paul_5 Posted December 4, 2012 Share Posted December 4, 2012 Recently I've joined a classic rock covers band (and very good they are too), and have been trying to nail the tone of Thin Lizzy/Guns N' Roses etc... so I've been dabbling with playing with a pick. I've got two music degrees and 20 years playing experience, loads of studio jobs under my belt too so I'd say my timekeeping is very, very good. Trying to 'lock in' whilst playing with a pick? Feels like being a beginner again. I know that sometimes the pick gets a bit of a rum deal on here (sometimes in jest, other times not), but don't knock it folks; it's just another technique and is equally as valid as slapping, fretless or any other 'specialist' way of playing you'd care to mention. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D.I. Joe Posted December 4, 2012 Share Posted December 4, 2012 Here here! Though I wouldn't necessarily call it 'specialist' personally, but then I suppose I do it about 50% of the time. You just can't get the same attack with fingers and a lot of songs (not necessarily limited to Rock) just need that edge - not just to the sound but it also brings a different feel to the part. All this talk of 'real bassists' using fingers or slap or whatever - Bollocks! Real bassists do whatever fits the music best, regardless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted December 4, 2012 Share Posted December 4, 2012 Go for it. It's just another way of playing what you want to play. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted December 4, 2012 Share Posted December 4, 2012 [quote name='D.I. Joe' timestamp='1354643641' post='1888651'] Real bassists do whatever fits the music best, regardless. [/quote] +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted December 4, 2012 Share Posted December 4, 2012 You`ll get there. I`ve always used a pick, and my time-keeping is fairly good. Now playing with fingers, well that`s something that I`ve only just really started to practice properly, and find myself in the same position, just got to stick at it, and I`ll master it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingBollock Posted December 4, 2012 Share Posted December 4, 2012 (edited) I am a pick player. Unfortunately I have let other techniques get rather rusty. The thing about picks is that they are surprisingly flexible. With a 3mm Big Stubby (I now use the nylon ones because they last longer) I can get a nice soft, mellow sound or a hard clicky or thumpy sound and many sound inbetween. In my pick tin I have 8 different thicknesses of picks, from very soft upto the 3mm Stubbies to a 1mm steel pick I made from a washer. I also have metal finger and thumb picks that I started using for Banjo but find fun to use in a finger style on Bass, it's like fingers+. When people knock picks I often think that they probably aren't aware just how flexible they really are, they are far from a one trick pony. Some Bass players seem unaware that you can use alternate picking and sweep picking. I've even come across Bass players who think that you can't string skip with a pick! I started playing with a pick in the first place because I was 13 and was always injuring myself, so the fingers of my right hand seemed to be perpetually covered in plasters. The pick seemed a good solution and it just stuck. Edited December 4, 2012 by KingBollock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobbayne Posted December 4, 2012 Share Posted December 4, 2012 (edited) I use a pick on all the Lizzy stuff, and most other stuff that needs a driving bassline. I,m not bothered about some soppy kids (who probably were in liquid form when I started to play) telling me I,m not a proper bassist!! Edited December 4, 2012 by Hobbayne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doddy Posted December 4, 2012 Share Posted December 4, 2012 [quote name='KingBollock' timestamp='1354661312' post='1888961'] When people knock picks I often think that they probably aren't aware just how flexible they really are, they are far from a one trick pony. Some Bass players seem unaware that you can use alternate picking and sweep picking. I've even come across Bass players who think that you can't string skip with a pick! [/quote] I think that the reason think that picks are one trick ponies is because they are often the preference of 'failed guitarists' or 'only instrument left to find in the band' players,many of whom just play quaver root notes or double the guitar line. Don't get me wrong,there are some great players who use picks-Anthony Jackson,Carol Kaye,Joe Osborne, Bobby Vega,Steve Swallow,to name a few-but there are far more that don't have the facility of these guys. I've got no problem using a pick and I always carry some with me,but it's not my preference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skidder652003 Posted December 4, 2012 Share Posted December 4, 2012 ah well, its been shown here before loads of times, but here's the proof that playing with a pick can be as awesome as any other style... [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hx2lza1Rb0U"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hx2lza1Rb0U[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
51m0n Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 Bobby Vega kills it every time. Love his feel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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