Members Noise... Posted August 30, 2007 Members Share Posted August 30, 2007 I started bass lessons today. One of the first things the teacher said to do was to ditch the pick and learn to play with my fingers instead. Now, I've always played with a pick on guitar - even acoustic, and naturally started bass with a pick. So, how do I adjust to using just my fingers? Is there a trick to make it easier? Anyone have some tips? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Apendecto Posted August 30, 2007 Members Share Posted August 30, 2007 Practice. But I'm not a fan of your teacher telling you what you should use. Yo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Noise... Posted August 30, 2007 Author Members Share Posted August 30, 2007 Practice. But I'm not a fan of your teacher telling you what you should use.Yo. Yeah...He's fine with me using a pick, but he wants me to learn to play with my fingers before I go any further with the pick. Is there really any advantage to using fingers over a pick? I'm getting good with a pick - even with string skipping, but switching over to fingers on a dime has thrown me of completely. Basically, I can synchronize my right and left hand perfectly with a pick, but switching to fingers has made it harder to keep my left hand accurate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Thumper Posted August 30, 2007 Members Share Posted August 30, 2007 It's a good idea to learn both styles. I find finger style much more versatile. I can vary the tone, attack and play faster finger style. I usually have a pick handy for the songs that call for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rikshaw Posted August 30, 2007 Members Share Posted August 30, 2007 It's a good idea to learn both styles. I find finger style much more versatile. I can vary the tone, attack and play faster finger style. I usually have a pick handy for the songs that call for it. not to argue, but what songs call for it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bnyswonger Posted August 30, 2007 Members Share Posted August 30, 2007 So, how do I adjust to using just my fingers? Is there a trick to make it easier? Anyone have some tips? No tricks. Just play. You will start to hurt. Blisters will form. It'll take a while, but ultimately you'll have amazing calluses on your fingertips. Your teacher will give you good exercises to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Thumper Posted August 30, 2007 Members Share Posted August 30, 2007 not to argue, but what songs call for it? Not many in my current band. I suppose if the bass part was originally recorded with a pick, it might make sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rummy Posted August 30, 2007 Members Share Posted August 30, 2007 You just keep on playing til you get better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Noise... Posted August 30, 2007 Author Members Share Posted August 30, 2007 Alright guys. I'll get to work then...I've got a lot of practicing to do so that I can get good at it by my next lesson. The teacher gave me a few exercises as well. The same kind I used for alternate picking when I was learning guitar, so I know them well. Now it's just a matter of actually being able to do them smoothly on bass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Gruntollio Bass Posted August 30, 2007 Members Share Posted August 30, 2007 It will just take time and plenty of practise.It will be good to learn with fingers as well as pick to give you some different tones. Also if you plan on learning some slap, then you will need to ditch the pick.You'll have no skin on your fingers for a while but it will be worth it in the end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members D Carroll Posted August 30, 2007 Members Share Posted August 30, 2007 what i did: I have been playing hand drums for about 10 years befor bass. try that, take a 10 year absense from bass, and play hand drums, then, you wont use a pick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bassred Posted August 30, 2007 Members Share Posted August 30, 2007 not to argue, but what songs call for it? We do Jenny Jenny and it sounds better with a pick. also, Gimme Three Steps kinda needs that zing... Shakin'... Two Tickets to Pardise.... I think that is the list of songs I use a pick on, I've gone nights without a pick, and I've played full nights with a pick (burned my right-hand index finger..)..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jackcheez Posted August 30, 2007 Members Share Posted August 30, 2007 No tricks. Just play. Can't argue with logic. It's good to know both. When you become proficent with fingers you'll start to develop a sense of when to use one or the other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members T. Alan Smith Posted August 30, 2007 Members Share Posted August 30, 2007 You just have to decide that you want to connect with the instrument fully, meaning nothing coming between you and your bass(re. pick). For me, the draw to bass guitar was that connection. I've never understood why players would want to use pics outside of occasionally getting that pick sound. