Hey all! Finished up B2B a few weeks ago and absolutely loved it – had a few things to work on afterwards and practiced to the point where I’m comfortable if not entirely clean on them yet, though practice is making them better.
So now I’m interested in learning how to use a pick effectively, and man, it’s a totally different world. I’m sure this topic has come up thousands of times on this board over the years, but what’s the general guidance on getting better with a pick? Obviously “do it a ton” but does anyone have sort of a tried and true way to learn it? I’ve started going through B2B again using a pick instead of the fingers, but I am kinda missing the little tips Josh threw in for finger style that would help with things like muting, string crossing, hand positioning, etc. that I’m currently struggling with on the pick. Feels like trying to golf left handed right now!
So yeah, anyone have a good way to get proficient other than just “practice at it, you’ll eventually get it”? Do the course again? Read X thing? Take a magic potion?
Ive got one of those, it’s definitely an opinion that they’re any kind of best pick for bass. It makes you sound like you’re playing on flats and has a thuddy kind of sound, which is kinda the opposite sound most folks playing with a pick try and go for.
Just get a few different types, varying between about .7 and 1.5mm. That’s where the majority of bass players use their picks, unless you’re playing metal or something like it. Then do B2B over again using a pick. To learn alternate picking, index finger = down / middle finger = up stroke.
Pick selection is key. I use the purple Dunlop tortex. It has to have the correct amount of “flop”. Probably not the best term, but it gets the point across.
When I was learning the pick, I would alternate my warm-up drills(scales to a metronome). 1 day with a pick, next with fingers. The tip that led me to the most improvement was properly anchoring my pick hand.
Learning songs using pick techniques also helps. Chain of fools by Aretha Franklin is a good one. Not a lot of complicated fretting but a nice syncopated rhythm to groove to.
Pick selection is subjective. Like strings or pickup types. Luckily, picks are way cheaper and easier to switch between. I’ve got a couple of tins full of ones that weren’t “the ones” for me. Just starting with a variety pack with different thicknesses will let you start to see what you like irt thickness and material.
For bass, I like either the .7 or 1.5mm Dan’s guitar picks with the pointy tips. The .7’s are very precise, very fast. That or the Dunlop max grip Nylons. Personally, just not a fan of celluloid picks.
Yea. Picks are definitely subjective. Try out all sizes and thicknesses. I thought I would like a thicker pick, but turns out I settled upon the Dunlop .58.
My advice is to first choose a pick that you are comfortable with. Try different picks, choose the one you like. My experience is, that as a beginner, you might want to start out with a thinner pick (not too thin, I think of something like Tortex 0.73 or 0.88)
To get the feel for the pick with up and down picking, just start out with playing some scales, do stuff like playing each note in the scale twice while alternatly picking up and down, and then thrice. That way, you practice different string crossings.
After you feel comfortable: Reevalute your pick choice. Maybe you now like thicker or thinner better. You might even change picks depending on what you are playing.
Different picks made of different material feel very different, you can’t really compare thicknesses over different materials. Tortex were a good starting point for me, they tend to wear down pretty fast, though.
The terms aren’t mutually exclusive. The feeling in the hand was the point. Beginners dont know what they don’t know and giving them a jumping off point is ok.
Also expect what pick you like to change. I went through a bunch, and kept changing what I liked best. I’ve got a top 3 now. The biggest things I’ve found to be standard in my favorite picks, are a pointy tip (most are rounded) and texture for grip.
Lowering your bass on the strap often makes pick strumming more comfortable.
Find where to anchor your hand and strum more. I normally rest my wrist on the body just above the bridge, lets me easily reposition for palm muting.
Practice moving your hand around to different positions. Strum everywhere from just below the neck, all the way down to just above the bridge. Figure out what works and what doesn’t.
Find good songs to practice pick playing. Songs by The Cult were great for me to learn. Simple left-hand movements, but really consistent pick work. My playing got supercharged learning Joy Division and New Order songs, but that’s in the future.
I’m in a similar place, I restarted the course and using a pick the second time around. I skipped through the full workouts for the first few modules and really jumped back in with module 5.
Personally, I like the Dunlop Tortex picks and right now I’m just using the same blue Tortex picks I always used for guitar. Dunlop does sell a variety pack, that would be a good way to experiment with thickness.
I’m also trying to learn to play with a pick. At the moment, I feel I don’t have the same precise control with a pick than I have with my fingers.
I sometimes play extra notes accidentally. And the upstrokes lag a little. It is also hard to move between strings correctly.
Some days it works, some days it s*cks. Some days the yellow Tortex Dunlop .73 is awesome, some days I wish I had a thinner one.
And I haven’t found the best holding position yet.
So far, playing with a pick has been the greatest challenge. I had the impression it was supposed to be easier than finger style, but it isn’t to me. I would like to be able to do it. I guess I just have to keep trying.
Thinner picks are definitely easier to learn with; thicker picks provide more precise control once you can move up to them. Most people find a subjective “feel” favorite somewhere in the middle, and that’s the most important thing.
Materials matter a lot too. For Dunlop picks (my favorite), Tortex has a nice matte feel and flex; Ultex is glossy, nice and grippy, and much stiffer. I prefer the Ultex but love both.
The one thing I would avoid are expensive, boutique gimmick picks like Rombo or Raptor. They really don’t offer any advantage long term. I own some Raptors and literally never use them.
My advice is to find a pick that is comfortable, fire up B2B lesson 1, and redo the course with a pick. It walked you through the discomfort of plucking, it will do the same for the pick and teach you muting as well.
When Josh says index, downstroke, when he says middle, upstroke. Works like a champ
And the upstrokes lag a little. It is also hard to move between strings correctly.