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Unlike everyone else (who I hear were all sax players) I cut my teeth as a guitarist playing hard rock and metal in the '80s. I got bored with the wanky soloing, was always writing odd time sycopated stuff that only the drummer could follow, etc., and I finally realized maybe I should try other instruments... Anyway, back when I was still playing guitar all the time, I distinctly remember playing a Guild Ashbory at a local store, when the bass first arrived. The salesmen were talking about it, saying it sounded weird and no one could get it to sound right, etc. I picked it up and played around with it a few minutes, then plugged it in and started to wail.
I played a hyper version of 'Ain't Got A Thing' and something else, then I ripped through a new song I'd been trying to teach our bassist. The drummer and I were looking at the bass and didn't notice that the (rather large) store had gone silent, and all eyes were on me. I finally noticed it, when the manager said, "Well, apparently someone can play it." Bass wasn't my instrument at the time, though...
Anyway, I played everything with a pick, usually at double speed. I always played extra thin (red) Dunlop Tortex picks. They flex easily, so you can play fast notes, and they won't tear at the strings the way heavy picks will. They tend to have rough edges, so you may want to sand the edges or rub them on some a concrete or brick surface for a few seconds, to prevent string damage. Most guitar and bass shops carry them, and they're usually a quarter each. You might try a couple of the lighter guages. I'm a strong guy with big hands, and part of the reason I used light picks was to keep from breaking strings all the time. I've actually broken strings on a basses quite a few times (invariably during a performance), just from playing so hard. If you don't play quite that hard, you might go with a slightly heavier pick.
I can see felt picks working well. I wouldn't recommend plastic picks in light or medium guage, though, because they tend to break, leaving sharp edges.
Here's a weird idea that might appeal to those who occasionally need a picked note or want a picked/fingered combination: look for wraparound thumb picks in a medium to heavy guage. They wrap around your thumb about where your thumbnail ends, and the pick extends down towards the strings. They're designed for bluegrass fingerpickers, but they are handy for certain songs. Once you get used to it, it's like having a pick tethered to your thumb (and if you're really good, and need or want to, you can twist it out of the way and still slap notes). Be careful at first, if you have thick thumbs, because the pick will rub your thumb, and it can get REALLY sore in no time.
Vance
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I don't want to do it, you MAKE me do it!
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Author
Topic: Does anyone play with a pick? (Read 7564 times)
