Here is a clip of me playing with a pick. Other than the obvious need to simply practice more with a pick. What are weaknesses or strong points in my technique?
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Pick Technique Tips
- Thread starter Dr. Cheese
- Start date
Here is a clip of me playing with a pick. Other than the obvious need to simply practice more with a pick. What are weaknesses or strong points in my technique?
I'm watching this because after 25 years of fingerstyle I just started learning to play with a pick yesterday. I'll be able to see the video tomorrow when I get on a better connection.
Rather than point out everything, just study Carol Kaye's pick method.
My teacher suggested I get Carol Kaye's book already, cool!
Looks to me like you are almost exclusively using downstrokes.
The Carol Kaye method has you use downstrokes on the down beat and upstrokes on the up beat if I'm reading her correctly. Not sure if her intent is to have an overall more efficient picking motion or if she is trying to instill a better sense of overall timing.
The Carol Kaye method has you use downstrokes on the down beat and upstrokes on the up beat if I'm reading her correctly. Not sure if her intent is to have an overall more efficient picking motion or if she is trying to instill a better sense of overall timing.
That's interesting. I thought I was alternating, although sometimes I favor downstrokes.
I thought it looked like you were doing pretty much what Carol recommends. If you're playing mainly quarter notes, you can use all downstrokes except when you sneak in an in-between eighth note; likewise if you're playing mainly eighths and occasionally squeezing in an occasional sixteenth. Nothing wrong with that. I've been working on adding pickstyle to my own repertoire over the last couple of years, and I've found that I'm personally more comfortable alternating downstrokes and upstrokes almost all the time, but I make no claims that this way is "better."
I did a couple of Skype lessons with Julie Slick
woot a while back -- I think she's one of the best pick players (among other things) out there -- and I was amused and a little surprised to hear her say that she usually uses only downstrokes, and only alternates when she is playing "really fast." I think that's basically the same idea as Carol's, except Julie's idea of "really fast" is entirely different from that of us ordinary mortals. She plays stuff using only downstrokes that I can't keep up with using alternate picking. It's all relative, I suppose.
I thought it looked like you were doing pretty much what Carol recommends. If you're playing mainly quarter notes, you can use all downstrokes except when you sneak in an in-between eighth note; likewise if you're playing mainly eighths and occasionally squeezing in an occasional sixteenth. Nothing wrong with that. I've been working on adding pickstyle to my own repertoire over the last couple of years, and I've found that I'm personally more comfortable alternating downstrokes and upstrokes almost all the time, but I make no claims that this way is "better."
I did a couple of Skype lessons with Julie Slick
I have read interviews of bassists who recommended downstrokes for heavy music. Since most of what Julie Slick plays could be considered heavy, I can see her favoring down strokes.
Thanks for the analysis of my playing!
Julie's 30, right? She's in good health and good shape right now. Wait till she's about 45...she'll change her tune about all downstrokes and playing by the bridgeI did a couple of Skype lessons with Julie Slick
Julie's 30, right? She's in good health and good shape right now. Wait till she's about 45...she'll change her tune about all downstrokes and playing by the bridge
Interesting!
I do not think anything has been said about the kind of pick. I like anything from a 1.00 to 3.00 mm pick. And what is out right now, where I practice, is the 2.0 mm. The Big Stubby has an indention in the pick that helps me hold it, and I like that also.
As we get older -- the thumb pick comes into the picture, and if you hold the back side of the thumb pick with your index finger you can do the up picks. The wrap around does help hold the pick on old fingers.
All I have to add. Ditto Carol's stuff.
As we get older -- the thumb pick comes into the picture, and if you hold the back side of the thumb pick with your index finger you can do the up picks. The wrap around does help hold the pick on old fingers.
All I have to add. Ditto Carol's stuff.
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I played exclusively (well, almost) fingerstyle for over 40 years; I just never felt the groove using a pick.
One day I watched these two videos and it absolutely changed things. I went from never using picks to absolutely loving them in about 30 minutes!
Watch both parts!
One day I watched these two videos and it absolutely changed things. I went from never using picks to absolutely loving them in about 30 minutes!
Watch both parts!
I was a guitar player first, so...
It all becomes much easier if you can learn to double pick. Also, don’t be afraid to experiment with different holds. Just because “they” say you need to hold a pick a certain way, if that doesn’t feel comfortable, just go your own way.
No wrong answers.
It all becomes much easier if you can learn to double pick. Also, don’t be afraid to experiment with different holds. Just because “they” say you need to hold a pick a certain way, if that doesn’t feel comfortable, just go your own way.
No wrong answers.
I used a thick 2mm pick when I played guitar. But with the bass, it's just too difficult for me when playing 16th notes. Need more flex. So, I'm using picks anywhere from .60-.70
Valley Girl 
Your right arm seems to me too far apart, which forces you to bend your elbow and requires more effort than is necessary on your wrist. It should be more diagonal than horizontal, so that it is more relaxed.
That bass is super cool, by the way.
Edit: Oops, I didn't see it was three years ago, sorry
Your right arm seems to me too far apart, which forces you to bend your elbow and requires more effort than is necessary on your wrist. It should be more diagonal than horizontal, so that it is more relaxed.
That bass is super cool, by the way.
Edit: Oops, I didn't see it was three years ago, sorry
