Switching from fingers to pick and back again on the fly.

[biobass]

I have a medium sized Latin Percussion shelf attached to my music stand. I find it convenient to hold my bow, rosin, picks, pencils, water bottle, etc. It is large enough so that it will catch a small item such as a pick without it (always) dropping to the floor.

 

[Number179]

Use some masking tape to put one somewhere convenient. Then add 10 more using the same masking tape. Then put 3-4 spares in your pocket, then 3-4 on your music stand, 3-4 on your bass (bridge, headstock, under PG), if you're sitting, put one on each knee. Grab whichever is most convenient - you now have options

Oh yea, put 10 more in your bass case; put 10 more in the center console of your car...I think that's about it.

 

[Thumpin6string]

What's the motivation for using a pick - sound, speed, fluidity? Single notes or chords? How long are your nails?

I was thinking the same thing. If it was me, I'd play finger style and use my nails in the pick part.

 

[FunkyFlashFive]

If the finger section is short and not too technical, I can pass the pick to between my thumb and ring finger to free up pointer and middle. But in general, having as many picks in as many places as possible is the way.

 

[getBAK]

Most of the time I need a pick sound, I make the "OK" sign with my right hand and use my index fingernail to strike the string, with downstrokes. Sound is almost identical, transition is instant, and I don't have to worry about swallowing my pick.

 

[BrianVengeance]

This might be a good opportunity to work on hybrid picking. Use the thumb and index finger to hold the pick, then use middle to pinky to play finger style. You could also work on rolling the pick into the crook of your index finger then use your thumb in place of where you would normally use your index align with middle and ring fingers.

 

[Carl Hillman]

Get several picks and put them on your music stand, preferably on the shelf below it if they give you an orchestral stand. If they don't, buy a tray that attaches just beneath the music to put your picks.

You're going to have to be close enough to your stand to turn pages quickly, so grabbing a pick from the same general area shouldn't take much time.

 

[GrayGoesBlack]

+1 on the spring loaded thumb picks by Black Mountain, it's what I use for immediate switching between pick and pluck. I've tried all the other methods (between the teeth, pickguard, clip, locked between the index finger), but nothing is as instant as this and doesn't carry any risk of falling or slipping. Went on to try a bunch of different thumb picks, and the Black Mountains won the game.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

I was thinking the same thing. If it was me, I'd play finger style and use my nails in the pick part.

I was thinking possibly the Colin Moulding approach of holding your fingers as if you are holding a pick, but using nails, fingers. It depends on the reason for using a pick (horrible things that they are).

 

[Bar Band Bassman]

When I used to play guitar I would "palm" the pick and hold it there with my ring and pinky fingers and use my thumb to slide the pick back into playing position. It kept my thumb, index, and middle fingers useable. Pretty easy to get the hang of it, I think.

Jennifer Batten used to stick 'em on her forehead!

BBB

 

[MrWolf14]

Most of the time I need a pick sound, I make the "OK" sign with my right hand and use my index fingernail to strike the string, with downstrokes. Sound is almost identical, transition is instant, and I don't have to worry about swallowing my pick.

That's exactly my approach, if it's for short sections.

I used to play a song (original) where the bass remains completely alone, picking 8th notes with a flanger effect on it for few bars.
Then it quickly goes to a "stop section" where I have to slap. The "OK sign" works pretty well. Sometimes I even make down/up strokes with it and it sounds very "pick-ish".

 

[Wasnex]

Depending on your bass's setup and the tone you want, you may be able to use a finger-style technique that essentially involves slapping the strings against the frets at the end of the finger board. The percussive sound of the strings hitting the frets sounds a lot like pick.

Here's an example (not necessarily a great one):


A lot of bassist, pluck like this all the time even when it doesn't suit the music .

Another option could be to use a technique Bernard Edwards called chucking:


I use double thumb to produce a sound very similar to chucking.

 

[matthewbrown]

What's the motivation for using a pick - sound, speed, fluidity? Single notes or chords? How long are your nails?

The show music is based on the styles used in Newfoundland and Labrador, which has a lot of trad Irish, folk and rock mixed in. The pick seems to be used to get an edgier attack. Up to now, I've always just used my fingers near the bridge with the treble on full for that sound, but this music clearly needs a sharper attack on some parts. And like many shows, it has lots of quick mood changes, so there's a lot of back and forth in the articulation.

 

[matthewbrown]

Thanks for all the suggestions, everyone! I will be taking much of the advice here, although I won't use a thumb pick (causes skin irritation .
I have ordered a Dunlop pick holder and a bunch of 1.5 mm Dunlop picks. It's about time I got plectrum technique together, I think!

 

[matthewbrown]

Leigh Gorman of Bow Wow Wow uses a pick about 95% of the time but is also known for his excellent and monstrous slapping and occasionally fingerstyle on songs like 'Mile High Club'. I asked him this very question about switching after a show and he demonstrated how he keeps his pick in between his fingers whenever he slaps or goes fingerstyle, probably similar to post #16. This allows him to quickly switch from one to the other during the fast high energy songs BWW is known for. The picks he uses are on the smaller side and he then showed me how he is able to adeptly 'twirl' them between all his fingers like how some people do with pens or pencils (whatever that is called). After picking up up my lower jaw off the floor I went home determined to to incorporate the pick into my repertoire, but in the few years of trying I continue to suck eggs. The picking action itself is not too hard, but my main problem is the muting.

Interesting that Gorman uses a pick so much; he started on classical guitar.

 

[Tommy Sparks]

Teeth and pick holder on a stand works for me.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

The show music is based on the styles used in Newfoundland and Labrador, which has a lot of trad Irish, folk and rock mixed in. The pick seems to be used to get an edgier attack. Up to now, I've always just used my fingers near the bridge with the treble on full for that sound, but this music clearly needs a sharper attack on some parts. And like many shows, it has lots of quick mood changes, so there's a lot of back and forth in the articulation.

You can potentially use slightly longer nails and picking angle, but there's a learning curve and it might not get you all the way there. Good luck with finding an option. The old standby is holding your pick in your lips until required!

 

[TeaTime]

Someone beat me to the Jennifer Batten answer.

I grew up playing classical guitar. Gave it up. But I can still play bass with 2nd, 3rd and 4th (if on light guage) fingers while holding a pick with 1st and thumb, for songs that require both.

Some thoughts -

Sounds like thumb pick isn't an option because of skin irritation. Have you tried coating the inside of the thumbpick with clear fingernail polish?

There are wristbands/bracelets that hold picks. Wear on the fretting hand, quick access.

Whatever solution, always have a plan for a fumble. Back to fingers, unless you have time for a second grab, because keeping the groove is more important than minor tone details. Always have a lot more picks than needed, so you can ignore dropped ones and clean them up after the show. No one wants to watch you crawling around between songs after a bit of cheap plastic.

Or, remember that most people listening can't tell the difference anyway. Play it heavy with a single finger right up by the bridge.

 

[2thAche]

I play fingersyle and pick, depending on the tone needed. We do one mashup that requires switching mid-song, I just hold the pick in my mouth, like you'd hold a toothpick. Otherwise I have a pick holding strip on my mic stand for switching song-to-song.

 

[Les Fret]

Why not just play the whole song with a pick? Or find a fingerstyle solution or pickless technique to do the pick part? Double thumbing or chucking maybe?