JoZ's Guide to Pick Bassing

[The JoZ]

After answering slews of questions, many of them repeated, I feel it's time that I make a guide to playing with a pick. I hope this is cool with the bass community. :)

In this thread, I will give advice both on the stigma of playing with a pick, and overcoming it, and advice on effectively playing with a pick. Please keep in mind that these are merely my suggestions, and not necessarily 'the way' or 'the only way' to do it.

Firstly, I will answer commonly asked questions.

"Why would I want to play with a pick?"

There are many reasons why someone would play bass with a pick. Playing with a pick gives the bassist the ability to add attack to his or her playing. This allows the bassist to give more power to his or her lines, adding a percussive-like sound to one's playing, and increasing the dynamics of one's playing as well. Playing bass with a pick also produces a distinctive tone, often brighter than playing with one's fingers. This extra bite can help bring the bass out, and help establish one's signature tone.

Some bassists, like myself, like to utilize chords on the bass in their playing. Playing with a pick makes playing these chords easier, as a simple strum allows you to produce the chords with little effort, allowing you to concentrate on the piece at hand, not your chord technique. This is not to say it is impossible to play chords with one's fingers, as it quite possible, and done by many. The pick is simply another option to achieving that chordal sound.

Yet another reason for choosing the pick is for speed. In today's world, alot of pick bassists, especially those players in the metal genre, play alot of fast runs to accompany the thump of the double bass in the drums. Bassist in death or speed/thrash metal bands are probably the most likely to use a pick for speed, as they have to keep up with serious shredding in the guitar lines. Again, a pick is not the only way to achieve serious speed, simply one of many.

"Am I any less of a player for using a pick?"

The answer to this is a resounding no. The notion that playing with a pick automatically makes you a bad, or untalented, bassist, is based largely upon the scores of bassists who do use picks and happen to not be as talented as others. Mark Hoppus, Phoenix, and many modern metal bassists are three exampls of pick bassists who epitomize lousy pick bass playing. They add little, if nothing to the music in their respective bands, often simply following the guitar with simple rooting. I do, however, give some credit to Paul, for at least being able to keep up with his guitarist band mates, in spite of the fact that his basslines aren't very special. For every pop-punk, or nu metal bassist who uses a pick and sucks at it, there is another bassist somewhere who excels at it. Bassists like Chris Squire, Justin Chancellor, Leighton Kearns, Matt Freeman, and tons of others use picks, and make excellent music, with basslines that add to their songs. Even the virtuosic Stuart Hamm, a man known for his tapping prowess, has used a pick, for he recognizes it as simply another technique to playing bass. When you play with a pick, you must define yourself as a pick bassist. Playing with a pick occasionally, or exclusively, does not automatically discredit you from being a good bassist, no matter what anyone tells you.

Now, I will talk about methods of playing with a pick.

Holding the pick

I just answered this in another thread, but I will bring it up here as well. In order to be a good pick bassist, you must have good technique. You must be able to keep control of the pick at all times, and you must be comfortable in doing so; playing with a pick should not cause any excess or unwarranted pain or discomfort.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v122/thejoz/jozwithpick.jpg

In this picture, I demonstrate my way of holding a pick, which I assume is pretty much the universal, or most accepted way of doing it. Hold the pick roughly on/between the first and second knuckle of your index finger of your picking hand, with the large part of your thumb holding it firmly. You should not have to put excess pressure to keep the pick in place, it should feel very natural between your fingers. Make sure you leave enough pick sticking out so you can pick the strings without tearing up your fingers.

What pick to use

This is definetly a personal preference, but in my experience, there is only one pick that should ever be used to play bass.

Dunlop Jazztone Large Pointed Picks (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=home/search/detail/base_id/84971)

These picks are the best for standing up to thick bass strings. They are not incredibly thick, but they are the most durable picks I have ever used. You can shred, and shred, and shred some more, and barely wear these babies down. They are of decent size, so you can hold them very comfortably as you play. These are the only picks I recommend to anyone, because I honestly believe they are the best picks to play bass with...but of course, it's your personal preference that should matter most here.

