Would I be betraying Dusty Hill?

[USAJO]

I’ve been a mediocre guitar player (at best) and previously a little better than mediocre bass player. I could get away with this because I can sing lead vocals.

I’ve played (strummed) guitar in my Springsteen tribute for 14 years.

Now along with that band I’m working with two others to do a ZZ Top tribute. I switched back to bass and I’m really loving it. It’s taken me 4 months to get my bass playing working again, learning and memorizing songs.

I spent that time playing finger style. The 16 note slamming is tiring and my hand wears out.

So to keep going on the material I started playing every song with a pick. I’ve NEVER used a pick playing bass before.

Im finding I really like the tight articulated tone I’m getting. It’s making me feel blasphemous. In a tribute would you play with a pick when copying Dusty or is that just WRONG.

For now I’m practicing both styles but playing with a pick is really cool. I feel kinda dirty betraying the finger style. Lol

 

[StereoPlayer]

The list is too long for artists that use a pick. Nothing wrong with that.

 

[Lee Moses]

Honestly, off the top of my head I couldn't have told you whether Dusty Hill used a pick or played fingerstyle.

As to your question, it depends how much the visual element is part of your tribute band. Do you have the long beards, sunglasses, etc. and do whatever it takes to look like them? Then do whatever Dusty did.

But I saw a Beatles tribute band a year or two ago that did nothing to look like the Beatles, they just sounded like them. And they knocked it out of the park. So you can still do a good tribute while doing whatever you think helps you all sound the best, even if it isn't exactly what ZZ Top did.

Just my opinion, of course.

 

[el murdoque]

Honestly, off the top of my head I couldn't have told you whether Dusty Hill used a pick or played fingerstyle.

Same here.


As long as your bass rotates, I'm good.

 

[Killing Floor]

Dusty is a good target to aim for. Who cares if you use a pick? If you are a 3 pc anything you can do to add punch to the group is a win.

 

[richntiff]

make sure you have a shag carpet bass, and play it how you'd like.

 

[bassfran]

If you don’t use “The Pleaser” that’s blasphemy.

 

[buldog5151bass]

99.78% of the people in the audience won't notice, know it's an issue, or care.

With a lot of his lines, it makes a lot of sense.

 

[Discount Bassy]

The only real way to know is to try it and see if an angry bearded wraith visits you to extract vengence from your suffering.

 

[Geogio]

I’ve NEVER used a pick playing bass before.

Im finding I really like the tight articulated tone I’m getting. It’s making me feel blasphemous. In a tribute would you play with a pick when copying Dusty or is that just WRONG.

If it was recorded with a plec, I try to use the plec. But most of the stuff we do is finger worthy. But for me the bpm's drive the decision.

 

[J Wilson]

IF he were around ( or you could ask the Right Reverend Billy G), I'm totally sure he'd tell you to grab that pick and Spank the Plank. Who cares?

 

[Rev_Slinky]

You should probably play 'Balinese' to pacify Dusty's spirit with righteous groove.

 

[J Wilson]

BTW, ZZ is great, simple, blues groove music that pretty easy to learn, and then fine tune your timing and groove.

Simple can teach you a lot about bass playing.

 

[MynameisMe]

I don't think he'll be offended. Go for it!

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

I agree with errbody sayin Dusty would approve of you rockin and not care how you do it.

 

[KenSmithFan]

Nobody cares.

 

[J-Bass RMR]

Dusty played finger-style.
Bobby Vega plays with a pick.
You can't go wrong either way.

 

[Hoot Enanny]

It's all good! Elwood Francis plays with a pick. I can't seem to locate it but there was an interview online with Billy Gibbons where he addressed that topic. If it works for Billy & Frank you should be just fine.

 

[2saddleslab]

As long as you do the songs justice it doesn't matter.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I’ve been a mediocre guitar player (at best) and previously a little better than mediocre bass player. I could get away with this because I can sing lead vocals.

I’ve played (strummed) guitar in my Springsteen tribute for 14 years.

Now along with that band I’m working with two others to do a ZZ Top tribute. I switched back to bass and I’m really loving it. It’s taken me 4 months to get my bass playing working again, learning and memorizing songs.

I spent that time playing finger style. The 16 note slamming is tiring and my hand wears out.

So to keep going on the material I started playing every song with a pick. I’ve NEVER used a pick playing bass before.

Im finding I really like the tight articulated tone I’m getting. It’s making me feel blasphemous. In a tribute would you play with a pick when copying Dusty or is that just WRONG.

For now I’m practicing both styles but playing with a pick is really cool. I feel kinda dirty betraying the finger style. Lol

I wouldn’t expect any lightning bolts out of heaven if that’s what you are worried about. Use whatever you need to be at your best. Nobody in the audience is going to notice.