Why has my pick technique suffered?

[Tealvillain]

Okay, to start this off. I originally picked up bass in 2016 as a post graduation gift. When I first started I couldn't play for crap with my fingers, so I picked up a pick. For a long time I did pretty well with it as it was easier for me to solo with one and I learned a load of songs using one. But I also made a promise to myself that in the meanwhile that I'll keep working on using my fingers as well so I can use them interchangeably. Recently as of around sunday before last. I was playing Peace Sells by Megadeth on my Epiphone Thunderbird. My picking was doing pretty decently and I was pretty much owning that song like it owed me money. The day after, I decided to pick it up after work and continue practicing like I always do everyday so I can great at playing bass with both styles. That day I played peace sells...And I don't know what happened, but suddenly I couldn't play with a pick anymore. Every time I tried, I just kept crashing into strings and losing focus. But when i did it fingerstyle that day. It was damn near perfect with no flaws whatsoever. I tried doing the same with other songs and such. And the same issue happened. I really don't know what happened. Can anyone explain this? I know it sounds crazy, but it did happen and it's weird and I kinda want it to stop.

 

[Groove Doctor]

That can sometimes happen with overworking, overtraining, etc. Give it a few weeks - relax, take some time out and don’t think about it. It’ll come back by itself.

 

[Lobster11]

Perfectly normal. Progress with techniques is always "two steps forward, one step back."

Another thing to keep in mind is that you'll always retain more from practicing in short sessions rather than less-frequent, longer ones. For example, you'll retain more from two one-hour sessions than a single two-hour session, and even more from four half-hour sessions. One (but not the only) reason for this is that it is difficult to maintain focus for too long, as you mentioned.

 

[Pizza1988]

Don't let yourself get frustrated. That's when every little mistake starts to feel over exaggerated and you stop making progress. Like the others said, take a break and you will be surprised how it just shows back up.

Good luck!

 

[Kro]

Oh yeah, that feeling is completely normal, and happens to probably all but the best of us from time to time - especially after potentially overworking yourself.

Your picking muscles and tendons and whatnot were probably just fatigued.

Not that I'm rushing you back too fast, but personally, I find that these hiccups resolve themselves in around a day - assuming you're not still killing yourself in that timeframe.

Good luck!

 

[Bboopbennie]

My friend there are good days and bad days playing ur bass. The mood you are in, focus and Ready to play.
Sometimes I will change the pick and like magic its works just fine. We ALL go thru this , so don't beat your self up over the small stuff!! Ed G from the group Foreigner was in the studio F-ing up bad and i heard the tracks later.
Was pretty bad when the faders were dropped to only bass. So there you go the best at its worst! I have been there and back!

 

[Samatza]

There are days I get home and I can't play the simplest stuff. When I have one of those days, I put the bass down and go out for a walk, get some fresh air and then come home and have a snooze.
Inadvertently the next day I feel better and I'm back to normal (well, as normal as I get).
Don't stress out, it's only temporary
.

 

[John6]

Perfectly normal. Progress with techniques is always "two steps forward, one step back."

Another thing to keep in mind is that you'll always retain more from practicing in short sessions rather than less-frequent, longer ones. For example, you'll retain more from two one-hour sessions than a single two-hour session, and even more from four half-hour sessions. One (but not the only) reason for this is that it is difficult to maintain focus for too long, as you mentioned.

In the military they gave us 20 minutes of instruction and 10 minutes to let the unconscious mind sort out what we just learned. I have always used that.
I usually practice a song then take a break. I do practice for 2-3 hours at 1 time as I am trying to get back in shape after not playing since 2012.

 

[Watchootognbout]

Because success and progress are not straight paths.

 

[two fingers]

Because success and progress are not straight paths.

Das deep bro. You get that in a fortune cookie?

@Tealvillain hang in there. Trust me. I out off playing with a pick for WAY too long. Now I can do either. I use a pick about 50% of the time these days. I love being able to do both. Power through it and keep practicing. It'll pay off.

 

[Jeff Bonny]

Because success and progress are not straight paths.

Linear progression isn’t how it works. It doesn’t matter where you start...it’s more like a jigsaw puzzle you’ll never finish. Some days you won’t see where any pieces go but over time a picture does start to emerge.

 

[bobomatic]

It happens. It sucks... but it does.

What I try to be aware of is what the problem was and try to figure out what I was doing wrong to cause it. Death grip on the pick? Arm tensing up? Angle of attack? These little things that you can try to notice make it easier to make adjustments when you feel like something is off the next time.

Major thing though... if you find yourself losing focus, you can’t do what I was just talking about and 99.99999969 percent of the time... nothing good is gonna come of that practice session. Take a break, clear your mind and don’t come back to the bass until your head is in the game. Then you can really be in touch with what’s going on and establish that head/hands connection that allows you to know your playing and feel when things aren’t quite right. It’s a Zen thing.