mattplaysguitar
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Using a thin pick on bass guitar for consistency
I don't know if this is a technique used by anyone, but it's one that I have been using.
I am primarily a guitar player, not bass, so I'm probably not as consistent in the levels of each note as a proper bass player. For this reason, I tried the idea of using a thin pick when recording. I just play it as hard as I can, and because it's so thin, all medium to hard plucking essentially gives me the same volume note. Thus I never get any which really jump out at you. I also have a cheap bass which isn't set up super well, so not hitting the notes hard avoids string buzz which I get if I pluck it with intensity on a normal pick.
I understand I'll be losing a bit of attack with this method, but it seems to still work ok for my music.
Anyone tried this? Think it's ridiculous? Good idea? Etc. Just curious.
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jb101
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Re:Using a thin pick on bass guitar for consistency
2012/03/17 21:44:16
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I don't think it's ridiculous, any technique that works for you is okay.
I would always suggest that any of my bass or guitar students uses a thicker pick as it will give a better tone. More physical contact with the string.
Having said that, I prefer the sound of fingers on string, but I guess it depends on the style of music.
Bass players like to use compresion to equalise there sound, and make it pop out of the mix. I think it's worth playing without too much compresion to work on your technique, and then using it t improve your sound.
Just my opinion..
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bandontherun19
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Re:Using a thin pick on bass guitar for consistency
2012/03/17 23:47:16
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Use a compressor and limiter for consistency, "and fingers!" We don't need no stinking picks!
All you need is love, just ask the Beatles? ----------
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dke
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Re:Using a thin pick on bass guitar for consistency
2012/03/18 03:14:59
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Sometimes I use a pick (at least a medium), sometimes my fingers, and sometimes I make a pick out of folding thin cardboard which gives a sound similar to fingers without the wear and tear on my fingers.  Dan
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tvolhein
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Re:Using a thin pick on bass guitar for consistency
2012/03/18 10:33:30
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I am getting a good sound using a felt pick. I used to play bass professionally, plucking with my fingers, but I have switched to finger-style acoustic guitar and have long fingernails that click if I try to use them to play the bass.
I am not as good with a pick, but have to make do.
Tom
Tom Volhein tvolhein@gmail.com http://www.tomvolhein.com H55 motherboard, Intel i7 870, SATA-II, TI Firewire, USB-3, 4 GB DDR3, 3-1TB HDs (130MB/Sec), Dual head video (1GB), 22x DVD/RW w/lightscribe, Windows 7 x64, Sonar Platinum, latest build x64, Fireface 800
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Danny Danzi
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Re:Using a thin pick on bass guitar for consistency
2012/03/18 10:43:28
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tvolhein
I am getting a good sound using a felt pick. I used to play bass professionally, plucking with my fingers, but I have switched to finger-style acoustic guitar and have long fingernails that click if I try to use them to play the bass.
I am not as good with a pick, but have to make do.
Tom
+1000 on this and what I do as well. One thing I've never had time to learn, is how to play bass with my fingers. Every pick I have ever used has sounded terrible and way too percussive. The felt pick is the closest thing to the finger sound and also stops horrible pick attacks from coming through. It also allows for a bit more consistency in my opinion and less compression is needed. -Danny
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drewfx1
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Re:Using a thin pick on bass guitar for consistency
2012/03/18 14:49:57
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Danny Danzi
tvolhein
I am getting a good sound using a felt pick. I used to play bass professionally, plucking with my fingers, but I have switched to finger-style acoustic guitar and have long fingernails that click if I try to use them to play the bass.
I am not as good with a pick, but have to make do.
Tom
+1000 on this and what I do as well. One thing I've never had time to learn, is how to play bass with my fingers. Every pick I have ever used has sounded terrible and way too percussive. The felt pick is the closest thing to the finger sound and also stops horrible pick attacks from coming through. It also allows for a bit more consistency in my opinion and less compression is needed.
-Danny
As a bass player it's been a long time since I used a felt pick, but I'd agree that if you must use a pick, but don't want it to sound like a pick, this is probably the best option. Most bass players who play with a pick tend to use one somewhere between heavy and super-double-extra-heavy. I only use a pick when I want it to sound like a pick, but I use a wide variety of right hand techniques and have always thought that good bass playing is much more about the right (plucking) hand than the fretting hand. I have never heard a great bass player who didn't have fantastic right hand technique. I also come from the school that says "sound quality" is more important than "easier to play". But that often means practicing rather than trying to find some easy out. But sometimes a little practice ends up being more productive than trying to fix short cuts later on.