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dDigitalPimp Posted August 30, 2007 Members Share Posted August 30, 2007 You just have to decide that you want to connect with the instrument fully, meaning nothing coming between you and your bass(re. pick). For me, the draw to bass guitar was that connection. I've never understood why players would want to use pics outside of occasionally getting that pick sound. a big +1 same thing that pulled me away from guitar to the low end. digging in with pointer and middle finger is where its at. to the OP: i would work on some scales both going up and then back down with a click track first at slower speeds and then build up as your right hand gets faster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members zachoff Posted August 30, 2007 Members Share Posted August 30, 2007 Yeah, that's weak he told you to ditch the pick. I use both. If it's a song that moves around a lot I use my fingers. If it's a song that humps on 1/4 roots I use a pick. Anyway, yeah... Just practice & you'll get it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Robin Posted August 30, 2007 Members Share Posted August 30, 2007 It's a good idea to learn both styles. I find finger style much more versatile. I can vary the tone, attack and play faster finger style. I usually have a pick handy for the songs that call for it. :thu: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ivanthetrble Posted August 30, 2007 Members Share Posted August 30, 2007 I played with a pick exclusively for the first 3-4 years I played. Switched to fingers and now can do both. Just play a lot with fingers. Take is slowly at first as to avoid blisters on your right hand. You may be surprised on the differences in your playing with fingers vs pick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Goofball Jones Posted August 30, 2007 Members Share Posted August 30, 2007 Never learned how to play with a pick...not even on guitar. I always Travis-picked on the guitar...and now on bass it's the two finger tango with my thumb on the lower string. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members L-1329 Posted August 30, 2007 Members Share Posted August 30, 2007 You just have to decide that you want to connect with the instrument fully, meaning nothing coming between you and your bass(re. pick). For me, the draw to bass guitar was that connection. I've never understood why players would want to use pics outside of occasionally getting that pick sound. Sorry bro, but by this same logic you'd be saying that an upright player would not be 'fully connecting' with the instrument if they were using a bow. There is no difference. Being connected means being connected to the sound and music that comes out of it, not by the method of making that sound or what tools you use in the process. A pick is a tool the same as a bow, no more no less, and it can produce a bass guitar sound that is as meaningful as anything done pure fingerstyle. Some music really screams for that pick bass guitar sound. It takes no less musicianship to play good bass with a pick or without, you're still required to play solid, grooving low end and THAT is what connecting with the instrument is all about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mytola Posted August 30, 2007 Members Share Posted August 30, 2007 You just have to decide that you want to connect with the instrument fully, meaning nothing coming between you and your bass(re. pick). For me, the draw to bass guitar was that connection. I've never understood why players would want to use pics outside of occasionally getting that pick sound. Another big +1 I don't have a problem with other people using a pick, but I can't see the use of it myself. Fingers are faster and more accurate anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jackcheez Posted August 30, 2007 Members Share Posted August 30, 2007 Anyone have some tips?Learn to recognize opinion from fact. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Noise... Posted August 30, 2007 Author Members Share Posted August 30, 2007 Arg...I'm having a tough time with this. I practiced for a good hour last night just trying to switch between the open strings smoothly and keep a smooth sound on the string I was playing. I basically went eight beats on each string. So, four beats for each finger. Then, I'd attempt to move to the next string (E to A to D to G then back up) and completely mess it up. Between the E and A I was doing alright, but going to the D or G would throw me off completely. The thing that's REALLY bothering me, is that I can play with a pick. Switching to fingerstyle is just messing me up so much. I could be spending the same practice time to clean up my pick playing a bit more, and also focus on actually playing bass, rather than just trying to pluck the strings with my fingers. How long does it really take to get good enough at fingerstyle so that I can actually PLAY the instrument? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mytola Posted August 30, 2007 Members Share Posted August 30, 2007 How long does it really take to get good enough at fingerstyle so that I can actually PLAY the instrument? Shouldn't take too long, really. You'll start getting the hang of it in a week or two perhaps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kurfu Posted August 30, 2007 Members Share Posted August 30, 2007 Learn both styles - there are things that you can do with your fingers that you cannot do with a pick and vice-versa. You'll figure out what the usefulness of each style is as you learn more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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