Why I keep hammering the Carol Kaye pick method

[JimmyM]

EDIT: You know, the more I think about your reply, the angrier I get. Not only did you not do any research on Asia to see if what I was saying was true (it is), you then saw fit to try to school me on technique when all I was doing was trying to prevent people from injuring themselves needlessly. So it was YOU who came to this thread with a false premise, not me. Not only that, you're trying to present Rex Brown with a bass down to his knees as a technique role model rather than a guy trying to look cool in a cool band. If you want to play like that, suit yourself, but don't come crying to me when CTS comes calling.

As for whether you want to use Carol's style or not, I really don't care. This thread is for people who want to remain free of injury and still use a pick. If that's not you, there's nothing I can do about it except wish you luck when you're 50.

LOL! I've noticed that you do, as you say, get angry... and you do often on TalkBass: Jamerson Question where you wrote, "WAAAAAHHHHH!! Someome else thinks different from me!! What a loudmouth jerk!! WAAAAAAAHHHH!! Are you Carol Kaye?"

Please remember that the OP does not "OWN" the post. Everyone is allowed to speak, as the constitution states. And we should be free from other people's anger when we do so. I, for one, am not at all interested in your anger. And neither are the women or younger ones that may be using TalkBass. For their sake, not mine, please refrain from expressing your anger on line. And Carol Kaye should be respected for her GREAT place in bass history... your comments on Carol are bordering on defamation of character... and TalkBass should be angry with you for using their site as a place to harangue Carol Kaye because she does not want you on her site... I can understand why... Carol Kaye is a proven bassist, educator and amBASSador for the lower register...!

Gee, thanks for the lecture on my 5 or 6 year old posts. Do I really need to point out the difference between having a difference of opinion and being called out for allegedly stating falsehoods? No, I don't think I do. And BTW, Carol did more history making sessions on both bass and guitar in a typical weekend than I have done in my whole life and I totally respect her for it, but nothing I said about my interactions with Carol is untrue, plenty of people have their own stories about their web interactions with her, and Carol has done plenty of defaming of others, so whatever.

 

[MalcolmAmos]

CT and thumb picks..... I developed deQuervain's tendinitis in my right thumb from strumming the rhythm guitar. About the same thing as CT but it only affects my thumb, thus I can still play the bass finger style.

But, yes I agree we can do bad things to good hands through bad technique.

 

[consectaneus]

2. How do you mute with right hand here? Seems to me my right thumb is in a good position to mute the lower pitched strings when I play the A, D or G strings. Sort of like how finger players use the floating thumb technique. I know Carol advocates a foam mute but I prefer not to use one.

Great thread. I just recently ordered her "Bass DVD Course". On page 6 of the course manual under "playing with a pick", she writes, "the bottom of your thumb muscle should rest LIGHTLY on the string below the one you're playing on, as a home base."

For example, when I pick the A string, the meaty part of my thumb is in light contact with the E string.

 

[Sin Nis]

Oh OH I can answer the title question She is one of the most respectable bass player/ instructors of all time and if she is doing/ teaching it then its probably right.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

Oh OH I can answer the title question She is one of the most respectable bass player/ instructors of all time and if she is doing/ teaching it then its probably right.

I was tidying up this weekend and found a box of cassette tapes, including ones she sent me, free of charge. Given that I live on a different continent that's quite good of her.

 

[ErikP.Bass]

This is a great thread. People should read it; definitely should be a sticky. We need to do everything we can to save ourselves from ourselves.

 

[consectaneus]

She creates a nice connection by signing her materials to you and including a Carol Kaye pick (which I love and need to order a dozen more or so). Even though I'm not a formal student of hers, I sort of feel like I am.

 

[Jmilitsc]

Wow, I always hated playing with a pick, now I know why - I didn't know this technique! Stumbled on this thread recently, really great education, and spent time re-listening to her enormous history too.

It makes picking pretty effortless when you get the hang of it. And practicing it is a good way to break in my GHS Precision flats that are annoyingly taking forever to deaden!

I know it's an old thread but thx JimmyM.

 

[TheIndieKid]

So I've been trying to learn the Carol Kaye technique and there's too major questions I have about it:

She mentions playing up different strokes on certain beats and alternating on others. It was displayed in the Reverb video of the Carol Kaye method. How do I know when an upstroke is required or a downstroke is?

Secondly, it was mentioned about eliminating raking in this thread. So I should always play with a downstroke first of all?

Answers would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for the tips also!

 

[JimmyM]

So I've been trying to learn the Carol Kaye technique and there's too major questions I have about it:

She mentions playing up different strokes on certain beats and alternating on others. It was displayed in the Reverb video of the Carol Kaye method. How do I know when an upstroke is required or a downstroke is?

You develop a feel for it as you go along. Usually, the downstroke should be on the beat, and the upstroke off the beat. For example, if you're playing a medium tempo line with notes only on the beat and no 8th or 16th notes, you might want to use all downstrokes.

Secondly, it was mentioned about eliminating raking in this thread. So I should always play with a downstroke first of all?

I do. Most pick players I know do. One exception is Will Lee, who has a very weird pick technique and uses almost all upstrokes. However, sweep picking is a technique that uses a lot of raking, and I can see a need for it under certain circumstances, like a series of single notes on different strings.

 

[FunWithBass]

Just finished reading this entire thread. There is a lot of good information here.

Thanks @JimmyM !

 

[Fishyfishfish]

Good info. I find myself leaning more and more on a pick due to a bad knuckle on my right index finger.

 

[viking power]

I have read a good amount of this thread and haven’t found an answer that I’m looking for...

Where can I learn Carol’s technique? One of her books? One of her DVDs?

 

[JimmyM]

I have read a good amount of this thread and haven’t found an answer that I’m looking for...

Where can I learn Carol’s technique? One of her books? One of her DVDs?

Yes, but also through her website, and really, just by watching her Youtube vids and doing what she does.

 

[viking power]

Yes, but also through her website, and really, just by watching her Youtube vids and doing what she does.

Thanks for the quick response Jimmy!

 

[Klye]

Watch Bobby Vega, that dude solidified my conversion to the plectrum

 

[fearceol]

I have read a good amount of this thread and haven’t found an answer that I’m looking for...

Where can I learn Carol’s technique? One of her books? One of her DVDs?

See tips #26 & 27 in this link :

The Official Carol Kaye Web Site

 

[cazclocker]

I have read a good amount of this thread and haven’t found an answer that I’m looking for...

Where can I learn Carol’s technique? One of her books? One of her DVDs?

The reply from fearceol is excellent, especially tip #26 on Carol's website. Also, see tip #92, it shows pictures of what your hand should look like as you hold the pick.
FWIW, I've gone through all her tips on her website and copy-pasted them into three separate Word documents. PM me with your email address and I'll send them to you if you want. Anyone else is welcome to do the same.

 

[viking power]

See tips #26 & 27 in this link :

The Official Carol Kaye Web Site

Awesome, thanks!

The reply from fearceol is excellent, especially tip #26 on Carol's website. Also, see tip #92, it shows pictures of what your hand should look like as you hold the pick.
FWIW, I've gone through all her tips on her website and copy-pasted them into three separate Word documents. PM me with your email address and I'll send them to you if you want. Anyone else is welcome to do the same.

Awesome as well. PM sent.

This community rocks!!!

 

[Oleg BassPlayer]

Never anchor your hand

She does anchor her hand, at least as she gets older