Members fuzzball Posted June 26, 2007 Members Share Posted June 26, 2007 A pic is usualy fine with me, but I don't like it while recording, any tips on suttle things to say to get him to use his fingers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 50calexplorer Posted June 26, 2007 Members Share Posted June 26, 2007 I don't know I've never liked the sound of picks on guitars either. Serisouly its all about style and feel. Apparently its his style and feel to use a pick, I'd be pissed if someone told me how to play my part on an original recording. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mlwarriner Posted June 26, 2007 Members Share Posted June 26, 2007 how about "you're fired because you use a pick. we're hiring someone who will do what he's told instead of what he wants to do" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Ender_rpm Posted June 26, 2007 Members Share Posted June 26, 2007 Just say "hay man, can we record it twice, once with a pick and one figerstyle? I just wanna see how it sounds in the mix." If he says no, record it yourself Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members M-1 Fan Posted June 26, 2007 Members Share Posted June 26, 2007 There's nothing wrong with using a pick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bassment zombie Posted June 26, 2007 Members Share Posted June 26, 2007 A pic is usualy fine with me, but I don't like it while recording, any tips on suttle things to say to get him to use his fingers? This post/thread is a joke, right? Or perhaps a 'suttle' parody? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fuzzball Posted June 26, 2007 Author Members Share Posted June 26, 2007 No joke, he just tends to stick with using a pic. He is good, and I have nothing against him using it, but fingers on strings sound better for a recording. I think I will take Ender rpm's suggestion and just ask him to do a second take and compair them to him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members claypoolfan Posted June 26, 2007 Members Share Posted June 26, 2007 Although I don't use a pick there are plenty of famous Bassists who do. Heres the ones I can think of: Paul Gray - SlipknotTom Araya - SlayerJeordie White(Twiggy Ramirez) - Marilyn Manson, a Perfect Circle, and Nine Inch NailsDuff McKagan - G'N'R, Velvet RevolverPaul Simenon - the ClashTom Petersson - Cheap TrickPhil Lynott - Thin LizzyJohn Paul Jones-Zep Tom Hamilton - AerosmithRoger Waters - Pink FloydChris Squire - YesMike Mills - REMand sometimes even John Entwistle! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members claypoolfan Posted June 26, 2007 Members Share Posted June 26, 2007 Guess it depends on what sound your looking for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mike fitzwell Posted June 26, 2007 Members Share Posted June 26, 2007 Sometimes I have to use a pic and my fingers at the same time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MrJoshua Posted June 26, 2007 Members Share Posted June 26, 2007 Get him a couple of felt picks. They have a rounder sound to them than the standard plastic picks. I normally play fingerstyle, but I use a pick when I think the song calls for it. One of our originals has a bassline I play palm-muted with a pick, going for a Beach Boys "Pet Sounds" era bass tone, and I don't think it sounds right any other way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members the hammer Posted June 26, 2007 Members Share Posted June 26, 2007 I always record with a pick. I like the definition it give my bass. Maybe the problem isn't the pick but perhaps your bass player's technique with it. A pick in the right hands can make a bass line sound mighty fine in a rock song. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fuzzball Posted June 26, 2007 Author Members Share Posted June 26, 2007 Thanks guys some great tips, for suggestions on trying both, different pics, and technique! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JacieFB Posted June 26, 2007 Members Share Posted June 26, 2007 What exactly is it about the sound of picked bass that you don't like? Is the guy sloppy and too aggressive with the pick? Are you just looking for more thump? (You can EQ it just fine, IMO. Plus, you can at least get him to lighten his touch and/or use a felt pick, you can get plenty of thump.) Or perhaps you just don't want the bass player to stand out? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Apendecto Posted June 26, 2007 Members Share Posted June 26, 2007 You have a bass player? How much was s/she? Yo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fuzzball Posted June 26, 2007 Author Members Share Posted June 26, 2007 What exactly is it about the sound of picked bass that you don't like? Is the guy sloppy and too aggressive with the pick? Are you just looking for more thump? (You can EQ it just fine, IMO. Plus, you can at least get him to lighten his touch and/or use a felt pick, you can get plenty of thump.) Or perhaps you just don't want the bass player to stand out? In this situation I think he is too agressive with the pic. I have tried to get him to lighten up but it has not worked yet. I will try some of the suggestions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators ThudMaker Posted June 26, 2007 Moderators Share Posted June 26, 2007 I would try to use both in the same sentence. As in - I generally use my fingers to pick my nose. See. The techniques are not mutually exclusive. Now seriously, Mr Joshua's suggestion of using felt picks is a really good one. The other suggestion (this is for multi-track recording?) is that when bouncing tracks down, EQ is your friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fuzzball Posted June 26, 2007 Author Members Share Posted June 26, 2007 Thanks, and I will get my finger out of my nose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members no-logic Posted June 26, 2007 Members Share Posted June 26, 2007 There's nothing wrong with using a pick. +1. I've used a pick for recording and it sounds fine if you EQ it right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Captain Fathead Posted June 26, 2007 Members Share Posted June 26, 2007 What's the bass strung with? I really love the sound of a pick on flatwounds. If it's roundwounds, I'm about 80% - 20% fingers to pick. When the bass has flats, it's about 40-60. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mike fitzwell Posted June 26, 2007 Members Share Posted June 26, 2007 +1. I've used a pick for recording and it sounds fine if you EQ it right. Correct--proper EQ is key for me as well when using one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JacieFB Posted June 26, 2007 Members Share Posted June 26, 2007 In this situation I think he is too agressive with the pic. I have tried to get him to lighten up but it has not worked yet. I will try some of the suggestions. Ahh...I see what you're saying. I have the same trouble recording my guitarist when he plays acoustic. He's got huge, heavy hands! We pick-slinging buzz-sawing bassists have the same trouble from time to time. That being the case, are you sure that he wouldn't be just as aggressive with his fingers? In my humble opinion, aggressive fingerstyle is worse than too-aggressive pick playing. Often, you get even more fret buzz, fret clicking, and even strings hitting the pickup poles due. You might be able to "fool" his ear a little bit. Within the limits of your equipment and his ears, absolutely crank the {censored} out of the bass in his mix (headphones or monitor) when you record him so that his bass feels big and powerful, even when he's just easing into it. The end result would hopefully be that he feels how powerful he is, delivers a nice smooth performance, and you have useable tracks. Or you could pull back to 10000 feet and talk to him about the songs you are recording...talk to him about dynamics. Really think about and work out together which passages need to be smooth and even, and which passages he needs to dig in on. Compress to taste. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fuzzball Posted June 26, 2007 Author Members Share Posted June 26, 2007 What's the bass strung with? I really love the sound of a pick on flatwounds. If it's roundwounds, I'm about 80% - 20% fingers to pick. When the bass has flats, it's about 40-60. I am not certain, I will find out tonight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fuzzball Posted June 26, 2007 Author Members Share Posted June 26, 2007 Thanks guys I will try out some of the ideas tonight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bnyswonger Posted June 26, 2007 Members Share Posted June 26, 2007 I don't particularly enjoy playing with a pick, but there are some tunes that just scream for that sound, so I do it. Rather than tell him what to do (some guys don't take well to that) make the suggestion that playing a little fingerstyle would really add to his value as a bassist - particularly if he's interested in session work. Present it as a growth opportunity and challenge rather than an edict...he might even thank you for it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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