Good songs to learn with a pick

[mep]

Some of the Frankie Goes To Hollywood baselines are good to play with a pick. My favourite is there version of Born To Run.

[Bilbo]

Anything by Steve Swallow. And this.... 

 

[Grimalkin]

Different mix, synth bass removed, just bass guitar:

 

 

[bearhart74]

highway star - purple

[Lozz196]

1 hour ago, bearhart74 said:

highway star - purple

Good call, great bassline for a pick

[Grimalkin]

 

For consistency, I love the softer P bass twang Scott Thunes has on this. 

[NigeJ]

Check out the Stranglers back catalogue 

[Kev mac]

On 08/12/2021 at 15:21, NAS Bass said:

Depends what you want to achieve with a pick?

Fast downstrokes only - All Ramones songs!

Palm muted - 60's style a la Carol Kaye and Joe Osborn

Melodic grinding punk - JJ Burnel 

Hard Rock - Lemmy, Motorhead

Tricky timing, across the strings - JPJ on Black Dog. Heartbreaker is a good one as well, get to play chords too!

 

Lots of variables and millions of other examples. Always a good idea to keep your pick skills up to speed!

I'm new to C.B. I'm a 66 yr old Yank and have played bass forever.I played in all types of bands from Pop to Punk,G.B. and even as a bassist in an Elvis impersonators' band.But I never played with a pick.In the early days I was taught picks were for guitar.I always loved the pick tone however.Well for the last few months I've been trying to learn this skill.It isn't easy for me but I've slowly been making progress.I have watched the tutorials, bought the books and any tips will be appreciated. But it seems to me one just needs to stick to it and do it often.

[stewblack]

I used my pick on a couple of tunes at my most recent gig. As a dyed in the wool finger player I was astonished at how it brought the bass to life. 

It was like a restring.

[Delberthot]

On 08/12/2021 at 18:43, skidder652003 said:

roundabout by YES

 

I normally play South Side of the Sky when I want to practice using a plectrum - same album but track 4. Alternatively Siberian Khatru from Close to the Edge is another winner for me

[SteveXFR]

On 26/12/2021 at 13:02, NigeJ said:

Check out the Stranglers back catalogue 

 

☝️☝️

What he said. Stranglers have some fantastic bass lines, all great to play with a pick. 

If you're not in to punk, forget their punk association, they're nothing like the Pistols. They're just a brilliant rock band. 

[bassbloke]

No one has mentioned for the love of money by the o jays.  Classic bassline played by Anthony Jackson.  Pick and phaser pedal. 

[lowdown]

“Hey, Carol, do something!!!”...she did...improvised on the spot (so the story goes).

 

 

 

[miles'tone]

On 25/12/2021 at 23:05, Grimalkin said:

 

For consistency, I love the softer P bass twang Scott Thunes has on this. 

Kind of late to the party to poop it, but Scott didn't get his P bass until '84. This album was '83 when he was still using the active Carvin.

Pooper out...

[ezbass]

Going Underground and Town Called Malice by The Jam are a couple of my pick favourites to play.

[adamg67]

Feel it Still by Portugal the Man is a nice easy one. 

It might be in here already and I've missed it but Money by Pink Floyd is another easy one.

 

You can play a lot of things with a pick even if they weren't like that on the original, especially if you palm mute (which I do pretty much always if I play with a pick).

 

[Nail Soup]

21 hours ago, lowdown said:

“Hey, Carol, do something!!!”...she did...improvised on the spot (so the story goes).

I presume the story was told by Carol herself 😉

 

[Jack]

The two Rancid recommendations missed my absolute favourite, Fall Back Down.

 

I'd also suggest Welcome to the Jungle.

[lowdown]

2 hours ago, Nail Soup said:

I presume the story was told by Carol herself 😉

 

 

Probably...

 

There are various quotes knocking around about that session, so maybe there is a modicum of truth in there somewhere.

Here is another one:

 

"If I can remember this right, the story behind this one (from Carol Kaye) is that the drummer on the session was playing too far behind and kind of dopey. The producer asked her to play something really forward and 'up' to pep up the drummer, and that's what she did.
She didn't think they'd keep the take on the track, let alone that it would become a minor hit, as she thought the line was too busy..."

 

[Lord Sausage]

But which pick is the best pick for good songs to learn with a pick?

[Velarian]

21 minutes ago, Lord Sausage said:

But which pick is the best pick for good songs to learn with a pick?

 

[mep]

[Lord Sausage]

[Rib13Bass]

Holy Diver by Dio ......besides Jimmy Bain's great Yamaha BB2000 tone, it's his fretting hand "bounce" that chokes the notes at just the right length that makes the difference