The stance

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v122/thejoz//jozwithpick009.jpg

This horrid picture of myself shows how my arm and wrist look as I stand when I'm ready to play. There should be no excess bending of the wrist, you should just be able to lay your arm across your bass, and bam, there you go. Again, you're going to want to adjust your bass to your own height, and preference...not everyone here is pushing 6'4"/6'5" :p

The techniques

When playing with a pick, it is good to get into a good pattern of upstrokes and downstrokes while playing. Some may think it's easier to simply downpick everything a 'la James Hetfield, but in the long run, it is not. Downpicking will wear you out with extended songs and basslines, and makes string crossing much harder. For each note you play, you should switch the motion you make with your wrist. Let me backtrack a second. When playing, you should also try and make most of the movement with your wrist, and not your arm. Just as downpicking will wear you out, using your entire arm will too. Done occasionally for effect is alright, and cool if you do it right, but thrashing about with your entire arm will not help you.

Anyway. Set up a routine to get your up/down pattern down pat. For each note you play, change the direction you move your wrist. Start on the open strings, as with any other excersize, and start slowly.

G----------------------------|
D----------------------------|
A----------------------------|
E---0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--|
X---1--a--2--a--3--a--4--a--|
X---D--U--D--U--D--U--D--U-|

Gradually increase tempo as you get better at it. Try sixteenth notes. Triplets. Then try changing strings

G------------0--0------------|
D---------0--------0---------|
A------0--------------0------|
E---0---------------------0--|
X---1--a--2--a--3--a--4--a--|
X---D--U--D--U--D--U--D--U-|

Vary it up. Fluidity is the key, as you want to make sure you're only picking the string, or strings, you want. You don't want excess string noise from hitting/grazing other strings.

Advanced Techniques w/ a Pick

When playing with a pick, you are somewhat limited to other techniques you can do simultaneously with your pick. Double thumbing is not possible, because your thumb is holding the pick. Besides, it's not necessary if you're using a pick :p. Slapping isn't really possible either, unless you were to hit the strings with your entire hand as opposed to just your thumb. But again, with a pick, you can get that percussive sound you can get from slap. No, it won't sound exactly the same, but you can still get added thump if you want.

Two handed tapping is possible, although the extent of it depends on your own personal dexterity. If the entire piece, or most of the piece is done with two handed tapping, I say forego the pick entirely, and play the piece with your fingers. If, however, only a small part of the song requires some tapping, simply use one's middle and/or ring finger to accomplish the tapping. This is particularly effective when tapping out chords with the right hand, as you can slam down with the middle and ring finger, and go right back to picking as soon as you need to. You could also tap harmonics, or do Van Halen style tapping this way, using the middle finger to strike the notes as necessary. Beyond that, I think it's probably best to forego the pick, if you wanted to play, say, Linus and Lucy on the bass, as was done by Stu Hamm. Stuff by Victor Wooten is probably also out of the range of picking and tapping...Classical Thump, for example.

In Conclusion
Don't let anyone tell you playing with a pick limits your style, or makes you a bad bassist. You are only as limited or as 'bad' as you let yourself be. Pick bassing, like any form of bassing, requires time and practice to achieve positive results. So grab your pick, grab your bass, and make some music! :thumb:

[coddingtown]

Awesome! That was a really good, and in my opinion, needed lesson. Im eating right now so I cant play, but once I finish my hot pocket Im going to wash my hands and play your lesson with a pick. I'm a big fan of chords and I imagine you can do some cool things chord-wise with a pick. You dont look like what I pictured you as hehe.

Oh yeah.. Ive heard that picks can be bad for the strings. What do I need to do to avoid string damage?

