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when someone asks you to try playing with a pick....

#141
For some reason I've actually found that a lighter pick feels and sounds better to me, or at least seems to give me a better degree of control. Maybe because I play with a light touch and the pick kinda matches that. I'm gonna go PICK out some picks after work today, har har har...who knows, this could actually be fun! :P
 
#142
id ask them why they want u to use a pick.

And what tone picks sound horrible with bass for the most part.

I used to use a pick when i was just learning then I ditched it. I don't even use a pick when playing guitar
 
#145
nojj said:
I use a pick, on a 6 string bass, through a mixed cab rig.
I'm a baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad boy.:D
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#146
I've been playing with a pick for almost a year now (after 10+ years of being an exclusively fingerstyle player) and I love it. It was a huge pain in the ass to begin with but over time I've found the variety exciting and it's given me lots of different options both tonally and writing-wise. Once I set my ego aside and took up the challenge of playing bass differently it ended up being a lot of fun.
 
#148
There is a lot to consider as a musician in a band situation. Sometimes strong leadership and an artistic vision is needed to make great music. Collaboration is great, but it is always give and take. Some people think more about the overall band sound than others, as individuals we are often overly concerned with our own personal sound or parts. If everyone just does what the want, it can sound incohesive.

You often have to straddle that fine line between serving the song and band while still keeping your own style and taste. It's good to choose your band members wisely. If you like the people you are playing with, and you like the music, then compromise is the key. If you don't like the people or the music, then it gets much harder.

Generally bass in a band plays a supporting role, not always, but that foundation is really important to how the band sounds. We all know this, that's just a huge part of what bass playing is all about. As an extreme example, it would probably sound odd/inappropriate to have an aggressive fuzzed out bass tone in a country ballad.

So I am not saying as a bass player you should not have input on what your part or sound is, but more than most instruments it has to sound right to fit the song. The songwriter, bandleader, or producer has to be someone you respect of course, or you wound't be working with them. Conversely, the band leader should have enough respect for you to at least consider your point of view sometimes, though at times he may still not agree.

Again, if everyone just did what they wanted, the music would suffer. Anyone want to start a free jazz, country, heavy metal band?
 
#149
obimark said:
Yeah 3Star it sounds so horrible, that's why it is played by 300 recorded bassists who are ALL LIGHT years better than you will ever be...
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And that means what exactly. Justin bieber sells lots of CDs and books sold out shows doesn't mean his music sounds good.

If you haven't trained using a pick and they ask u to just pick it up there is a high probability you will suck at it and for what reason exactly. Because a controlling ban leader is trying to micromanage how you strum.
 
#150
I'm surprised everyone used the Tortex rather than the Ultex. The Tortex feels and sounds plastic-y, the Ultex is actually a bit grippy and sounds better to me. (My version of GAS is picks, I have probably one of everything, my desk is covered with them. Many worked for guitar for me, very few on bass.)

I do miss my Dunlop Tek-Pick, of which I should still have five and can find none. I can't even find the necklace I put one on as an emergency backup...

sxaxsx said:
Metallica is a pro band and they never cared if their bassists used picks or fingers... because they knew they would'nt be heard anyway. :hiding:
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Hey now, Bob Rock mixed himself in, and they know Rob would use them in a batting cage... as the bat.
 
#152
hernameisrio said:
...for ALL THE SONGS for the whole project...

and you're not getting paid for it...

but the band has a decent amount of press, possible tour dates lined up, and seems relatively promising...

what would you do?

I said sure and agreed that it would provide the sort of tone they're hoping for. However, I'm just not as good with a pick as I am with my fingers and it honestly makes me kinda apprehensive to completely switch my technique for an entire band. Obviously the solution to this is to practice, which I will, but I feel a little imposed upon and am not sure if this is the sort of thing where I should stand my ground or be flexible.

Furthermore, even if I were just as strong with a pick as I were with my fingers, I still wouldn't favor the pick. I just don't like it. It just doesn't feel good to me and I think there is plenty of variety of tone to be had without it. That's me and I know everyone's different. I don't expect anyone to agree.

But is this a battle worth fighting or should I just give it a shot and let them dictate something like this?
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Are you a member of the band or just a sideman doing the recordings?

Anything in writing? IMO, If they won't put into writing and be specific on how you're to be included in future projects and how the money is to be split, it's all smoke and mirrors to get you to play for free.

Btw, I learned to be very competent with two-finger style (played with a pick since 1968) after joining Talkbass 5 years ago. If an old dog can learn new tricks, I think it would be an excellent time for you to add a another tool to your tool box. :)

I'd be way more concerned about your position in the "band".

Good luck. :bassist:
 
#154
I play fingers when the song needs fingers, I keep picks on the mic stand for songs that need picks, and I slap when the song needs to be slapped....simple as that. You gotta do it all if you really want to be a MUSICIAN. its up to you to grow your own personal bag of tricks.....
 
#155
If it works for you, it works :)

@ OP

Well they can ask me, but if I would try it.. I dunno.. I just don't like it when I play with a pick. Prefer hands :) I don't say I hate picks, but I prefer the sound of finger plucking on my own music :)

nojj said:
Ah, Nope.

I use a pick, on a 6 string bass, through a mixed cab rig.
I'm a baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad boy.:D
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#156
nojj said:
when someone asks you to try playing with a pick....

