Pick players, a question....

greg_mitchell · Post by **greg_mitchell** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 2:52 am

Hey, cool....look, I'm an advanced member!

foolycooly · Post by **foolycooly** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 3:29 am

I knew a guy during my stint as a GC employee, that was 100% a finger player, and he used to laugh and make fun of me because I used a pick. then I handed him a bass and a pick and I said go ahead and play it, and he couldn't. That was an amusing day for me. He took up practicing with a pick that day to "be more versatile" he would say. haha!

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 3:34 am

a pick is a tool ... one of many ... it is good to know how to use your tools ...

foolycooly · Post by **foolycooly** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 3:44 am

Very true Jeff. I only pluck with my fingers if I'm going for a specific sound. The guy I was talking about was primarily a pop and slapper. The guy pops and slaps everything. Slow blues, he'd pop and slap, Pop, Rock, Jazz, you name it you'd hear pop and slap.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 4:07 am

Nothing grooves like popped and slapped slow blues, haha! I'm the opposite, I only use a pick when I'm going for a certain sound which is very rarely.

1rr3l3v4n7 · Post by **1rr3l3v4n7** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 8:24 am

WOW JIM GLEN!!! You just changed my life!

I just never tought I could play with a pick and my fingers at the same time (almost). I tried it and it's real cool!

Oh, and I don't know about the pick/fingers question... Looks like Flats/Rounds...
See, when I play Megadeth, I rather use a pick to gain more speed. If I play Rock'n Roll I'll use a pick (with flats) so I can have a mellow-punch... But, When I play mingus... Nothing like naked fingers!!!

foolycooly · Post by **foolycooly** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 8:57 am

For a laugh, I would sometimes play my bass with my hand over the top of the neck rather than under it in the tradition fashion. For a bigger laugh I would go into really fast runs when I was doing improv solos, and play both over and under in a sweeping motion. Guitar players hate that unless they're doing it too.

rickinroma · Post by **rickinroma** » Sun Jul 03, 2005 9:32 pm

single note UP
otherwise both up and down

nattiep · Post by **nattiep** » Mon Jul 04, 2005 2:11 am

I started with a pick, then moved to fingers. I used to use ccut up phone cards when I couldn't find my pick, and when I did find it I was set to play. (It's a pick that I still use BTW. Worn down to almost nothing.). I suck with a pick now. When do use a pick I mostly do down strokes, Pink Floyd stuff mainly. I do up and down with McCartney's stuff.

Yes a pick is a tool, but it's a tool I rarely use. I can get pick like speed and sound with my index finger at the bridge. Sorta like strumming the string up and down, fingertip and nail. Very fun technique.

bassplyr4001 · Post by **bassplyr4001** » Mon Jul 04, 2005 12:57 pm

Being majorly influenced by Chris Squire, of course I use a pick. I have never sat down and examined my picking method, but I would guess it would be an alternating stroke usually starting with a down.
Funny thing is.... when I'm doing any Pink Floyd, I play fingerstyle. Strange isn't it???

revolver323 · Post by **revolver323** » Mon Jul 04, 2005 1:43 pm

I pick up/down, unless there's big space between the notes (the repeated "A" on Yes's "America," or The "G" on "Smoke on the Water," for example.) I started with fingers and still use them mostly, especially if I need to dampen strings for a super funky, staccato Motown sound. I played primarily with a pick from 1971 to 1978, when I stopped playing professionally, because I wanted the extra zing it gave me. I suppose you could play something like "Heart of The Sunrise" with fingers, but it'd be difficult for me.

cwk · Post by **cwk** » Mon Jul 04, 2005 3:03 pm

Anybody ever try finger picks?
I was just thinking about it the other day after hearing a friend play a song (on my rick) in a finger picking style.A few possible combinations might include a finger pick on certian fingers so you can also change the sound of the attack.
Just a thought.

dannyboy · Post by **dannyboy** » Mon Jul 04, 2005 3:34 pm

My band is a rock'n'roll band and when I dropped the guitar to move on the bass, I felt better with the pick...and I find it faster too. I play down and up. And I play fingers on the slower songs!

bobcat · Post by **bobcat** » Mon Jul 04, 2005 4:23 pm

I can't play with a pick. I used to think that people who played with picks were just lazy and taking the easy way out until two things happened: 1)I saw a video of Yes playing live, and 2)I tried it myself. I've tried and tried and tried, but I can't make my hand work right with a pick. I always want to move my fingers as opposed to my wrist or arm.

Luckily, though, this has helped me get REALLY fast with my fingers. I have no trouble doing stuff like "Heart of the Sunrise" or anything with lots of fast, repeated notes in sequence . . . so little trouble that, actually, I sometimes find it hard to do anything slow! Gotta practice grooving more . . .

foolycooly · Post by **foolycooly** » Mon Jul 04, 2005 4:52 pm

Keep in mind Squire fans, he also uses his thumb on occassion.