Thanks, nice thread. As to picking technique, there are some inspiring videos on youtube demonstrating the right hand technique for gipsy guitar picking.
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Why I keep hammering the Carol Kaye pick method
- Thread starter JimmyM
- Start date
Carol references the tapping thing a few times, in her playing tips, under the "education" button on her home page but the first reference is her tip #14. Carol's website format makes it hard to do a word search in her playing tips, so a couple years ago I took the time to copy-paste all her tips into 3 separate Word documents, which are easier to do a word search in.
If anyone wants the Word documents I made, PM me and I'll send them to you.
I don't recall her ever specifying a number, but my guess is that she would say something like 1.0 or thicker -- i.e., thick enough that it doesn't flex at all.
That said, this is the one aspect of her method from which I diverge. After experimenting with all kinds and gauges of picks, I find that something in the .70-.80 range works best for me: a little flex, but not too much.
That said, this is the one aspect of her method from which I diverge. After experimenting with all kinds and gauges of picks, I find that something in the .70-.80 range works best for me: a little flex, but not too much.
1.0 or thicker seems about right. Carol's are thicker, so are mine. I don't know how thick hers are but mine are 1.5 mm.
The right hand palm muting came pretty naturally when I tried the CK method. What I can't get the hang of is using the heavy picks. The heaviest that works for me is .46mm, although that's heavier than the .25mm I used to use.
I'm still mostly playing fingerstyle, though, but I find that playing with a pick makes me think differently about the instrument as some things become easier to play, some harder. This means I play differently, and it's almost like a new instrument, that is just very similar to the EBGs I have. Fretless and pick just sounds totally wrong to me, though.
I'm still mostly playing fingerstyle, though, but I find that playing with a pick makes me think differently about the instrument as some things become easier to play, some harder. This means I play differently, and it's almost like a new instrument, that is just very similar to the EBGs I have. Fretless and pick just sounds totally wrong to me, though.
Funny how many cannot tell the acoustical/percussive difference between upstrokes and down-strokes. I could pick it up right away. It's makes a whole lot of difference in music.
You could pick it up right away from someone who hasn't practiced making their down/up sound like their down
I play with pick exclusively but have been plucking the higher octave at times to fill out our 3 piece plus vocalist band. I always use a heavy pick and alternate up and down on fast songs. Also, I keep my amp volume up so I so don't have to dig in to be heard and play with a lighter touch. I am 64 and did four four-set shows two weeks ago in 3 days with no issues.
I admit that I haven't read all 29 pages here, but did read post #1 about the technique, if that's ok.
I play mostly two-finger style, but use a pick on occasion. Turns out that what I do is pretty much inline with Carole's way. I'm also a guitar player, mostly a fingerpicker these days, but used to make my living playing guitar back in the day, with a pick. But I'm a bit different in that I hold my pick with three fingers instead of two. And I prefer a Fender #346 shape (rounded triangular). Three fingers helps me keep the point aimed right, for me.
For bass, I can get by with a medium thickness since I don't pluck very hard. And I hold the pick sorta loosely. I usually pick between the pickups or just in front of the front pickup. I do move my arm up and down, kinda like strumming a guitar, although I might rotate my arm slightly for up and down movement, and keep my wrist loose, bending it slightly as I pick. In between notes I keep the subdivision feeling going in my wrist and arm. And I pluck the strings with downstrokes, and upstrokes as needed.
Like I said, it's like strumming a guitar in a micro kind of way, only the motions aren't as large and wide. I've never had any pain, but I don't use a pick often on bass. If I did it more I might find that I need modifications. I really don't know.
What's that sound like to ya'll? Critiques are welcome.
I play mostly two-finger style, but use a pick on occasion. Turns out that what I do is pretty much inline with Carole's way. I'm also a guitar player, mostly a fingerpicker these days, but used to make my living playing guitar back in the day, with a pick. But I'm a bit different in that I hold my pick with three fingers instead of two. And I prefer a Fender #346 shape (rounded triangular). Three fingers helps me keep the point aimed right, for me.
