Technique/EQ tips for getting pick tone with fingers?

[KingRazor]

The type of music I would like to play primarily is dominated by pick playing. I personally dislike using picks and prefer to use my fingers. However, I'd like to learn how to get a little more of a pick tone to my playing while still being able to use my fingers.

Any tips?

 

[GradyBass]

Get to work!

 

[KingRazor]

Get to work!

Umm...what?

 

[Sarbecue Boss]

boost them high mids, and attack the strings. You might get close with that, but there really is no substitute for true pick sound.

 

[mawalley]

Finger picks - like those used by banjo, resophonic and steel guitar players. You can get them in brass, nickel-steel, and celluloid, and probably other materials if you look hard enough. You'll get the tone while playing your preferred style, but it takes a bit of getting used to. The finger picks rebound off the strings, so that's something you'll have to get used to (and might possibly use to your advantage). They can be a bit uncomfortable at first, due to the fact that you are wrapping a piece of plastic/metal around your finger in a manner to which you aren't accustomed. This isn't really any different from the discomfort of learning to play in the first place, though, is it?

I currently use the nickel steel ones, because that's what I use on resophonic, but I usually just use the regular flat pick.

 

[lunarpollen]

I don't think it's possible. Sure, you can adjust EQ and playing technique to shape your tone to maybe sound a little bit like a limited version of just one particular pick tone, but there is no universal way to get even that. I would recommend playing a bit with a pick to get a feel for the different tonal range, and then find one particular sound you would like to try and emulate with fingerstyle, and then just do a trial and error thing with fingerstyle technique and EQ adjustments until you sound as close to it as possible.

 

[KingRazor]

Finger picks - like those used by banjo, resophonic and steel guitar players. You can get them in brass, nickel-steel, and celluloid, and probably other materials if you look hard enough. You'll get the tone while playing your preferred style, but it takes a bit of getting used to. The finger picks rebound off the strings, so that's something you'll have to get used to (and might possibly use to your advantage). They can be a bit uncomfortable at first, due to the fact that you are wrapping a piece of plastic/metal around your finger in a manner to which you aren't accustomed. This isn't really any different from the discomfort of learning to play in the first place, though, is it?

I currently use the nickel steel ones, because that's what I use on resophonic, but I usually just use the regular flat pick.

I'd rather not use a metal pick on my strings, just seems like a bad idea. But I may look into using a celluloid finger pick.

 

[Ferret]

Grow your nails, eventually they will harden up. I use three finger method, each cut to the angle required. I keep enough off the side so I can turn my wrist slightly and allow me to use just skin or combo of both. Sucks when you break one but mine grow quick. Can have fake ones also put on before shows. Had a guitar player do this. I did it in an emerg when I really broke one far back. Not a good habit though because it weakens your nails. In the end, I get all three sounds, pick, no pick or soft pic and if need be can cut out someones heart with these things!

 

[KingRazor]

Grow your nails, eventually they will harden up. I use three finger method, each cut to the angle required. I keep enough off the side so I can turn my wrist slightly and allow me to use just skin or combo of both. Sucks when you break one but mine grow quick. Can have fake ones also put on before shows. Had a guitar player do this. I did it in an emerg when I really broke one far back. Not a good habit though because it weakens your nails. In the end, I get all three sounds, pick, no pick or soft pic and if need be can cut out someones heart with these things!

I'll pass on that. I keep my nails as short as possible to avoid them coming into contact with the strings at all.

 

[mawalley]

I'd rather not use a metal pick on my strings, just seems like a bad idea. But I may look into using a celluloid finger pick.

Bad idea? Tell that to the guys playing banjo and reso. They do it every day on strings MUCH thinner and more delicate than yours. Besides, the real concern should be the tone. Metal picks will be clanky and bright. Celluloid will be less clanky and will have that aggressive pick attack, but nowhere near the strength of attack you get from a flat pick, because you will never get a fingerpick that is as strong or heavy as a good HEAVY pick. According to what I have read, Robbbie Merrill uses this technique exclusively and he uses clear plastic ones.

I use a 2.0 mm Dunlop Tortex that I carve a crosshatch pattern into with the tip of a knife blade. The picks stand up to the most demanding punishment, they have a solid attack, and they are thick enough to hold the carved crosshatch pattern (so it won't slip around in between my fingers). Celluloid won't stand up to my playing, so if I play with finger picks, it has to be metal.

Also, consider that metal picks can be bent and adjusted to fit comfortably, while celluloid can't.

Bottom line - learn to use a flat pick and you won't have to look for ways to fake it. If you insist on faking it, you have to be willing to compromise and experiment.

 

[mawalley]

Grow your nails, eventually they will harden up. I use three finger method, each cut to the angle required. I keep enough off the side so I can turn my wrist slightly and allow me to use just skin or combo of both. Sucks when you break one but mine grow quick. Can have fake ones also put on before shows. Had a guitar player do this. I did it in an emerg when I really broke one far back. Not a good habit though because it weakens your nails. In the end, I get all three sounds, pick, no pick or soft pic and if need be can cut out someones heart with these things!

Ferret, you're a WILDMAN!!!

 

[KingRazor]

Bad idea? Tell that to the guys playing banjo and reso. They do it every day on strings MUCH thinner and more delicate than yours. Besides, the real concern should be the tone. Metal picks will be clanky and bright. Celluloid will be less clanky and will have that aggressive pick attack, but nowhere near the strength of attack you get from a flat pick, because you will never get a fingerpick that is as strong or heavy as a good HEAVY pick. According to what I have read, Robbbie Merrill uses this technique exclusively and he uses clear plastic ones.

