Pick players... any advice for a newbie?

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 4:41 pm

I hold the pick with my thumb and index finger ... that frees up my middle finger for fingerstyle playing ... then I can alternate between picking and fingering without letting go of the pick ...

turlu · Post by **turlu** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 10:31 am

I only use metal picks. It provides the clang and the bright Tone of a Ric !!!!

henny · Post by **henny** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 12:27 pm

Interesting.

I once did a gig with a coin once, I had no picks on me, and the guitarist didn't have any spare.

I couldn't play fingers as I'd broken my thumb.

It sounded so so bad.

nattiep · Post by **nattiep** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 12:38 pm

Awww.. I used coins every now and then... but chopped up calling cards and my thumb made up for it.

Mark... do what Gene Simmons does. Tape picks on the edge of your bass.. you drop one.. grab another. Or put em on your mic stand.. heh.

Good idea, Jeff!!

nattiep · Post by **nattiep** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 12:40 pm

Stephane... what if you hit the bass? Wouldn't the metal pick rip through the finish?

ric620 · Post by **ric620** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 2:05 pm

Unless someone is doing the Lemmy Strum, damaging the finish seems unlikely.

I play both pick and fingerstyle. For whatever reason, I feel totally comfortable playing either way. I use whatever style the song calls for.

I use Fender picks. Mediums.

rikk · Post by **rikk** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 7:23 am

I use the tortex red .50mm. It's a bit thin, but my style fits with it. A heavy pick (for me) gets stuck on the string. The light pick bends a bit. Anybody use a light pick?

sabbath_of_bass · Post by **sabbath_of_bass** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 9:46 am

Nate I noticed the same thing bro. Haha. I just do what the Chipster tells me to. I figured hes great and knows where I should be. Sounds like were on about the same level

.

I never liked pick to much. Once you get the finger thing down it just seems ... ehh. In short. But hey... Might as well learn everything. Never know when youll want that sound.

ric620 · Post by **ric620** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 10:18 am

The thing about pick playing is that there are tunes that just don't sound right played finger style.

nattiep · Post by **nattiep** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 11:31 am

Like?? Point some out then, John.

I know what you mean, Jacob. I can get pick sound and speed with one finger. (Listen to Rush's 'Ceiling Unlimited') The pick is just something that gets in the way.. but I want to learn to use it.

I've tried messing with the octaves... I went back to Pink Floyd. I tried "Pigs (Three Different Ones)". Dave (yeah Dave played bass) some some quick octave stuff near the end of the song. It pretty quick, so I messed with that. Roger Waters does octave all the time. I'll turn to him for the octave picking.