 In order, then, to discover the limit of deepest tones, it is necessary not only to produce very violent agitations in the air but to give these the form of simple pendular vibrations. - Hermann von Helmholtz, predicting the role of the electric bassist in 1877.
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mcourter
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Re:Using a thin pick on bass guitar for consistency
2012/03/18 18:49:56
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What?!? A pick on bass! Never! Well, if I had to play fast, maybe. But I'm just a guitarist, so I'm used to a pick, but it just never felt right with a bass.
A few guitars, a couple of basses, a MIDI controller, a mandolin, a banjo, a mic, PodFarm2 Unbridled Enthusiasm My music: www.Soundclick.com/markcourter
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bandontherun19
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Re:Using a thin pick on bass guitar for consistency
2012/03/18 22:22:16
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If you're playing with a pic on the bass? It should be metal or stone... Then it can be thin?
All you need is love, just ask the Beatles? ----------
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Jumbicat
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Re:Using a thin pick on bass guitar for consistency
2012/03/18 22:36:15
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Good idea but I imagine you'll be going through a lot of picks. When ever I use thin picks they constantly break. But the effect is worth it. I kinda have the same issue when triggering midi notes using a guitar midi controller.
Win7Pro64Bit-AMD-1090t -4 GIG OC DDR3-2k-GTX-465-C300 SATA6-SSD 64G-Sonar 8.5,X2a - Pro Tools Digi-001, a few Axon controllers http://soundcloud.com/jumbicat
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Johannes H
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Re:Using a thin pick on bass guitar for consistency
2012/03/19 13:15:08
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Jimbo21
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Re:Using a thin pick on bass guitar for consistency
2012/03/19 22:41:22
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Like several here, I only use a pick when I want that sound. I also have gotten better with my technique by watching the waveform as I record, as it gives great feedback on which notes standout too much or are too quiet, especially which strings may need adjusting on my bass for a more even overall level.
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mattplaysguitar
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Re:Using a thin pick on bass guitar for consistency
2012/03/21 06:14:29
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Mmm never heard of the felt pick! I must look into it.
Most of my songs like the pick sound. I have one which is all finger sound and another which is partial finger, partial pick. But I'm writing all my bass lines over the next few weeks so we'll see what each requires, but I think mainly pick! Good to hear some opinions. I may try practising with a heavy pick and see how I think I am for consistency. If I can't do it, I can't do it, but maybe I can get away with a medium and then compress it. Will see. Appreciate the responses. Cheers.
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timidi
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Re:Using a thin pick on bass guitar for consistency
2012/03/21 14:15:01
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michaelhanson
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Re:Using a thin pick on bass guitar for consistency
2012/03/21 15:05:57
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I play probably 80% of bass using a really heavy black Dunlap pick, I hold it pretty close to the tip and use a soft feel. In other words, I don't hit the strings very hard. If the song is slower and calls for a more mellow bass tone I will use my fingers, or even my thumb, similar to how Sting plays with his thumb.
Matt, I have never tried the felt pick either, I don't know why, but I should pick one up for another tonal variation.
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Jimbo21
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Re:Using a thin pick on bass guitar for consistency
2012/03/21 16:36:28
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I saw Tony Levin with Yes(Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman and Howe) in 1989 playing with little mallets secured to his index and middle fingers. Great visuals, not sure he got all that a unique sound from it though.
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SongCraft
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Re:Using a thin pick on bass guitar for consistency
2012/03/21 18:41:40
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mattplaysguitar
I don't know if this is a technique used by anyone, but it's one that I have been using.
I am primarily a guitar player, not bass, so I'm probably not as consistent in the levels of each note as a proper bass player. For this reason, I tried the idea of using a thin pick when recording. I just play it as hard as I can, and because it's so thin, all medium to hard plucking essentially gives me the same volume note. Thus I never get any which really jump out at you. I also have a cheap bass which isn't set up super well, so not hitting the notes hard avoids string buzz which I get if I pluck it with intensity on a normal pick.
I understand I'll be losing a bit of attack with this method, but it seems to still work ok for my music.
Anyone tried this? Think it's ridiculous? Good idea? Etc. Just curious.
