Take your pick

[elom]

Hello folks,

After a year of not really playing much (and 18 months away from basschat) I'm starting to get some of the old enthusiasm back and am enjoying practicing again. I have an audition this Friday for a 'pop punk' band and whilst the music is simple, it's played fast and with a pick. The thing is, despite playing bass on and off for many years, I've never really played with a pick. It's the right technique for the band that I'm trying out for though.

It's harder than I thought. For one my right-hand damping is all over the place, if it's there at all! Also, I find that I'm naturally resting the heel of my hand on the bass, which is okay for pounding away on a single string but does not give me the dexterity to move freely across all 4 strings at any sort of speed.

So I'm looking for some help with my pick technique. I do remember a post on here years ago on pick basics (by a guy from Hawaii I think) but I've not been able to find it. I'd appreciate any advice that you have.

It's good to try something new, though my wrist hasn't ached this much since I was a teenager...

Thanks,

elom

[chrismuzz]

I'm not much of a pick player either, but try resting your hand on the bridge instead if you can Failing that you could do what some lead guitarists to and rest your middle finger on the body about an inch to the right of the G string. hope it helps!

[rOB]

I'm mostly a pick player at the moment. I agree, string crossing at speed can be tricky.

I play passages that require dexterity like that with a floating wrist, but then your left hand muting needs to be on the ball.

Well done for using the technique you feel best suits the music rather than the one you're comfortable with.

[LiamPodmore]

I think the first essential is finding a comfortable position for you to actually hold the pick, it works wonders for stamina when picking if you don't get pain in your finger/thumb. What i normally do is rest the bottom of my hand (The bit between my wrist and pinkie) on the bridge which gives me enough room to move where my thumb and finger are so i can skip strings pretty speedily. This might work for you, it might not, but as many things are with playing an instrument, it's all about comfort and finding the right position for you.

Liam

Edited October 8, 2012 by LiamPodmore

[charic]

I'm pretty much exclusively pick but honestly I don't have many tips... it just felt natural to me (and that's why I've stuck to it, no failed guitarist here thanks... strangely I play guitar best fingerstyle )

I don't "rest my hand" anywhere, my forearm rests pretty heavily though. Avoid long sleeves for a while too I find it makes it hard to anchor. Always alternate is a good rule to start with although you can play around with that once you're used to it. Remember to practice your dynamics, accentuate certain notes. Learn to play hard AND soft and learn to do both consistently over an entire track.

Find songs which test your stamina, nothing too complex left hand but after 2 / 3 times round your right arm should ache something wicked (I find stockholme syndrome by muse quite good for this, although I step up the tempo a bit now).

As for muting... I very rarely use my right hand. My left hand is my tool of choice for cutting notes short

[charic]

And welcome back

[Coilte]

[quote name='elom' timestamp='1349650865' post='1828811']

So I'm looking for some help with my pick technique.
[/quote]

Then take the advice of master pick player Carol Kaye. See tips #26 & 27 in this link.


[url="http://carolkaye.com/www/education/tips1.htm"]http://carolkaye.com/www/education/tips1.htm[/url]

[Bloodaxe]

[quote name='elom' timestamp='1349650865' post='1828811']
So I'm looking for some help with my pick technique. I do remember a post on here years ago on pick basics (by a guy from Hawaii I think) but I've not been able to find it. I'd appreciate any advice that you have.

Thanks,

elom[/quote]

Found this: http://basschat.co.uk/topic/14836-plecky-advice-needed/page__p__153354__fromsearch__1#entry153354

Also these:

http://basschat.co.uk/topic/113946-picking-hand-pain/page__p__1051219__hl__relaxed__fromsearch__1#entry1051219

http://basschat.co.uk/topic/82270-how-am-i-going-to-get-this-fast/page__p__787613__hl__relaxed__fromsearch__1#entry787613

Pete.

[Bilbo]

Look up Bobby Vega on youtube.

[PaulWarning]

being a failed guitarist and playing in a punk band I always use a pick, sort of rest the underside of my forearm on the top of the bass and my hand floats around so I can play nearer the bridge if I want less 'boom' espescailly on bottom E, as for changing strings I work out whether to start the pevious note or set of notes on the up or down stroke so I'm heading towards the string I'm changing too when the change arrives, hope that makes sense

[fender73]

Following a hand injury/rsi, i'll be playing part time with a pick now for some tunes so i'll be looking at the advice/links given above too.

[Low End Bee]

Set the strap height so you're right hand is in its most comfortable position. I have no problem getting from string to string using a pick if the angles are right. Octave stuff is a doddle.
I'm not an ex guitarist. I've just always played with a plectrum. If you're in a punky pop outfit big thick triangular ones are good and you get 3 points to wear out. I use Clayton 1.07mm tortex ones.

[charic]

Good point from above... Find the right pick thickness for you... it makes a huge difference

My personal favourites are 1.14mm some people prefer 3mm monsters!

[elom]

Thanks for the advice folks, been checking out the various posts & links. It is getting easier slowly.

I hadn't thought about plck thickness as an issue but I suppose it is pretty obvious. Will get into town one lunchtime and try a few out.

Basschat seems busier than ever!

[elom]

[quote name='Bloodaxe' timestamp='1349689332' post='1829018']
Found this: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/14836-plecky-advice-needed/page__p__153354__fromsearch__1#entry153354"]http://basschat.co.u...__1#entry153354[/url]
[/quote]

Thanks, that was the post that I had been looking for! And GonzoBass was the Hawaiian (funny how you remember details like that. from a post 4 years ago!)

Edited October 8, 2012 by elom

[mep]

Try plenty of picks. I favor 1mm Dunlops.
I don't rest my hand anywhere. If you rest on the bridge I find it restricts you somewhat.
Take it steady at first. Practice some 8th note lines and build up the tempo. Also build up on the string changes. Alternate pick as much as you can.
Plenty of good advice already mentioned here.

[GonzoBass]

[quote name='elom' timestamp='1349731644' post='1829910']
Thanks, that was the post that I had been looking for! And GonzoBass was the Hawaiian (funny how you remember details like that. from a post 4 years ago!)
[/quote]
...might just be the only one here.
lol