rhythm with a pick?

[AddSomeRiddim]

I've been playing for roughly 5 months now and only just just starting using a pick. I'll admit that the sound is better for some songs than using fingers BUT.....

I don't know if it's just me (most likely is) but I can't seem to get the rhythm that a want across, more kind of singular notes.

I'm not needing advice yet as I am only new to the pick was wondering if anyone else found this to be the case. Not getting the same "fluidity" as if finger playing.

Loves and tugs
Lewis

 

[GladToBeBack]

Plucking will always give you a more fluid feel. Walks and runs and anything "bluesy" will always sound better plucked.

Picking will give you a brighter sound and for certain songs it is what's needed to capture the same tone. You're rhythm will be different. I've seen people picking, and pluck with their free fingers in different parts of one song.

there is a bass player, forgive me I forget who and what band (80's pop band with bass player lead singer and not sting lol), but he went back and forth from picking to plucking to slapping all in one song... it was cool to watch.

At the end of the day it's all about what you're comfortable with. I've plucked with my fingernail if I wanted a picked sound but didn't want to hinder my movement.

 

[bassmonkeee]

Plucking will always give you a more fluid feel. Walks and runs and anything "bluesy" will always sound better plucked.

Not always. Depends on the player--tell Steve Swallow that his walking would sound better with out using a pick.

Picking will give you a brighter sound and for certain songs it is what's needed to capture the same tone. You're rhythm will be different. I've seen people picking, and pluck with their free fingers in different parts of one song.

Picking doesn't always give you a brighter sound. Ever heard Joe Osborn, or anyone who uses a pick and a mute?

there is a bass player, forgive me I forget who and what band (80's pop band with bass player lead singer and not sting lol), but he went back and forth from picking to plucking to slapping all in one song... it was cool to watch.

Mark King of Level 42, maybe?

At the end of the day it's all about what you're comfortable with. I've plucked with my fingernail if I wanted a picked sound but didn't want to hinder my movement.

Yep. Use what you want, and work on it. THe more tools in your bag, the better you'll be in the long run. Your musical taste will probably grow over the years, so you never know when you'll need a particular skill.

You can get the same tones with a pick that you can with your fingers, if you practice enough. And, you can even get a more consistent tone and volume as long as your technique isn't sloppy.

You just need to keep working on it, and ignore the buffoons/fools who say that you aren't a real bass player if you use a pick.

 

[GladToBeBack]

Mark King of Level 42, maybe?

Hey, that's the guy. Never heard of them before watching some vids on youtube... and can't name any of their songs, but I remember watching being completely entertained just by watching him change techniques effortlessly.

ignore the buffoons/fools who say that you aren't a real bass player if you use a pick.

amen... I'm probably 70/30 pick/pluck right now. I have used muting like you mentioned but it's still a different... personal opinions I guess.

I stand corrected on the Steve Swallow picking...ah well No harm done

 

[Tijuana Tex]

You can always get a good rhythm with picking.

I prefer the sound of picking, but I find I'm faster with my fingers. So at the moment I'm working really hard on getting my upstrokes and downstrokes on par in dynamics. I'm already getting a better rhythm from it. It's fluid AND it sounds even. Just like fingers.

Try it

 

[Henry D]

Bobby Vega:
EMG JV X Set demo - YouTube

 

[Pilgrim]

That answer is the same as the one I gave my daughter when she started learning guitar:

"The first hundred times you try it, it's hard."

After that it gets easier.