Playing With a Pick/Plectrum

[edwin]

Weirdly, Anthony Jackson, who played on For The Love Of Money, credits Jack Casady for being the inspiration for using a pick. I don't think I've ever heard Casady using a pick.
 
But back in the day, there was a lot of music played with a pick on bass, including all of Carol Kaye's work, which included a fair amount of Motown and seemingly all the TV soundtracks from the late 60s through the 70s.  
 
Also, check out Steve Swallow, a jazz player who was one of the early adopters of the electric bass. He has a very upright like tone and approach and is a pick player. (and also a copious contributor to the Real Book). Being familiar with his playing and applying his principles has allowed me to pretend that I know Phil Lesh parts.  
 
And then, there is in the always inspiring Bobby Vega.
 
Pick playing has the reputation of being a rock technique, but from AJ to Swallow to Kaye, it's clear that it has a solid presence in jazz and other genres.
 
I like using both. And thumb. It's all good. No, it's all great!
 
The point about playing hard and getting clank is well taken. But a conscious use of a technique is different from what I dealt with: trying to play too hard to overcome underpowered amps for too long resulting in chronic wrist pain (exacerbated by the application of a 32 oz. juice bottle at high velocity at an outdoor gig when the weather was around 55?F and I was not yet warmed up).

[hieronymous]

Anthony Jackson was definitely inspirational for me - the fact that he would switch between pick and fingers within the same song - on the studio albums with Al Di Meola like Casino you can tell the difference and it always fits the music. I was finally able to see him play live with Hiromi and it was great - he would hold this giant pick in his mouth while playing with his fingers. I know I read that he was inspired by seeing  Jack Casady perform live in the '60s, but don't remember that that was his inspiration for playing with a pick. Maybe he got him confused with Phil Lesh?
 
I never got into Steve Swallow, though I tried!
 
I quit playing regularly in 1995 - had I kept playing, I have a feeling I would have developed physical problems too - my pathetic equipment coupled with a problematic soundman resulted in me playing too hard. If I were playing regularly now I would definitely work on adequate amplification and tempering/improving my technique.
 
Wolf - the idea of the pick getting in the way is interesting. I feel like it's more of an extension than an impediment, but that's just me. The diversity of approaches and styles is part of what makes music fun!

[ed_zeppelin]

I play with a pick all the time, depending on the song. I stick one somewhere on the bass, usually between the pickup and pocket where I can grab it without missing a beat. I also use a thumbpick (lately I've become obsessed with  Fred Kelly Bumblebee hybrid thumbpick/pick because I always have one in my pocket. Ynever know when you'll need some emergency Chet or Buster.  
 
I use Earl Scruggs' thumbpick trick to keep it firmly in place. It's especially handy when you mute the strings right in front of the saddles with your palm and fingerpick the bass. It's a really cool sound that I don't know how to get otherwise. Turn it up, mute it and that thumb pick comes down like a hammer. It gives this huge ponk that sounds like you're kicking a hippo. Hits you right in the solar plexus. Try it. (Don't kick hippos. I understand they don't respond well to that.)
 
 Carol Kaye always used a pick. (Watch her technique in that video. She's a smokin' guitarist, as well.) Check out her discography, take your time. Everybody from Count Basie and Ray Charles to Frank Zappa. Every time I look at that list, a jukebox goes off in my head.  
 
On Good Vibrations Carol's iconic bass line was doubled by an upright bass played with a pick, as seen at 3:24 in that video (note the extended bridge section on the original recording, beginning at that exact point).
 
As if that's not enough, check out the staggering number of movie and TV soundtracks she played on, always with a pick. Same with her guitar work, including all the Phil Spector stuff (You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling, whoa-o That, lovin' feeling ...)
 
This is fun.
 
Old Fender basses came with a finger rest.  Apparently for over two decades, Leo thought bass players plucked the strings with their thumb! Then Fender moved it to the other side of the strings for awhile (and changed the name to thumb rest), before doing away with it altogether. I play with my naked (!) thumb, too. Again, if the song calls for it ...
 
Nobody ever talks about it, but one of the best things about Alembics is that because the tailpiece is slotted, changing strings takes seconds, if you're working with broken in strings. Sometimes I use these gnarly, ancient black tapewounds that give a wonderful thud. I keep a 4 length of thick neoprene weatherstripping that I jam under the strings about a half inch in front of the saddles, turn it way up and ponk. It's like playing bass drum.
 
A bonus video, just for kicks.
 