[The JoZ]

You dont look like what I pictured you as hehe.

What *did* you picture? o_O

Oh yeah.. Ive heard that picks can be bad for the strings. What do I need to do to avoid string damage?

Honestly, I have yet to damage my strings from picking. I do know, however, that if you play too hard...you will break the strings.

But I have broken strings from plucking too hard too, so, it all depends. Just don't shred on them as if you're trying to slit someone's throat, and you should be ok :thumb:

[naut]

this was much needed. very informative i must say.:thumb:

[coddingtown]

you are alot taller than I expected, or your ceiling is very small

[naut]

Honestly, I have yet to damage my strings from picking.

the only thing i know of is that when i pick on some sort of coated strings, such as Elixirs, the coating starts to peel off around the area i pick.

[coddingtown]

Yeah, thats what It was that I heard

[The JoZ]

Ahh yes, the Elixers.

I don't play w/ them, so I forgot to mention them...good point for bringing them up.

[CaseLogic]

Any advice on muting while picking? I'm finding that to be insanely hard to mute specific strings with the meat of your hand while trying to pick the one right below it

[Bass+Fingers+Amp=Groove]

From that picture of you on the Xanga and sonudlcick i expected you to look muuuuuuuuuuuuuuuch different(for a while like chancelor :confused: i dont know why), i guess the fact that you were looking strait down kinda obscured my thinking. *goes back to thinking you look like justin chancelor*

Good article, good tips for the picksters, and good way to combat the "pickz are teh ghey" statements that get tossed out.

[Bass+Fingers+Amp=Groove]

maby it is cause that pic is soooooooooooo old though. and the one on the xanga is newer. you need to post a new pic, so my mind stops hurting.

[The JoZ]

BFAG - I'll update it later

Case - New picture later, it's really pretty easy the way I do it :)

[naut]

Any advice on muting while picking? I'm finding that to be insanely hard to mute specific strings with the meat of your hand while trying to pick the one right below it

are you palm-muting or what?

[gaslight]

Well done :).

[Wintermute]

Good work man - can I copy it into L&A?

[Untitled]

Nice, but how can you hold you pick like that? i try that but feel mighty umcomfertable.

*feels proud to be a pick player now, insted of keeping head layed low*

[Wintermute]

^^
You should feel perfectly proud to play with a pick, as long as you don't only play with a pick. It's as valid and valuable a technique as any other.

Also, 3000th post!

ahem...

[Untitled]

Lol yea, i play finger and slap somtimes too.

Hey i got my 3000 post 23 posts ago.

:chug:

[CaseLogic]

are you palm-muting or what?

I don't really know anything about muting strings while picking... so... :confused:

[Untitled]

I don't really know anything about muting strings while picking... so... :confused:

If you palm muting rest the flesh bit of your palm next to the bridge and play away, If you doing a normal string mute just dont push the string down all the away, just enough so it donst ring and makes a kinda thuding niose.

I think i explained that right :thumb:

[The JoZ]

Good work man - can I copy it into L&A?


By all means :thumb:

[TigerArmy]

Any way you would suggest pick playing that's not so abrasive and rattly (I.E. Matt Freeman solos, etc) ? I can do it with a bit of effects but it's hard from a clean signal.

[The JoZ]

I don't understand what you're getting at.

If you're saying that you don't like the extra bite or treble that comes from a clean tone of pick bassing...try to keep the pick as parallel with the strings as possible when playing.

When you angle the pick, you scrape the side of the string as you play, adding extra noise to the lines you're playing...if you hit the string dead on, with only the tip of the pick, not the tip and side, you should get less of that...

If that's not what you wanted to know, then...*shrug* :p

[CaseLogic]

If you palm muting rest the flesh bit of your palm next to the bridge and play away, If you doing a normal string mute just dont push the string down all the away, just enough so it donst ring and makes a kinda thuding niose.

