Finger player learning to use a pick

[Guinness21]

I've been playing bass about 2 years, but interested in learning to play some faster stuff so think i could benefit from playing with a pick. I'm not an amazingly-quick learner by any means, but for some reason it's just not going in.

Sat down I'm having a lot more success - I place the side of my hand right on top of the string saddles. It's not perfect though - I can't quite pluck the E string as well. Stood up is another matter. I know in theory, your bass should just hang sat down then it will be in the same place stood up. But I'm a tall guy and I feel silly, so I set it lower - not punk low, but low enough that I can almost straighten my right arm when playing. Yet to find an anchor for my picking hand stood up, but whenever I try the pick hits the strings at an angle and produces a nasty sound.

So can anyone help? Do I just keep moving around til I find something that feels right? Anyone in the same predicament as me? Please help!

[Coilte]

It is quite possible to play fast by plucking. The key is to alternate the fingers. Start slow and build up the tempo gradually. Playing with a pick is also a great "tool" to have at your disposal. Dont get too hung up on speed, both from the point of view of learning and playing. Two years is still quite a small amount of time to be playing. Progress happens very gradually.

The height you wear the bass at is a personal matter. Too high and the plucking hand wrist is bent. Too low, it's the same for the fretting hand. To avoid injury problems later on, try to keep both wrists as straight as possible. So a comfortable compromise is required. Here is a link to Carol Kaye's pick method (see tips #26 & 27)

https://www.carolkaye.com/www/education/tips1.htm



These are also worth a look.

[url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPVMBPmrblU"]https://www.youtube....h?v=PPVMBPmrblU[/url]

[url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZ7E3tukRPM"]https://www.youtube....h?v=IZ7E3tukRPM[/url]

[url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIYuqTsUlyM"]https://www.youtube....h?v=uIYuqTsUlyM[/url]

Edited January 2, 2015 by Coilte

[Bloodaxe]

[quote name='Guinness21' timestamp='1420216166' post='2646756']I know in theory, your bass should just hang sat down then it will be in the same place stood up.[/quote]

This is a really common bit of misinformation. Every player has a different body geometry, so there [u]isn't[/u] a 'one size fits all' solution. It's better to adjust your strap so that your bass fits into your hands' neutral position:—

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRkSsapYYsA[/media]

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIYuqTsUlyM[/media]

Expect to spend ages fiddling about with your strap to get things all comfy. FWIW I cannot play sat down for more than about 10 minutes without experiencing a lot of discomfort in my right wrist... so I don't - I gig standing up, so I practice standing up. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is not something I want to experience.

As to pick playing, you say that

[QUOTE]I place the side of my hand right on top of the string saddles[/QUOTE]

That suggests to me that you may be using your thumb & forefinger to move the pick, which, if so, is probably where things are going adrift. Look up some of the 'classic' pick players on Youtube & you'll see that most of them are using their wrist (plus a bit of forearm) to drive the pick, like the pensioner in this clip:

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBIa0o36pPo[/media]

It's not a good idea to rest your forearm heavily on the edge of the bass, as that can lead to pinched nerves, but it's OK to bear lightly for a bit of support. You might find it easier to play a bit further up towards the neck as well, & don't forget to alternate upstrokes and downstrokes.

Pe.te

[Truckstop]

I found wearing my bass a little higher really helped develop a consistent pick technique.

Picking is really hard and takes a lot of practice. Took me months to get my upstroke and downstroke equal! After that I spent a long time working on triplets and string skipping. Muting was something that just sort of happened as I developed my technique.

Just stick at it!

Truckstop

[M@23]

It does take getting used to and lots of it is trial and error. One of the best guitarists i know holds his plectrum in such a weird unconventional manner. Try different picks too, shapes, sizes and flex. I anchor my pinky somewhere on the guitar/bass when playing the higher strings and like you, lightly palm mute when playing the lower strings - which might be worth trying if you are finding pick playing difficult standing up as it would give you a bit more stability.

[Osiris]

Although primarily a finger style player these days, I spent years playing with a plectrum (as we old farts call them ) and am still quite happy to whip one out when the need arrises.

The way I have always played is by having my right hand floating i.e. not resting on the bridge saddles or anywhere else. Stylistically it's probably more a punk thing to do but I found it to be very versatile as it allows you to move your playing position for a wider array of tones rather than playing in one position as you do when resting your palm on the bridge.

I also played up and down strokes together which always sounded much more fluid than only playing down strokes as many pick playing bass players seem to advocate. Up strokes tend to have a subtly softer attack and serve to round the overall tone a little.

It's not a technique I learned as such, it just seem a natural way to play to me and I've never felt the need to change.

Muting is also easy as you simply deaden the strings with your palm of the hand holding the pick.

And as Bloodaxe said, let your wrist do most of the work

[Guinness21]

Thanks for all the advice, some really helpful stuff here. Think I'll dedicate a day to watching all the videos, trying everything suggested and just concentrate on playing with a pick.