I just show it to 'em. Then ask about what *kind* of pick they want to hear.
Been a pick player since I first started on bass.
Usually I'll curl it under my pointer finger when not using,
and switch back and forth throughout the set.

But all things considered,
if someone feels a specific picker or slapper or a tapper or a fretless/6string etc player is that important to the Scheme of Things,
they should go out and find one.
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This...

i use the dunlop shark fin style pick it has three different edges for different sounds...that said i also use my fingers for certain songs in the set...(It's not like they run over and look to see if i'm using the pick or not) so far no complaints

but i'm at the opposite end of the spectrum...i started as a guitard player and switched to bass in high school (cause every band in town needed one...lol) and i'm much more comfortable with a pick on fast things than my fingers i can do lots of things with my pick that i can't with my fingers...

and its funny as i have tried out for bands that demand i play with my fingers..lol
 
#157
And furthermore, I just went into this whole thing about how I realized I was being narrow-minded. My point was that I have been in many overly controlling band situations and I wanted to make sure this wasn't one. In case you guys missed the subtext here, this doesn't really actually have THAT much to do with playing with a pick. It has to do with the idea of setting boundaries and goals for a band where you're not getting paid to play. Why is that such a bad thing to question? It doesn't have a @#$ing thing to do with "pride of musicianship." Give me a goddamn break. It has to do with the fact that THE MUSIC BUSINESS IS A BUSINESS. So, this merits questioning and analysis when it comes to fair treatment and communication in bands. This merits debate about what is and is not acceptable when it comes to projects where people are GIVING UP THEIR TIME FOR FREE and often PAYING TO PLAY.

For you to suggest I'm not a real musician because I'm not breaking down this guy's door to do everything he tells me to do without question (or pay), is totally missing the point. I said, many times, that I WOULD TRY IT because I DO care about this project. Would I post this whole giant stupid thread about it if I didn't care?! Would I bother to ask an entire forum if I didn't care or if I knew I was right or something?

You know what? I've BEEN playing with a pick. I personally still don't care for it. But if it helps me keep a gig, then sure, what the hell, why not!

So why rake me over the coals for expressing my very legitimate fears about bandmates who are potentially controlling or abusive? Why does that make me "not a real musician"? I spend hours a day practicing. I've spent thousands of dollars on my gear. I bust my @$$ to be fair, honest, and diplomatic with every situation I land in...to be agreeable and flexible and oftentimes, as a result of this, WALKED ALL OVER AND COMPLETELY TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF. So don't you DARE try to tell me I'm not a "real" musician. You live in New York City too. Why don't you get on the subway and meet me somewhere and tell me to my face that that's what you think of me. How dare you.

You know, for all the sound advice I've often received on this forum, I'm occasionally pretty appalled at the way people talk here. No wonder the music business is such a @#$ing mess if this is what some of the people are like. I've worked goddamn hard to get this gig and I'm keeping it. I know that I'm worth something to them and to ANY band who wants me on board. Who the hell are you to question that? You don't even know me and you jump in on page 8 of this thread WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN RESOLVED and troll me?! Whatever, dude. Go away.
 
#159
Well....
I've opted out of playing with certain individuals more than once in my short 40+ years of playing, not for the same reasons you're talking about, but 'cause I didn't care for the situation...much like you're saying. Up to you of course, but myself, unless I KNEW it could never work and if I wanted to work with the band bad enough, I'd do what was asked of me and then work at making the parts my own and then playing them the way I wanted. Decent bassists are few and far between....make your mark, build your cred and go on to the next thing. Works for me everytime
So go KILL IT:cool:
 
#160
Glenn, you are a breath of fresh air in this thread which has completely disintegrated, as it seems most of my threads tend to do around here. This is actually the BEST time to say it! :)

I really wish I could convince you guys that I'm not one of those people in real life who complains about everything...really! I'm not! I've just been through a lot and for better or worse, yes, it has affected how I choose to work with others. Maybe if I hadn't spent four years in crippling poverty due to trying to make a living in the music industry and losing out again and again because of the epidemic of unpaid internships around here...four years being dismissed and undermined constantly by people who think I'll just do whatever the heck they want because I'm too goddamn nice. Maybe if I had landed right in a band with well-adjusted people who take it seriously, instead of bouncing around many projects with all sorts of flawed character types...maybe if my life were different right now in general, I'd have a different perspective on the politics and ethics of being in a band. But because of the countless experiences I've had so far, I have no choice but to be a little skeptical and a little defensive.

Ultimately, I try very hard to keep my negative experiences from adversely affecting my performance or the connections I make with others. And I think THAT'S the attitude of a "real musician" or maybe just somebody who's human. I think we're really talking about two different things in this thread; I'm talking not about "my vision" as an "artist" (which is clearly beside the point anyway!) but about what it should mean to be in a band that is "for fun" (not profit). When you're NOT necessarily making money off a project and you're perhaps even SPENDING money to be in it, I think if anything, it becomes more critical to establish what's fair. It really should come down to compromise. That's all I'm saying. I never said, "Screw this guy, I'm not playing with a pick!" No, I said that I'm merely questioning if this is "normal" for him to do. Because I don't know. I wasn't questioning if I should disregard him or not. I was questioning if it was "okay" for him to ask it of me at a stage which is early in the game, when I don't know the band that well yet, and when I essentially don't really have enough information to really determine if there are ulterior motives here. It doesn't have a goddamn thing to do with whether I play with a pick or my fingers or anything else.
 

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