I think i explained that right :thumb:

Sorry, I didn't explain right. I didn't mean when I want to palm mute notes... I meant if I play an open string, but then I need to pick another string, I need to mute that string so it doesn't sound crappy... how would I go about doing that?

Good example: Schism by Tool. On the main riff, you keep plucking open D over and over, but to make it not sound crappy, you need to mute it before you play the G-string notes... I've been told you can mute it with your picking hand, but I don't know how

[Wintermute]

Ack - The new L&A format means existing threads can't be copied into it if they have replies, which is a bit daft. Sorry.

[The JoZ]

I have never actively muted by D in Schism...

But the way I play, with my hand kind of resting right over the string...whenever I move to pick the G string, it happens to mute the D, sometimes.

Honestly, if you put more emphasis on the G string notes, and on the initial picked D, you shouldn't hear much excess resonance from the D.

[Untitled]

Ok heres a question.

when im plam muting do i need to put hand right on the bridge to get a better tone? my guitarest thinks ill be alright over the Pickup but it sounds dead. Were the best place.

(this is the only problem i have with pick playing, and i still cant get over how you hold your pick its wierd)

[The JoZ]

I find that palm muting right at your bridge...like, right as soon as your strings leave the bridge, is where you do it.

But I don't actually use my palm, I use the side of my hand instead.

[Untitled]

Ok thanks, my guitarest thinks im being stupid doing that for some reason, he has it easy with the strings coming out of the middle of the body :angry:.

I use the side of the hand too, still called palm muteing though. (i think)

Thanks

[CaseLogic]

I have never actively muted by D in Schism...

But the way I play, with my hand kind of resting right over the string...whenever I move to pick the G string, it happens to mute the D, sometimes.

Honestly, if you put more emphasis on the G string notes, and on the initial picked D, you shouldn't hear much excess resonance from the D.

Well even still, what about songs where you NEED to mute the open string? What's the proper right-hand technique for that? :)

[Bass+Fingers+Amp=Groove]

i mute open strings with my left hand.

[The JoZ]

Depends.

If the song is fast, I will keep my hand right above the strings, and palm mute the string as needed. You can mute the string below you, and still pick the string(s) you need to above you. I can't honestly think of a song where I've needed to do this, however.

If the song is slow, you can just stop the vibrations with your hand, your pick, left hand, really doesn't matter. But yeah...do you have a particular song? Or is this just a general question?

BFAG, that won't work if your left hand is busy playing notes on another string.

[Bass+Fingers+Amp=Groove]

i dunno, the only song i ever play where i conciously mute the open string with my left right hand is the Open E in bullet in the head, i may do it with out thinking some times, but usualy its the left hand, if i fret the E i can use that finger to mute the A and up and down, i dunno.

[baggagebassman]

Good lesson man. I use a pick occasionally myself.

[TigerArmy]

I don't understand what you're getting at.

If you're saying that you don't like the extra bite or treble that comes from a clean tone of pick bassing...try to keep the pick as parallel with the strings as possible when playing.

When you angle the pick, you scrape the side of the string as you play, adding extra noise to the lines you're playing...if you hit the string dead on, with only the tip of the pick, not the tip and side, you should get less of that...

If that's not what you wanted to know, then...*shrug*

Eh I don't mind so much the treble aspect, it's just with the picks I use (.88 Dunlops), when I dig in for a nice crisp pick attack, I always get some kind of fret noise going on that I don't otherwise get playing fingerstyle. Maybe my strings (Lo-Riders) or low action may have something to do with it...I'll have to mess around I guess.

[janyeno]

Honestly... I think going to a different string and starting on that string with an upstroke isn't comfortable... I alternate... but when I switch strings its a downstroke that goes to that next string....

when I go up a string... I go up using upstrokes....

I'm probably just confusing everyone... so :upset:

but good stuff!

[TheLoser]

TheJoZ, thank you for this thoughtful and insightful thread. I'm a pick bassist myself, and it's nice to see such a great guide.