For bass, I can get by with a medium thickness since I don't pluck very hard. And I hold the pick sorta loosely. I usually pick between the pickups or just in front of the front pickup. I do move my arm up and down, kinda like strumming a guitar, although I might rotate my arm slightly for up and down movement, and keep my wrist loose, bending it slightly as I pick. In between notes I keep the subdivision feeling going in my wrist and arm. And I pluck the strings with downstrokes, and upstrokes as needed.
Like I said, it's like strumming a guitar in a micro kind of way, only the motions aren't as large and wide. I've never had any pain, but I don't use a pick often on bass. If I did it more I might find that I need modifications. I really don't know.
What's that sound like to ya'll? Critiques are welcome.
The important thing is to not have pain, so I'm not going to argue.
Interesting read.
I have been a switch-hitter for about 40 years, using my fingers or a pick interchangeably, depending on the sound for which I felt the tune called.
When I was first learning bass, I was handed a felt pick, but that didn't last long, and for decades I have used a large triangular .73 picks.
I'm going to give this method a shot; I don't have any pain or fatigue problems yet, but pushing 60, I don't want them to start.
I am a bit concerned that I won't like playing up near the neck on slacker areas of the strings, as I have always played right down next to the bridge (fingers and pick) where the strings are stiffer, and I think more responsive.
At any rate, it is never bad advice to at least try techniques that served those who are infinitely more talented and successful, as they are surely part of the reason for said success.
I have been a switch-hitter for about 40 years, using my fingers or a pick interchangeably, depending on the sound for which I felt the tune called.
When I was first learning bass, I was handed a felt pick, but that didn't last long, and for decades I have used a large triangular .73 picks.
I'm going to give this method a shot; I don't have any pain or fatigue problems yet, but pushing 60, I don't want them to start.
I am a bit concerned that I won't like playing up near the neck on slacker areas of the strings, as I have always played right down next to the bridge (fingers and pick) where the strings are stiffer, and I think more responsive.
At any rate, it is never bad advice to at least try techniques that served those who are infinitely more talented and successful, as they are surely part of the reason for said success.
Im not a big fan of playing by the neck either, so I use light strings and that gives me a little leeway.Interesting read.
I have been a switch-hitter for about 40 years, using my fingers or a pick interchangeably, depending on the sound for which I felt the tune called.
When I was first learning bass, I was handed a felt pick, but that didn't last long, and for decades I have used a large triangular .73 picks.
I'm going to give this method a shot; I don't have any pain or fatigue problems yet, but pushing 60, I don't want them to start.
I am a bit concerned that I won't like playing up near the neck on slacker areas of the strings, as I have always played right down next to the bridge (fingers and pick) where the strings are stiffer, and I think more responsive.
At any rate, it is never bad advice to at least try techniques that served those who are infinitely more talented and successful, as they are surely part of the reason for said success.
I'll try it some more and see.
Oh, another thing in my case. Being a guitar fingerpicker, I have nails, although not long enough to not allow some meat of my fingertips to strike a bass string as well. But the sound I get is similar to a pick sound on top, but with a flesh sound on bottom, so to speak. Almost the best of both worlds, but makes for some creative eq settings.
Oh, another thing in my case. Being a guitar fingerpicker, I have nails, although not long enough to not allow some meat of my fingertips to strike a bass string as well. But the sound I get is similar to a pick sound on top, but with a flesh sound on bottom, so to speak. Almost the best of both worlds, but makes for some creative eq settings.
I know it's an old thread, but I think it's a bit absurd to take a playing style that worked for someone else for specific styles of music/songs, and apply it to yourself as if it's gospel.
This one especially gave me a good chuckle.
This one especially gave me a good chuckle.
I also play closer to the bridge. I've mostly used Roto 66s. Would higher tension strings be stiffer closer to the neck?
