cheddatom Posted June 27, 2016 Share Posted June 27, 2016 I was debating use of picks on a bass with a friend of mine the other day. I sort of thought we'd all moved past this but anyway, to persuade him that it's acceptable I need an example of a great song with a bassline played with a pick, which isn't obviously played with a pick. I'm trying to avoid rock or country, so something jazzy or funky would be perfect. I'm quite surprised that now I'm trying to think of one, I can't. Can you help? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SICbass Posted June 27, 2016 Share Posted June 27, 2016 OK. the pick is obvious, but oh so funky... http://youtu.be/Ll3uipTO-4A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charic Posted June 27, 2016 Share Posted June 27, 2016 Dave Ellefson is my go-to but you said not rock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul h Posted June 27, 2016 Share Posted June 27, 2016 Bobby Vega... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIxpVo-qqKU Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted June 27, 2016 Share Posted June 27, 2016 Anything with Carol Kaye or Joe Osborn playing on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted June 27, 2016 Author Share Posted June 27, 2016 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1467023479' post='3080474'] Anything with Carol Kaye or Joe Osborn playing on it. [/quote] Excuse my ignorance but do you have examples of songs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudewheresmybass Posted June 27, 2016 Share Posted June 27, 2016 McCartney Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EliasMooseblaster Posted June 27, 2016 Share Posted June 27, 2016 [quote name='cheddatom' timestamp='1467023851' post='3080488'] Excuse my ignorance but do you have examples of songs? [/quote] I'm reasonably sure it's Kaye playing the higher bass part on the Beach Boys' 'Good Vibrations.' (To be honest, pick any Beach Boys song from Pet Sounds onwards and there's a good chance she's playing the bassline. With a pick.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted June 27, 2016 Author Share Posted June 27, 2016 that Beach Boys' sound is very obviously a pick isn't it I was arguing that you can get the same sound with either technique, although obviously you could do with some EQ and compression to make a pick sound like fingers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barneyg42 Posted June 27, 2016 Share Posted June 27, 2016 [quote name='dudewheresmybass' timestamp='1467024232' post='3080491'] McCartney [/quote] https://youtu.be/dSneg5vDrQc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBus Posted June 27, 2016 Share Posted June 27, 2016 If you want jazzy there is always Steve Swallow. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zONFrcrZFs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coilte Posted June 27, 2016 Share Posted June 27, 2016 [quote name='cheddatom' timestamp='1467024765' post='3080499'] that Beach Boys' sound is very obviously a pick isn't it[/quote] Carol Kaye, as mentioned earlier, played on a lot of Beach Boy's songs. One of note is on the intro to "Good Vibrations". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted June 27, 2016 Share Posted June 27, 2016 Here Average White Band with Hamish playing a Mustang with a pick. Nails two myths in one - you can't play funk with a pick and big blokes look silly playing short scale. http://youtu.be/qSP5yiUbDLQ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Number6 Posted June 27, 2016 Share Posted June 27, 2016 Bob Daisley but he is a rocker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassbora Posted June 27, 2016 Share Posted June 27, 2016 Did Duff (GnR) not always play with a pick? Whole of Appetite is one big pick festival if you are looking for a song Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted June 27, 2016 Author Share Posted June 27, 2016 [quote name='BassBus' timestamp='1467025435' post='3080512'] If you want jazzy there is always Steve Swallow. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zONFrcrZFs[/media] [/quote] Yes! That's great! Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammybee Posted June 27, 2016 Share Posted June 27, 2016 Leon Sylvers III - most stuff on Solar Records (Whispers, Shalamar) apparently played a Ri**** with a pick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EliasMooseblaster Posted June 27, 2016 Share Posted June 27, 2016 [quote name='cheddatom' timestamp='1467024765' post='3080499'] that Beach Boys' sound is very obviously a pick isn't it I was arguing that you can get the same sound with either technique, although obviously you could do with some EQ and compression to make a pick sound like fingers [/quote] I know it's a rock example, but look up[i]Animate [/i]by Rush. The driving bassline sounds quite pick-like but is almost certainly Geddy flapping his index finger back and forth. (I'd provide a link but work interweb and youtube links don't mix too well, sorry!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zero9 Posted June 27, 2016 Share Posted June 27, 2016 I love what Hellmut Hattler does with a pick. It's very obviously played with a pick, but that's the beauty of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Number6 Posted June 27, 2016 Share Posted June 27, 2016 Adrian Shaw (The Bevis Frond) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted June 27, 2016 Author Share Posted June 27, 2016 [quote name='EliasMooseblaster' timestamp='1467030586' post='3080575'] I know it's a rock example, but look up[i]Animate [/i]by Rush. The driving bassline sounds quite pick-like but is almost certainly Geddy flapping his index finger back and forth. (I'd provide a link but work interweb and youtube links don't mix too well, sorry!) [/quote] That's a good one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowhand_mike Posted June 27, 2016 Share Posted June 27, 2016 [quote name='bassbora' timestamp='1467026840' post='3080529'] Did Duff (GnR) not always play with a pick? Whole of Appetite is one big pick festival if you are looking for a song [/quote] yeah duff uses a pick for GnR and Velvet revolver dont think ive ever seen him use fingers. He has a slightly different pick style as its not straight up and down but rather diagonally across the string so the pick kinda slides a bit if that makes sense Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted June 27, 2016 Author Share Posted June 27, 2016 I'm after examples which show that a pick doesn't always have to sound "picky" or as above (with the Rush example) fingers don't always have to sound "paddy" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coilte Posted June 27, 2016 Share Posted June 27, 2016 [quote name='cheddatom' timestamp='1467033025' post='3080610'] I'm after examples which show that a pick doesn't always have to sound "picky" or as above (with the Rush example) fingers don't always have to sound "paddy" [/quote] If your friend is not convinced by the posts so far, he is a lost cause. Leave him to it. It's his loss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz39 Posted June 27, 2016 Share Posted June 27, 2016 Geddy's sound comes mainly from a very thick nail on his index finger, which grew back like that after he broke it as a kid. So he sort of picks while using fingers. But yes, also flapping flamenco style. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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