Quick question though: I usually use 1.00 mm bass picks, and although you say it's a matter of personal preference, what size would you basically recommend to most?

[The JoZ]

If you don't use the Dunlop picks I use, I suggest anywhere from 1.00 to 2.00...

I used a 3.00 Dunlop once, but I hated the indentation that it had in the pick, and thus stopped using it.

The ones I use really aren't that thick...it's about how rigid the pick is. If you can easily bend the pick a great degree, you are probably using something too thin :thumb:

[Salvation]

JoZ I have to disagree with you comment on Paul Grey. He's not at the top of pick playing bass players, but he's not that bad. He keeps up with the speed of his band mates. Not to mention he's not too bad at slaping and poping either.

[naut]

I suggest anywhere from 1.00 to 2.00...

ah no way man, .71 is where it's at.:cool:

[The JoZ]

JoZ I have to disagree with you comment on Paul Grey. He's not at the top of pick playing bass players, but he's not that bad. He keeps up with the speed of his band mates. Not to mention he's not too bad at slaping and poping either.

...My opinions on Paul Grey have changed a bit since I wrote this article.

I have since aquired Mate.Feed.Kill.Repeat, and his bass playing is really very, very good on that album.

I also read an interview he did, where he said he basically plays to lay down a strong rhythm, and chooses not to show off...although he does get a few moments here and there. My respect for him went up quite considerably, and I recognize his abilities.

ah no way man, .71 is where it's at.

The actual thickness doesn't necessarily matter, but you do need a pick that doesn't wear down on the thicker bass strings.

[naut]

meh, i feel that after my pick has worn down a bit, triplets and such become easier and smoother.

[CaseLogic]

JoZ: From what I hear you're somewhat of a Tool fan like me, and I was wondering if you have any good live mp3s of some Tool songs where you can clearly hear the bass where usually you can't (roughly half of The Grudge, for example). Sorry, didn't feel like makin a new thread ;) Actually, The Grudge is the only song I can think of at the moment, so if you have that please lemme know :D

[The JoZ]

meh, i feel that after my pick has worn down a bit, triplets and such become easier and smoother.

I mean, basically, you don't want a pick that bends when being used on bass strings.

JoZ: From what I hear you're somewhat of a Tool fan like me, and I was wondering if you have any good live mp3s of some Tool songs where you can clearly hear the bass where usually you can't (roughly half of The Grudge, for example). Sorry, didn't feel like makin a new thread Actually, The Grudge is the only song I can think of at the moment, so if you have that please lemme know

I am a huge Tool fan, firstly :p

Secondly...I have been searching for said live Mp3 of The Grudge myself. Deadohiosky.net claimed to have a copy, and the bass was said to be 'really trebly' but it never worked. It might very well be on that site again, now, but last time I looked, it was not...

I personally wish there was a version like this of Parabola, but I couldn't find that either...

[The JoZ]

meh, i feel that after my pick has worn down a bit, triplets and such become easier and smoother.

I mean, basically, you don't want a pick that bends when being used on bass strings.

JoZ: From what I hear you're somewhat of a Tool fan like me, and I was wondering if you have any good live mp3s of some Tool songs where you can clearly hear the bass where usually you can't (roughly half of The Grudge, for example). Sorry, didn't feel like makin a new thread Actually, The Grudge is the only song I can think of at the moment, so if you have that please lemme know

I am a huge Tool fan, firstly :p

Secondly...I have been searching for said live Mp3 of The Grudge myself. Deadohiosky.net claimed to have a copy, and the bass was said to be 'really trebly' but it never worked. It might very well be on that site again, now, but last time I looked, it was not...

I personally wish there was a version like this of Parabola, but I couldn't find that either...

