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Would I be betraying Dusty Hill?

#41
USAJO said:
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
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More rock songs are played with a pick since the 80s than you may be aware of.
Most of the cover songs I have to play lately were originally recorded with a pick, so I use it on those songs. (Soundgarden, Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Kiss, Foo Fighters, KOL, Alice In Chains, The Killers, Incubus, etc…)

Nothing wrong with it at all. It’s another tone and trick in the bag… a damn good one. It’s a fantastic tonal tool on the bass.
 
#42
USAJO said:
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
Click to expand...

I play in both Aerosmith and Kiss/Paul Stanley covers bands.
What I learned so far is that a cover or a version has his own space, sound and tones and you have to look for the feel of the original, but the style and tone has to work with your band. Play it both styles, record it if you can to listen objectively and make a choice.
After all of that, learn to play the songs both fingerstyle and with pick, you never know what will happens live, you have to be prepared.
 
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#45
I agree with the sentiments that most people in the audience wouldn't care, even if you go fully in with the looks as well. As long as it sound good.

That said, I saw a RHCP tribute years ago that half-assed the look and the bass player just wasn't right. He dressed in the skeleton onesie which was great. But he was left-handed (okay, not his fault, and wasn't a problem either) and played a P bass with a pick. No funky finger style and absolutely no slapping.

IMHO, if you're going to dress the part and be in a tribute band of one of the world's most recognised slap bassists - scratch that - you really should try and do it justice.
 
#46
Hi USAJO :)

USAJO said:
In a tribute would you play with a pick when copying Dusty or is that just WRONG.
Click to expand...

I prefer to play ZZ Top using fingerstyle. Is it wrong to play a pick?

Nah! It's not about the pick or fingers! It's all about the beard! :D

Lee Moses said:
Do you have the long beards, sunglasses, etc.
Click to expand...

MCF said:
Get the beard right and you’ll be fine.
Click to expand...


When you use a false (looooong) beard fixed to your (cheap) sunglasses and hat...

do not tangle up the beard the with the strings...

you might end up with a hat and sunglases hanging from your bass, dangling between your legs.

(don't ask me how I know! :D)



greetings

Wise(b)ass
 
#47
The new fella Elwood Francis, was Dusty's tech. He plays with a pick, and they say Dusty is the one who said the band should continue with Elwood taking his place.

So i'm pretty sure playing with a pick can't be betraying Dusty.


That aside, unless there's something very specific about a band/players sound that comes from their technique you can go either way. You won't get their sound 100% right anyway, so do what you need to get as close as you can. Audience won't notice much difference in playing style, but they will notice if you struggle with your choice and flub the songs.
 
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#48
ga_edwards said:
I agree with the sentiments that most people in the audience wouldn't care, even if you go fully in with the looks as well. As long as it sound good.

That said, I saw a RHCP tribute years ago that half-assed the look and the bass player just wasn't right. He dressed in the skeleton onesie which was great. But he was left-handed (okay, not his fault, and wasn't a problem either) and played a P bass with a pick. No funky finger style and absolutely no slapping.

IMHO, if you're going to dress the part and be in a tribute band of one of the world's most recognised slap bassists - scratch that - you really should try and do it justice.
Click to expand...
Imho you can’t tribute RHCP without slapping. That’s a deal breaker. The whole bass player visual and playing style to me is the most dominant thing about that band ( but I’m just a casual observer of them)
 
#49
Talk about betraying Dusty Hill!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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You'll be fine using a pick on your bass!

upload_2024-5-3_8-57-33.jpeg
 
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#50
1000003376.jpg


According to this interview snipet, Dusty was a fingers guy, but the new guy uses a pick. If Billy & Frank don't care, you shouldn't be worried. He'd clearly haunt them before you if he had that big of a posthumous problem with it :D

Long story short, serve the song, use whatever techniques give you the best result. Maybe try a felt pick or rubber pick if a traditional material is too punchy? But produce the best product in the way that works best for you :thumbsup:
 
#51
buldog5151bass said:
ZZ not only replaced Dusty's technique, they replaced Dusty, and the fans are still there. I think you'll be ok.
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I’m going to learn all songs with both techniques so I can do either. I prefer the finger style trying to copy Dusty.

If my fingers tire out practicing I can give them a break by switching to the pick.

Appreciate the comments.
 
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#52
Lee Moses said:
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.
Click to expand...
Use what you need to do the song. Dusty was finger style, live at least.
 
#53
In my own experience I've found pick style works very well in a trio where punchy articulate notes work well against guitar chords /soloing. I'm mainly a finger style player but use pick on certain songs - I find that I enjoy it and the actual technique is something that can always be improved upon.
Unless you are hired as a doppelganger of Dusty Hill I wouldn't give it two seconds of thought...
 

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