I use a 2.0 mm Dunlop Tortex that I carve a crosshatch pattern into with the tip of a knife blade. The picks stand up to the most demanding punishment, they have a solid attack, and they are thick enough to hold the carved crosshatch pattern (so it won't slip around in between my fingers). Celluloid won't stand up to my playing, so if I play with finger picks, it has to be metal.

Also, consider that metal picks can be bent and adjusted to fit comfortably, while celluloid can't.

Bottom line - learn to use a flat pick and you won't have to look for ways to fake it. If you insist on faking it, you have to be willing to compromise and experiment.

I've just heard of people destroying their strings when using metal picks.

If I did use a flat pick, are there any that have the thickness of a heavy pick but still have some flexability? All the heavy picks I've used are super stiff.

 

[EatADeadGoat]

Well, one thing that you may already know is to play on the pickup closer to the bridge. The added tension gives it a bit more attack when you play. Play a bit more agressively. I tend to have my mid slightly higher than the bass and treble. It's mainly eq stuff. Adding distortion and messing around with the tone knobs on that also helps a lot.

 

[mawalley]

I've just heard of people destroying their strings when using metal picks.

If I did use a flat pick, are there any that have the thickness of a heavy pick but still have some flexability? All the heavy picks I've used are super stiff.

I've never had a problem with it, but I use stainless and monel strings now, and I can't remember whether I tried using metal picks on nickel strings. The alloys I use now are so much harder than the brass or nickel that the picks are what get damaged.

As for heavy picks being flexible... well, I guess that depends on your definition of heavy. The picks I use are NOT flexible - that's why I use them. I like the way a stiff pick gives tonal variation depending on how hard and where you attack the string. You can get the same variation of tone from more flexible picks, but only up to the point that the pick gives way (which is usually what happens to me, and results in pick fragments on the floor at my feet).

It's a technique that has taken me years to grasp (not master, mind you), but I have grown to like the super-heavy pick so much that I use it for all my flat-pick playing - even on acoustic and electric guitar.

Picks are cheap. Go to your local music store and get a few different ones to try. Try borrowing picks from your guitar-playing friends... lead guitarists often play with heavy picks, and they might be able to offer some decent examples. I had a friend give me a Stubby pick once - I hated it but I kept it around. Once I learned how to play with a pick, I tried it again and loved it for lead electric guitar.

Once you find a pick that gives you the sound you want, get to work learning how to hold the pick, how to hit strings with it, and most importantly, how to play only the string you want with it. You'll see that having additional techniques at your disposal will make you a much better bass player. You may have to experiment with the pick a bit... like cutting grooves into the smooth face of the pick to give it some more grip. Stick with it though, and you'll be happy with the results.

 

[Queg]

I'm dealing with this myself.. got a couple of songs that really need that pick sound, and I'm reluctant to pick one up..

What I'm trying atm:
I grew my nails so they're just behind the fingertip pad as I don't want them in the way of regular play. For the pick sound, I add more high mids (usually by dialing in more bridge pickup on my jbass) and play close to the bridge with floating thumb technique so my fingers are curled more then normal and the nail makes contact. I'm working on my speed with just one finger as it's a more consistent sound. When I need a more aggressive downstroke sound, I rest my palm on the bridge, grip my index finger, and play downstrokes like I had a pick but dropped it.

 

[KingRazor]

Once you find a pick that gives you the sound you want, get to work learning how to hold the pick, how to hit strings with it, and most importantly, how to play only the string you want with it. You'll see that having additional techniques at your disposal will make you a much better bass player. You may have to experiment with the pick a bit... like cutting grooves into the smooth face of the pick to give it some more grip. Stick with it though, and you'll be happy with the results.

Those are all the things I've had trouble with when it comes to playing picks.

At some point down the line here I'm going to pick up guitar, perhaps when I do that I'll start getting used to pick playing, then take those skills back to the bass. In the mean time I'm focusing on stuff like playing in time with a band more so than technique.

Thanks for your input!

 

[Billnc]

Those are all the things I've had trouble with when it comes to playing picks.

At some point down the line here I'm going to pick up guitar, perhaps when I do that I'll start getting used to pick playing, then take those skills back to the bass. In the mean time I'm focusing on stuff like playing in time with a band more so than technique.

Thanks for your input!

Proabaly not. The instruments are very different. I like playing guitar with a pick, and from day one have hated playing bass with a pick, even though I try a few times a year to get into it. I'm fine with the sound but muting etc and speed makes more sense with fingers to me. I do use a pick about once a gig for effect.

 

[KingRazor]

Proabaly not. The instruments are very different. I like playing guitar with a pick, and from day one have hated playing bass with a pick, even though I try a few times a year to get into it. I'm fine with the sound but muting etc and speed makes more sense with fingers to me. I do use a pick about once a gig for effect.

I just figure that playing guitar with a pick will get me used to using a pick. Being used to using a pick should make it easier to adapt to using one to play bass.

It's all in theory though.

 

[JimmyM]

I just figure that playing guitar with a pick will get me used to using a pick. Being used to using a pick should make it easier to adapt to using one to play bass.

It's all in theory though.

it's a good one imho.

 

[BassyBill]

Try playing downstrokes with the back of your index fingernail, supported by your thumb. Gets you real close and it's surprising how quick you can play using just downstrokes with a bit of practice.

For faster down and up strokes you can use this technique for the down strokes and then the very tip of your index finger for the up. You lose a little bit of the "pick" tone on the upstrokes, but at that speed it's not that noticeable and in a mix hardly anyone would hear much difference between doing that and using a pick.