[JamesXKillXyou]

from the kid saying playing an open D and then G and it sounds muddy thats your amp / bass. Try to see if your in the right tuning if not tune it to the song, and also get your bass perfessionaly set up pickups truss rod etc adjusted. and for simple palm muting like X 0 X 3 X 5 on like E string. I just have my hand over where the strings come from the bridge siding it not palming it i think they just call it palm because hand mute sounds stupid i see everyone use there side of there hand any ways u rest it there but then bounce it up as u fret a string takes a few secs to get the hang of it but its a good technique if u have trouple slapping and need a funk line But i suggest you get down slapping and this to add more variety to your playing styles.

[CaseLogic]

I mean, basically, you don't want a pick that bends when being used on bass strings.



I am a huge Tool fan, firstly :p

Secondly...I have been searching for said live Mp3 of The Grudge myself. Deadohiosky.net claimed to have a copy, and the bass was said to be 'really trebly' but it never worked. It might very well be on that site again, now, but last time I looked, it was not...

I personally wish there was a version like this of Parabola, but I couldn't find that either...

Yeah... I've been dying to see them live but those bastages won't release their new album and start touring :angry: I started getting into Tool a little over a year ago (but unfortunately after they stopped touring), and since then they've become my favorite band by a long shot, and one of my biggest influences... although when I say that it kind of infers that I've started to write my own music, which I haven't yet :lol: At any rate, since you're a HUGE Tool fan like me, I might send you an IM later and ask you a couple questions :naughty:

[Salvation]

...My opinions on Paul Grey have changed a bit since I wrote this article.

I have since aquired Mate.Feed.Kill.Repeat, and his bass playing is really very, very good on that album.

I also read an interview he did, where he said he basically plays to lay down a strong rhythm, and chooses not to show off...although he does get a few moments here and there. My respect for him went up quite considerably, and I recognize his abilities.



The actual thickness doesn't necessarily matter, but you do need a pick that doesn't wear down on the thicker bass strings.
What were your first impressions upon hearing Mate-Feed-Kill-Repeat?

[kilian]

ah no way man, .71 is where it's at.:cool:

Agreed :cool:

Or even less.

I am using a pick whenever I need to have a little more tone that you can only achieve with a pick. And than it's really nice to play with it, but I can play with a pick because of guitar :thumb:

[Naveed Afzal]

Pick + Flatwounds = Ben Kenney
Ben Kenney = w00t

[The JoZ]

What were your first impressions upon hearing Mate-Feed-Kill-Repeat?

My first impressions were "No way this is not the same Paul Grey"

My second impressions were "Dammit Paul, why don't you still play like this?"

Seriously, "Confessions" is probably the best bassline he's ever done. It's a shame he doesn't write more stuff like that.

[huh-whu]

Your pictures are broken btw.

[The JoZ]

Your pictures are broken btw.

I don't know why they were broken, but they are fix'd now :thumb:

[BassVirtuoso]

Are you sure you don't want this in resources and/or lessons and articles?

[The JoZ]

I thought Alex had put it there already...

I mean, it really doesn't matter to me, as long as people can access it :thumb:

[BassVirtuoso]

Your choice. I can't put it in L&A unless you want to remake the thread in that forum. Or I can move it to Resources, or you can just choose to keep it here.

[The JoZ]

...Sounds like keeping it here would be the least amount of work

How about sticking it though? :cool:

[BassVirtuoso]

:thumb:

[Salvation]

My first impressions were "No way this is not the same Paul Grey"

My second impressions were "Dammit Paul, why don't you still play like this?"

Seriously, "Confessions" is probably the best bassline he's ever done. It's a shame he doesn't write more stuff like that.
He writes the guitar and bass riffs so he still does a large amount of Slipknot work. But a few break-outs would be nice.

[LewsTherin]

If you don't use the Dunlop picks I use, I suggest anywhere from 1.00 to 2.00...

I used a 3.00 Dunlop once, but I hated the indentation that it had in the pick, and thus stopped using it.

