i mute open strings with my left hand.

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.

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.

Good lesson man. I use a pick occasionally myself.

[QUOTE]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* [/QUOTE]

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.

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!

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?

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:

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.

[QUOTE=The JoZ]I suggest anywhere from 1.00 to 2.00...[/QUOTE]

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

[QUOTE=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.[/QUOTE]

...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.

[quote]ah no way man, .71 is where it's at.[/quote]

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

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

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

[QUOTE=supernaut_1]meh, i feel that after my pick has worn down a bit, triplets and such become easier and smoother.[/QUOTE]

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

[quote]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 [/quote]

I am a [b]huge[/b] 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...

[QUOTE=supernaut_1]meh, i feel that after my pick has worn down a bit, triplets and such become easier and smoother.[/QUOTE]

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

[quote]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 [/quote]

I am a [b]huge[/b] 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...

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.

[QUOTE=The JoZ]I mean, basically, you don't want a pick that bends when being used on bass strings.



I am a [b]huge[/b] 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...[/QUOTE]

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:

[QUOTE=The JoZ]...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.[/QUOTE]
What were your first impressions upon hearing Mate-Feed-Kill-Repeat?

[QUOTE=supernaut_1]ah no way man, .71 is where it's at.:cool:[/QUOTE]

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:

Pick + Flatwounds = Ben Kenney
Ben Kenney = w00t

[QUOTE=Salvation]What were your first impressions upon hearing Mate-Feed-Kill-Repeat?[/QUOTE]

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.

Your pictures are broken btw.

[QUOTE=huh-whu]Your pictures are broken btw.[/QUOTE]

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

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

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:

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.

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

How about sticking it though? :cool:

:thumb:

[QUOTE=The JoZ]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.[/QUOTE]
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.

[QUOTE=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:[/QUOTE]


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)