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Using a pick
- Thread starter SteveXFR
- Start date
I tend to use a number of different picks. Dunlop 1mm nylon. Dunlop .88-1.14 tortex triangle, 2 & 3mm big stubby and TreePick wood picks. It just depends on the song and hand/finger fatigue.
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
That over the top very hard aggressive pick playing works for the type of metal he is playing … but it won't work well for some other types of music
The way he uses is like slap or funk fingers
Dunlop 1mm nylon. Used to do .88, then they started to feel a little too bendy. I thought maybe I'd keep moving up but I haven't felt a need for more than 1mm.
When I play with the really thick ones I miss the little bit of bend/flex I get with the 1mm.
When I play with the really thick ones I miss the little bit of bend/flex I get with the 1mm.
Is this just a TB thing? I play with my fingers but I see lots of bass players using picks and have never heard anyone say anything negative about it. Why do I keep seeing posts that imply there is some negative about pick playing? Has anyone actually experienced this?
It's a thing, but I suspect it gets blown out of proportion a little bit here. I've gotten a bit of flak for using a pick but it's really just been from crappy players and "bass owners"; if I had a nickel for every time someone with a cheap starter bass and a 20 watt Crate combo sitting unused in their living room told me I should be playing with my fingers, I'd have... well, more nickels than I have now, anyway.
To answer the original question, I use 3mm Dunlop Big Stubby picks and love them. I've tried a lot of other picks and for me nothing else comes close. Your mileage may vary. Regarding Nolly's technique, I personally don't care for it but I can't deny that he gets a good sound. Try it if you like, but don't beat yourself up over it if playing his way doesn't sound or feel right for you.
This is what I did. I don't play with a pick very often, and fell out of practice and some time looking for the right pick. Bought of these samplers and tried them all before I got an idea as to what worked for me. I also picked up some other random and a life more unusual picks as well, but the sampler pack was a great way to try a bunch. Also +1 on the felt picks for certain applications.
I play finger plucking most often but when I pick I use Carol Kaye picks. They’re medium sized, teardrop shaped, about the same thickness as Fender Heavy picks (or a whisker more). For those times when I really want to dig in, I turn ‘em so I’m picking with the round end. Been using them for years.
Love the Snarling Dog Brain picks !! Best grip EVER! I use .88 or 1.0mm depending on my mood.
That’s 1 approach certainly not the only one to using a pick on bass. And it’s definitely not illegal. Lots of great players use em from Carol Kaye to Justin Chancellor. Perfectly valid technique. Whatever suites the song and your style best.
All that said I use a pick a lot and I’ve lightened up my attack a bit over the years and gone slightly thicker picks .88 & more recently 1.0mm. I find I can ease up on my right hand a bit with the thicker picks and still get the same tone and attack as using lighter pick and striking harder. But less fatigue in my right hand so it’s a win.
Also I pretty much always have some light to medium drive going on so that’s adding some aggression and compression to the tone.
Also while Nolly’s approach obviously works really well for him I’m a fan
, I disagree. A little with totally wanting every note to be the exact same attack I kind have sound that having a little variation there give the bass parts a little bounce & groove & pop out of the mix a little more as there’s some subtle tonal shifts happening. I’m talking a small amount nothing dramatic. I think you definitely want some good consistency.
Bottom line is you should try a variety of approaches to see what works for you and the music you’re playing. There really is no one size fits all. Try a bunch of stuff and at the end of the day what serves the song / band / your satisfaction best
All that said I use a pick a lot and I’ve lightened up my attack a bit over the years and gone slightly thicker picks .88 & more recently 1.0mm. I find I can ease up on my right hand a bit with the thicker picks and still get the same tone and attack as using lighter pick and striking harder. But less fatigue in my right hand so it’s a win.
Also I pretty much always have some light to medium drive going on so that’s adding some aggression and compression to the tone.
Also while Nolly’s approach obviously works really well for him I’m a fan
, I disagree. A little with totally wanting every note to be the exact same attack I kind have sound that having a little variation there give the bass parts a little bounce & groove & pop out of the mix a little more as there’s some subtle tonal shifts happening. I’m talking a small amount nothing dramatic. I think you definitely want some good consistency.
Bottom line is you should try a variety of approaches to see what works for you and the music you’re playing. There really is no one size fits all. Try a bunch of stuff and at the end of the day what serves the song / band / your satisfaction best
Using a pic to me is all about getting a certian sound. So etimes you want that crispy attack and sometimes you dont. Like another commenter i like the Clayton 1mm triangle picks.
Snarling Dog Brain picks are just mindblowing good - I gone through a full tin of them during the last year, as people who tried them quickly tossed one in the wallet / pocket.
I was involved with a battle of the bands once, I know, not my idea. We were first up, the third band dropped out so a Dio tribute band filled in. They weren't actually in the battle but still were critiqued. They had a tremendous bass player, finger player. Though they didn't come right out and slam me for using a pick, they did do it in a offhand way. They told the Dio bass player he was great, well deserved. Then they went on to praise him for using his fingers, and how great bass players that use their fingers were.
They also slammed our guitar player over his gym shoes he was wearing. We didn't have much use for their comments after that. Though years later we still ride him about shoes with great pleasure.