The ones I use really aren't that thick...it's about how rigid the pick is. If you can easily bend the pick a great degree, you are probably using something too thin :thumb:


do you mean the big plastic ones?

i dont really like those either.

i use tortex 1.00 and dunlop jazz heavies (the little tiny ones)

[LewsTherin]

ah no way man, .71 is where it's at.:cool:

i have trouble playing with picks that thin even on guitar....

i guess im just a heavy pick sorta guy.

[The JoZ]

He writes the guitar and bass riffs so he still does a large amount of Slipknot work. But a few break-outs would be nice.

Yeah, I read how involved he was in the writing process in that interview too...all this time I thought he just sat back and rooted around.

I *think* he's playing the main line in Danger, Keep Away...but I'm not really certain. It sounds too warm to be a guitar...

[Salvation]

Yeah, I read how involved he was in the writing process in that interview too...all this time I thought he just sat back and rooted around.

I *think* he's playing the main line in Danger, Keep Away...but I'm not really certain. It sounds too warm to be a guitar...
He plays one of the guitars in Vermillion part2. (since there is no bass)

[The JoZ]

He plays one of the guitars in Vermillion part2. (since there is no bass)

Now that I did not know.

Where'd you find that out from?

[Salvation]

Now that I did not know.

Where'd you find that out from?
I preety sure it's him, you can get a vid off the net of him and Jim Root practicing. Jim with the acoustic and Paul with the left handed electric.

[Romanticide]

great great article. :thumb:

[mikethecoug]

great guide btw, i find using a pick gets a great tone. where bouts do you pluck? i pluck right at the end, kinda like in between the pickups on my bass. look:

http://img201.echo.cx/img201/2225/bass1yp.jpg

[metalbitch]

I think this was a great lesson for all bassists! thanx for the help. i have always played bass with a pick and i find it easier. most bassists that i have spoken to tell me that i must be a crap bassist cos i play with a pick? i still cant get the hang of picking up and down though :-(

[MrSigma]

Another good pick bassist is Jason Newsted.

Good Guide :thumb:

[mikethecoug]

I think this was a great lesson for all bassists! thanx for the help. i have always played bass with a pick and i find it easier. most bassists that i have spoken to tell me that i must be a crap bassist cos i play with a pick? i still cant get the hang of picking up and down though :-(

Mike Dirnt is a great pick bassist, tell the people who tell you are crap to shut up, because it doesnt make u any less of a bassist. Just try some green day songs, for example maybe jesus of suburbia to practice up and downstrokes, you'll pick it up soon. :D

[Frostie]

Pictures don't seem to work :( Got any working ones?

[baggagebassman]

Pretty good. You might have mentioned that Anthony Jackson used a pick some.

[good rats]

The pictures don't work Joz.

[Forest_Fire]

Good article.

I have a semi-stupid question though. I play with a pick, and I mostly play punk and ska. I can usually only play for about 10 minutes or so before my wrist starts to hurt and I have to stop playing temporarily. This sort of worries me because I can write good songs, but then I can't follow through and play them, and I don't think I could make it through an entire gig. Are there any excercises or anything I can do to help this?

[The JoZ]

Good article.

I have a semi-stupid question though. I play with a pick, and I mostly play punk and ska. I can usually only play for about 10 minutes or so before my wrist starts to hurt and I have to stop playing temporarily. This sort of worries me because I can write good songs, but then I can't follow through and play them, and I don't think I could make it through an entire gig. Are there any excercises or anything I can do to help this?

I'm not sure I can really say, because I don't really know how you're picking exactly...you could be doing it wrong and/or putting in too much effort, if that makes sense.

Either way, if you're not used to constantly moving a muscle, it's going to hurt when you overextend it. Practicing to build up stamina is a good way to combat this.

