interpol52 Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 I've started experiencing quite a lot of pain in my forearm and elbow recently (picking hand side). As a result I have started using a pick more as this seems to help. Rehearsal the other night saw me playing my Precision with a pick with palm muting as and when suitable. What a sound! Sat great in the mix and sounded fat and full. I have played fingerstyle exclusively for around ten years and it was a real eye opener realising how great and varied pick style can be. I'm converted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmccombe7 Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 I use my thumb as a pick occasionally and i seem to feel the rhythm more that way but really horses for courses. I also keep my finger nails a a length that gives me an edge when i want or need it just at the tilt of my hand. whatever feels comfortable is always a good thing. All the best with the pick style. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
interpol52 Posted January 7, 2017 Author Share Posted January 7, 2017 It had some kind of natural compression quality too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mister RLP Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 I started playing with my thumb (not slapping), moved to fingers (but prefer using one as sound more consistent) and have moved over to pick playing which gives me more control over tone, etc. However, I will use whatever style is best for the song that is being played. It's good to hear lots of pro bass players saying that they play with thumbs (Sting), one finger (Sean Hurley?) or picks (Bobby Vega). Anything goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuzzie Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 And then you can add in using pick and fingers alternating in the song or together and you will sound amazing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnDave Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 I switched to pick last year after 40 years of finger style due to a hand injury, and the quality of the sound from my Precisions was a real eye-opener. Rich and full with real punch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZilchWoolham Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 (edited) Precisions are wonderful matches for pick playing. Jazzes can get a little grindy with a pick, and certainly some people enjoy that tone as well, but I prefer the roundness and punch of a Precision. I'm mainly a pick player myself. That's how I started out, and most of my favourite bassists are (mainly) pick players - including the sophisticated fellow in my profile picture! Edited January 7, 2017 by ZilchWoolham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnDave Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 (edited) I find that Jazz bass pick ups can get in the way with a pick, plus using the bridge pick up results in a very trebly sound, nothing like it sounds finger style. I am playing precisions exclusively since my injury. Edited January 7, 2017 by FinnDave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivansc Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 My first bass was a used 1962 Precision, bought in 1963. Played with a pick & with the foam mute under the rear ashtray still in place. Tape wound strings. GREAT recorded sound when played wityh a pick. Played with a pick for decades until I finally gave way to peer pressure from the younger set who at the time regarded us old fogeys who played with picks as "not cool". And now I have come full circle - back to playing more and more with a pick. Jusrt recorded a couple of bass parts for a friend using a US 62 reissue with half rounds and a pick! So much thud! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julesb Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 http://youtu.be/f8VOxon78S8 Brilliant example of pick/P bass with a mental video to boot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 Precision, flats, pick, tubes. All you need Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rushbo Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 It's a great noise. For my current band, it's 90% fingerstyle, but I love digging in with a pick on appropriate tunes. We do a revved up version of "Paradise" by Dr Feelgood and the plec bass just drives it along in a way you'd struggle to achieve with your fingers. Whatever gets the job done, I guess... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 (edited) [quote name='interpol52' timestamp='1483821370' post='3210452'] I've started experiencing quite a lot of pain in my forearm and elbow recently (picking hand side). As a result I have started using a pick more as this seems to help. Rehearsal the other night saw me playing my Precision with a pick with palm muting as and when suitable. What a sound! Sat great in the mix and sounded fat and full. I have played fingerstyle exclusively for around ten years and it was a real eye opener realising how great and varied pick style can be. I'm converted. [/quote] Started playing with my fingers back in 1966. Switched to using a pick in 2009. To me the pick is better for rock stylings. It gives me a more aggressive attack for executing lines, riffs and licks. Blue Edited January 8, 2017 by blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cato Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 It's definitely a case whatever you think does the job best for what you are doing at the time. The ideal is to be able to do both. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk_lefty Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 Stayed away from picks largely, only used them for things too fast to play with my fingers and even then it was only the odd passage in a song... And then I got a precision! I'm catching up on pick technique because I want to play across all strings but there's something about playing flats on a p with a pick that you can't capture with anything else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acidbass Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 Precision with a pick through an all valve Ampeg stack is one of my favourite sounds! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 I used a pick for the first 30 or so years of my bass playing, only really learned how to play fingerstyle a few years back. As a die-hard Precision player I juts find that a pick works so well with one, especially in rock/punk music. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 [quote name='Cato' timestamp='1483906480' post='3211058'] It's definitely a case whatever you think does the job best for what you are doing at the time. The ideal is to be able to do both. [/quote] So much this ^ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuzzie Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 Agree with above I am trying to co-ordinate my middle and ring finger to use like my index and middle so I need never drop the pick and can have it all available, but it will be a long road.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davo-London Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 Also to reduce pain have you tried lowering the bass a bit so the RH wrist is straighter? Davo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobbayne Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 (edited) In my rock covers band, I generally only use a pick if the original song was played with a pick. We do some Thin Lizzy and Stuff by the Jam. Both noted for powerful plectrum powered basslines. I have always switched seamlessly between fingers and a pick. I must be quite lucky as its easy for me to do this. Edited January 9, 2017 by Hobbayne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 [quote name='Hobbayne' timestamp='1483969020' post='3211487'] I have always switched seamlessly between fingers and a pick. I must be quite lucky as its easy for me to do this. [/quote] I'm the same. When I first started playing I would learn bass parts that I knew were played with a pick with a pick & finger style parts with my fingers. As a result I have no problems using either technique, or swapping back & forth between them during a set when I used to gig. A precision played with a pick & a bit of palm muting is one of my favourite sounds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
No lust in Jazz Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 I saw Scott Thunes playing with Zappa in the early 80's, this was a big influence on my playing and I've been failing miserably at playing a P bass with a pick ever since. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmo Valdemar Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 [quote name='ZilchWoolham' timestamp='1483826370' post='3210503'] . I'm mainly a pick player myself. That's how I started out, and most of my favourite bassists are (mainly) pick players - including the sophisticated fellow in my profile picture! [/quote] [i]Clever[/i] Cecil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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