(Message edited by Ed_zeppelin on February 18, 2016)

[sonicus]

To be clear ,  
                     I am not apposed to picks/plectrums when used by anyone. Many players who I very highly admire and have been influential in a major way to me are and were pick players. From a standpoint such as the melodic  lines and the use of counterpoint and harmonic composition and form , many of these players have partially formed my mentation behind my improvisational approach in many ways. There have also been many players such as stated above are and were not pick players and from them I have learned and combined my  hands only technique . It's all great friends !  .
 
  I have used picks when called upon for what ever reasons but if you don't make me do it I prefer my  full contact  and control method . I just works for me .  
 
 Wolf
 
(Message edited by sonicus on February 18, 2016)

[edwin]

Wolf, for some reason, you just reminded me of another great pick player with a history with Alembic: Andy West!

[hieronymous]

Hey Wolf - I hope it didn't sound like I was accusing you of anti-pick bias - I realize that I am hyper-sensitive, if not over-sensitive when it comes to playing bass with a pick.
 
Having played drums behind you I feel like I have a deeper appreciation of your bass playing, which I love. To keep on topic, who were your pick-playing influences?

[sonicus]

Hello Harry ,  I believe everything is copasetic !  
 
Mr. Philip Lesh has most certainly been an influence on me in both pick-playing and that era of his finger style playing. His mentation behind what his hands do is what the source of influence has and still is a source of inspiration  for my  Lesh Mode.   As such ;
 From a standpoint such as the melodic lines and the use of counterpoint and harmonic composition and form , many of these players have partially formed my mentation behind my improvisational approach in many ways.  
 
  I also would say that Chris Squire was an influence and Ronnie Lane as well and of course Steve Swallow. Carol Kaye and Bobby Vega as well . There are most likely others as well .  
 
 All these great players have influenced me to morph my finger style technique from finger style players like Jaco Pastorius,  Mark Egan ,  Michael Manring , John Entwistle, Alphonso Johnson, Rocco Prestia,   Norman Watt-Roy , Duck Dunn , Will Lee , Jimmy Johnson and some other great finger style players .  
 
 Wolf
 
(Message edited by sonicus on February 18, 2016)

[artswork99]

Here is a great plectrum player that I've had the pleasure of sitting and making some music with, Cody Wright... he is a fine bass player and making real strides, leaps and bounds in his career over the last few years. Proud of this young man!

[edwardofhuncote]

Thanks for that Art. I've been watching a couple of Cody's instructional vids. Wasn't familiar with him other than by name. The Charlottesville musical circle is much bigger and far more diverse than Roanoke's, so it's not surprising that a talent like that would flourish. (also hadn't realized you were that close to here too!)
 
So I began using the pick with this alternative country side-gig last week, sort of using them as a test bench... they don't care so much *how* I play as they do *what* I play. It seems to be working in that context, and the trial-by-fire is a strong motivating factor.  More later...

[dannobasso]

Here is an ol' vid I did. You will see both finger style and pick on a noodling improv with a Zep finisher.  
https://youtu.be/PUfLozlL-HY

[coyoteboy]

Howdy EofH, Im not stalking you, really...

Took up pickstyle about six months ago and Im really digging it. Im liking the attack and consistent tone. As to how, I just jumped in, and tried to remember to alternate strokes. Its like arco in a way. Deliberate moves are rewarded. Ive tried to use index thumb alone, but so far I can only get it to work adding the middle finger.
Im liking the v-picks M triangle point and I play on the point. I find its harder to missfire when the pick goes off-plane. The v-picks dont slip!

Cheers.

[edwardofhuncote]

 

I've come to really enjoy using a pick. Especially (and perhaps, oddly) when playing 4-string. I believe using a pick on occasion has actually helped me with finger-style too, just by virtue of hearing, and thinking about things differently. Sort of solving problems a different way.

Glad you found this place... no so much traffic as TalkBass. 

[hammer]

Started playing with a pick in 1970 in an attempt to emulate the tone of Phil and Peter Cetera (yes I know he did some horrible stuff later in his career but he was a great, melodic bassist) and have never really gone back except when playing folk and bluegrass. As for Cetera, listen to some of the lines plays on Chicago's first 3-4 albums and you'll know what I mean.

[pauldo]

Chicago Transit Authority was the midwest's answer to Tower of Power, great band - Cetera held it down!
I use a pick now and then, but definetly went through a Chris Squire phase,  came across some old band recordings and it surprised myself how much I was trying to emulate him!