I will fix my picture links in just a second :cool:

[wicked_child]

great guide btw, i find using a pick gets a great tone. where bouts do you pluck? i pluck right at the end, kinda like in between the pickups on my bass. look:

http://img201.echo.cx/img201/2225/bass1yp.jpg

i pluck above the Pbass-pickup.

[xfreakofnaturex]

I mean, basically, you don't want a pick that bends when being used on bass strings.

I ONLY want picks that bend, I find rigid picks so d@mn clumsy. I just can't play ups and downs with rigid picks without losing the rythm.

and I play right next to the bridge

[Tryxx]

I actually prefer light picks too... I love that light sweeping tone that I can get.

[wicked_child]

hard picks for me.

[Oz Rembrandt]

I ONLY want picks that bend, I find rigid picks so d@mn clumsy. I just can't play ups and downs with rigid picks without losing the rythm.

and I play right next to the bridge

I use bendy picks too, I dunno what size they are though.

[fistycuffs_23]

I found out if your playing opens on the D or C string .. what ever its tuned in .. if you place your finger right to the right of the nut it gives a nice muting sound.. i use it mainly for breakdowns . .but it makes it hard to switch to a riff.. but i manage

[footpedal]

Thanks for the tips, and for the reassurance that picking bassist are NOT bad bassists. I have a couple of questions: first, do you know of any bassists who palm mute? ; and second, the song "Idiots Are Taking Over" on the NoFx album "The War On Errorism" has an unbelievable bass solo at the beginning, and i was wondering if you know how to play that (if you've never heard the song that's ok but i'd appreciate it if you would listen to it and reply asap).

Thanks again for the tips!

[Viscous Fridge Magnet]

Bassists don't really need to palm mute, we already have the heavyness


(i think anyway)

[mikethecoug]

hard picks for me.

1.9 mm for me and sometimes jim dunlop 3mm stubbies mmm

[tomtom]

i use 1.0mm Dunlop Tortex's. they're bendy, but durable. i also alternate between picking and plucking (depending on the song) but mainly pick. it is good 2 see that people are picking, i find it has such a better tone than plucking.

[Khaos]

I have a couple different size dunlops, but I usually like to use Heavy picks, I like the hard sound they give, specially on the open G and D strings.

Oh and nice Guide JoZ!! First time I read it :D I havent really been pick bassing that long but I started about a month ago when I wanted to learn some SOAD. Thanks for your sexy guide :D

[LewsTherin]

Bassists don't really need to palm mute, we already have the heavyness


(i think anyway)


palm-muting sound great sometimes, esp on an open E or B string, picking heavily, with a flanger or wah.

mmmmmm.

[mikethecoug]

John entwistle started with a pick when he first started playing. How about that eh.

[wicked_child]

palm muting sounds good on bass.

[tomtom]

i've never tried palm muting, i don't even know what it is, i presume you just put you'r palm on the strings to mute the note after playing it but.

[pimpy the pirate]

Finally I get it! Ive been holding my pick the wrong way ever since i got my bass. much easier thank you

[Flopfoot]

Of course bassists should learn palm muting. It has a completely different sound. Much more staccato and thuddy. What's more, you can play those cool surf rock riffs (palm mute, pick a string very quickly while sliding down an octave on it with your left hand).

[Crudd-Bucket™]

Hey Flopfoot for the record I am not a female! I have no clue as to where you got that idea from...

[Flopfoot]

Sorry, maybe I got you mixed up with someone else, maybe it was coz u started or posted in the 'female bassists' thread (possibly u got mad at some guys saying that girls should be in the kitchen? or was that someone else? I didn't think a guy would get offended by that), or maybe it was that I misinterpreted your 'I (heart) Myung' thing under your name.

[Tryxx]

Bump. This should be stickied, or put somewhere. I'll decide later.

[FauxApathy]

I love this thread. It's helped me a lot, only part i didn't like was the part about hoppus. I like him.

[Oz Rembrandt]

only part i didn't like was the part about hoppus. I like him.

Oh well.