Claypool, Steve Harris, Cliff Burton, John Entwistle, Frank Bello (I know, I know...) and Steve DiGiorgio. So all of my earliest inspirations were fingerstyle players. I do really like some pick-centric bassists. Carol Kaye, Duff McKagen, Chris Squire, were (or are) absolutely amazing bassists, and I love their work. But the finger players were my first inspiration and continue to be. Just a personal preference. (Edited; thanks to wompwomp for noticing that I completely misnamed Carol Kaye.)

 

[wompwomp]

Adding some clarification, for clarity's sake. The bassists who inspired me to pick up a bass in the first place were James Jamerson, Les Claypool, Steve Harris, Cliff Burton, John Entwistle, Frank Bello (I know, I know...) and Steve DiGiorgio. So all of my earliest inspirations were fingerstyle players. I do really like some pick-centric bassists. Carol King, Duff McKagen, Chris Squire, were (or are) absolutely amazing bassists, and I love their work. But the finger players were my first inspiration and continue to be. Just a personal preference.

I guess you mean carol Kaye? she did play on Motown records

 

[Tedthulhu]

I guess you mean carol Kaye? she did play on Motown records

D'oh! I was half-watching a movie when I was typing and accidentally used the last name of a character in the movie. Derp. Yes, you are correct that I meant Carol KAYE. Thanks for catching that; I'll edit.

 

[sonic boogaloo]

love the sound of a bass played with a PICK.

like finger style too.

 

[Tedthulhu]

love the sound of a bass played with a PICK.

like finger style too.

Okay.

 

[sonic boogaloo]

Okay.

carol okay?

 

[Tedthulhu]

carol okay?

I don't think she was Irish.

 

[wompwomp]

D'oh! I was half-watching a movie when I was typing and accidentally used the last name of a character in the movie. Derp. Yes, you are correct that I meant Carol KAYE. Thanks for catching that; I'll edit.

not trying to sharpshoot anybody just pointing out that kaye did end up on Motown records

 

[Les Fret]

Although I can do sweep picking on guitar, I do not see the value of in bass especially groove playing. And because you need a thin pick, it sounds thin and even splatty on bass. I also tend to use stiff picks or even a penny as a pick. Maybe you are really good at it. I'd like to see sweep picking examples on bass. Our in-house prog master @Les Fret may have some input on this. He can play a fast solo or two

Thanks for mentioning me. I play for 95% with fingers on both bass and guitar. I can play with pick but I am better with fingers. I do have an alternative slap technique to double thumbing. And also use Bernard Edwards’ chucking technique, pick imitation style some times.

I am not much of a sweep picker though. I have seen some bass players do it, Adam Nitti for example and some technical metal guys.

I agree that double thumbing has nothing to do with economy picking. Economy picking is when you play two or more downstrokes or upstrokes in a row when going to the next string.

 

[logdrum]

Thanks for mentioning me. I play for 95% with fingers on both bass and guitar. I can play with pick but I am better with fingers. I do have an alternative slap technique to double thumbing. And also use Bernard Edwards’ chucking technique, pick imitation style some times.

I am not much of a sweep picker though. I have seen some bass players do it, Adam Nitti for example and some technical metal guys.

I agree that double thumbing has nothing to do with economy picking. Economy picking is when you play two or more downstrokes or upstrokes in a row when going to the next string.

Thanks. I listen to most of the things you share and quiet enjoy them - I am in your fan base. I know the metal guys are great on that .I am mainly a finger picker only even on guitar as I've learn on nylon and I constantly lose my pick, I use the thumb a lot and alternate with middle and index. Here is an example of how I do this for guitar. Here is a duet piece with a drummer called Deer Dance-- it may sound like a plectrum , but if you listen carefully, you can hear the thud from the thumb and middle and index. With my bands where I sometimes play guitar, I mostly play with fingers. I have been ask to try the pick asked a bass player but I just moved my fingers closers to the bridge and most people do not insist further, but if they do the second timeI usually comply.

But those Bobby Vega funk lines with a pick, I finally sat down and got down with it. The biggest struggle is string crossing like from E sting to G and never missing the beat. I think I had gotten to the point that I can play a tumbao with the pick. When the tune calls for tremolo (the classical term not the Fender circuit ), then yeah can't beat a pick

 

[Tim Skaggs]

I love playing with a pick. I like being able to throw in 16th notes intermittently and other things that are more easily played with a pick than with fingers. I like the more defined tone I can get with a pick.

There’s just one problem I have; I’m no good at it. If I sit down and play with a pick for 30 minutes, I can notice an improvement, but if I do it again the following day, it feels like I’m starting at the same point I was at the previous day.

Perhaps I need to lengthen my pick playing periods…

 

[Les Fret]

Thanks. I listen to most of the things you share and quiet enjoy them - I am in your fan base.

Thanks. That’s good to hear. Glad you like it!

 

[sleddogn]

Digging in hard with a pick on a Ric thru an awesome tube amp is just priceless

 

[toastw]

That is absolute nonsense. The technique is called "double thumb", and it attacks both up and down with your thumb. It's pretty common, though I'd credit Victor Wooten as being the absolute master of that technique. Check out Classical Thump by Wooten and tell me again how you "cannot do this" without a pick.

Catching up with this thread and totally digging Victor Wooten. BUT ... look at the actual "finger picking" portion. His thumb rests on the E string the whole time as he's traveling up and down the strings. His arm is rested up on the body and his wrist is bent awkwardly.

This is what my arm and wrist and fingers would prefer to do instead of "floating thumb," but I'm not Vic.

 

[ClaytonCroft]

OBVIOUS tag:

I've been getting better with a pick, but I discovered a stupid problem.

I practiced with a pick SITTING at my practice area, but found my "angles" and control were all messed up when I stood up. Now, my wrist angle to the strings and comfort is out of whack entirely and I have to recalibrate.

Don't forget to stand up to practice, y'all!

 

[iqi616]

I love playing with a pick. I like being able to throw in 16th notes intermittently and other things that are more easily played with a pick than with fingers. I like the more defined tone I can get with a pick.

There’s just one problem I have; I’m no good at it. If I sit down and play with a pick for 30 minutes, I can notice an improvement, but if I do it again the following day, it feels like I’m starting at the same point I was at the previous day.

Perhaps I need to lengthen my pick playing periods…

Just keep at it. Concentrate on having fun.

 

[dbflats]

Despite my earlier comments in this thread, a funny thing happened; me and another guy have a duo act where I had been playing guitar. Yesterday we had a drummer sit in with us for a practice and hey, with drums in the picture now, it's time to play bass. So I adapted some of my picked guitar lines, which in some cases were rather bass -like, for the bass guitar, and to more closely capture how my original guitar parts went, I used a pick. And it was perfect!

It seems odd at this late stage to be eyeballing getting proficient at a whole new technique. But there are some compelling reasons to do so.

I did play with a pick from roughly 1980 to 1983, all downstrokes with a heavy gauge pick. But while we were a cool band in those days, I doubt my bass sound was all that great. These days it's a very light pick and I choke up on it in such a way that my forefinger and thumb are in on the action too. Palm muting sounds great, and yes the nice little things you can do bubbling 16th notes