I prefer to use my fingers/thumb or a "thicker plectrum" for rocking out and it also gives better dynamic control (variations, feel/expression) along with other techniques that I love to use such as; palm-mutes which is great for adding changes in the arrangement if need be of course. {Uh Oh} red flag pops up; My concern would be the "Buzz" IMO I would not use that bass at all; either fix the issue or get a better bass which can be picked up at a reasonably good price 2nd-hand, not sure but I think Ibanez is great value offering the best grunt for the money but if you want a better quality bass (of course it will cost a lot more) then go for a Fender Precision.
post edited by SongCraft - 2012/03/21 18:49:39
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wineshop
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Re:Using a thin pick on bass guitar for consistency
2012/03/21 22:42:34
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At winter namm a few years ago, a rep from "Wedgie" gave me 3 or 4 of these as samples. They are a firm rubber pick, and it sounds like playing with fingers, but with the definition of a pick. Great product and every bass player should have a few (no - I don't work for them or anything, but the guy was super cool and I like to plug a cool product). Wedgie Rubber Picks
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Dave Modisette
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Re:Using a thin pick on bass guitar for consistency
2012/03/22 09:30:19
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Jimbo21
I saw Tony Levin with Yes(Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman and Howe) in 1989 playing with little mallets secured to his index and middle fingers. Great visuals, not sure he got all that a unique sound from it though.
I chalk that up as a gimick. I play bass as a primary instrument and I always used Fender medium picks back in the day. I was playing a Rick and I was looking for that "plickity - plickity" sound. The thinner the pick the more of that sound and the less of the actual tone you will get. The down side is that now your timing has to be perfect because your attack has to line up with the attack of the kick, snare, hat and the guitars. I now play with my fingers and I must say that you have to work at getting an even sound but the bass will sit easier in the mix. If I need a pick sound I will pull out a heavy gauge pick - usually a Dunlop, IIRC. (It's purple - I like a purple sound.  )
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michaelhanson
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Re:Using a thin pick on bass guitar for consistency
2012/03/22 12:00:02
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If I need a pick sound I will pull out a heavy gauge pick - usually a Dunlop, IIRC. (It's purple - I like a purple sound.
Dave, I use the purple ones sometimes for guitar, I can't remember what guage they are. The black Dunlap ones that I use have a real rough finish, Gator...maybe and are 2.0 thick. I basically really like playing my Ric with a pick, but I was trying to eliminate as much of the pick sound as possible. As you mention, thicker the pick, the less pick sound and more of the bass tone. I am going to have to try felt though and see if it sounds more like fingers. I have never had any timing issues while playing with a pick, in fact, it is actually more natural for me. Of all of the instruments that I track myself, bass comes really easy and with one to two takes, I usually have pretty much nailed it. Even as a guitarist, bass is the instrument in any song that I am attracked to listening for first. I agree with what you are saying that it is a lot more work to get my fingers to play a real even tone; I have more jumps in dynamics. I believe that is why I subconscously gravitated to a pick years ago; I just play with much more controlled dynamics and tone with a pick. I have never had an issue with a picked bass sitting well in a mix. Of course, I am not getting a lot of pick noise either the way I play. On occasion, I will actually push the pick sound a little by digging in, especially if it is a bass dominate piece or "forbid" soloish area. To me, the most important part of recording bass is getting real even dynamics that are not jumping all over the place and great timing, of course. Timing includes, how long to actually linger on a note or hold a note.
post edited by MakeShift - 2012/03/22 12:03:14
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Jimbo21
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Re:Using a thin pick on bass guitar for consistency
2012/03/22 14:33:06
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@modbod: Yes, it was a gimmick, but it looked cool and he's a great bassist (saw him use it with Peter Gabriel on a video as well). I agree it's kinda hard to get even dynamics with fingers. It takes practice and knowing how your own instrument responds/is set up. As a young belligerent/ignorant bassist, when I first started playing, I thought guys that played with picks were subpar players. Needless to say, I no longer hold that view and there are times when a picked bass is just the thing for a given song.
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batsbrew
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Re:Using a thin pick on bass guitar for consistency
2012/03/22 14:46:03
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DON'T LIKE THE sound of a thin pick on bass at all.
i understand the idea/concept of it, but i don't believe that is the right approach.
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Philip
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Re:Using a thin pick on bass guitar for consistency
2012/03/22 20:44:43
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I don't trust myself with a bass guitar, as I'm mediocre with vocals, guitars, and keyboards.
Some hip-hop pieces I'd prefer synths.
But if its a rock or melodious hip-hop tune, I'd just give it Danziland... his technique has soul, empathy, precision, consistency, and coherence ... though I oft re-arrange some of his routines for the song's sake.
Note: the bass-guitar I've discovered oft deserves an HPF at 79Hz (per Danny's advice), where the rumbling interfere's with the kick, no matter how smoothly you/I play.
Off topic: I now realize that bass-guitars are extremely hazardous when allowed to run a-muck.
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