Playing Bass With A Pick: The 3 Levels

[@alexhamilton4084]

I always use a pick. I lost the feeling in my first and second fingers in a childhood accident so I can’t feel the strings with my fingers. Some of the greatest bass players use picks.

[@eljapel]

It's also a natural compressor

[@DruEllz]

@@eljapel only if you use a soft guitar pick. Using a hard "bass" pick will give you more attack and spikes than fingers.

[@rustyshacklferd535]

Nikki six uses a pick.

[@damnyankeex1]

Me too! Bet it’s a median nerve damage. I manage to play with my index and middle finger with reduced sensitivity. Takes getting used to. You get better over time.

[@alexhamilton4084]

@@damnyankeex1 I cut my wrist falling on a broken bottle in long grass when I was 13 years old. I’m now 66 and never got the feeling back in my fingers. It was the median nerve that got partially severed. 👍🏻 I actually use thick felt ukulele picks to get a more dead sound with less attack. Just my preference. 😁

[@zachkumlin5140]

Been playing bass for a decade, played finger style ever since. Over time, my ears have evolved to the point where I've decided pick style just sounds better to me now. So, I've made the decision to switch. Thanks for the lesson! I'll be off practicing Pink Floyd for the next 12 hours!

[@wheresmycheese8511]

Was good enough for Lemmy

[@mikemetalbelgium501]

I am really happy to see finally a toturial with the pick at the tip of the index finger. I started bass with picking technique about 30 years ago, without any teacher, and from the beginning I held the pick as is shown in this video. As you said, we have the choice of the technique, and it is refreshing to hear a high level player saying that. We just have to feel comfortable with what we are doing, that's it. Your tutorial is really great. Thank you so much !

[@ShadamAran]

picks can really give your bass a new voice. I really resent my first ten years as a bassist when the "real bass players use fingers" meme was a thing. Now I am trying to get it together with a pick and it's been a bit of a struggle. I don't regret building a career playing fingerstyle one bit but I wish I had started using picks too years ago.

[@ZombieBath]

I like to mix all these picking technics. With time it became automatic. Playing with fingers is great fun too. Actually every technic has it's place.

[@fivestring65ify]

I've used a pick from day one. I love the tone, and my fingers don't hate me.

[@pickbassguitar2802]

YES! thank you so much, I have always played bass with a pick, and I thought you would never do a video with a pick, but ya did! thank you!

[@thomasfioriglio]

Yes! When I began playing at 15 I began using a pick and that is what I am still most comfortable with. The players I listened to in my teens Adam Clayton, Sting, Michael Been, Mike Mills, Les Pattinson were all pick players. When The Joshua Tree/Rattle and Hum came out, I started to learn to play with my fingers and have continued to work on that but I think I am ready to admit I am a pick player. For me, the attack you get and the tone just sounds right. I am now playing flatwounds with a pick. That is one sweet sound. Thank you Sir Paul. I believe that Money was played with flatwounds as well. From the beginning I used a thumb pick. It worked for me. I never dropped it and I could switch to my fingers mid song. I have experimented with different picks. If players are interested I would recommend getting a variety pack such as the Dunlop Gator Grip. Thinner picks will be brighter and thicker picks will be deeper. I settled on the 1.14 mm. I have also tried Wedgie Rubber Picks 3.1 mm. Those come closest to the sound of playing with your fingers. I am surprised by the number of finger players who can't play with a pick. I have 2 friends I follow on KZbin who play a lot of U2 songs and all with their fingers. I asked them both why not use a pick for the songs Clayton clearly uses a pick on and they both said they can't play with one. As Luke says, any good bassists should know how to play with both fingers and a pick. And play to what the song calls for. I have recently started following Ian Martin Allison and he frequently plays with a pick, often with flatwounds and effects but always to what the song needs. Thanks for letting me ramble. Stay awesome Luke!

[@ShadamAran]

i just started using a pick after 10 years of playing fingerstyle and I also use a dunlop thumb pick for that exact reason. it's been a challenge but picks can really give your bass a whole new voice.

[@lewisforsythe1403]

The Stranglers. My favorite bass sound. All pick!

[@MasterCutCnc]

I play with a Dunlop Jazz III pick. I get softer tones by turning the pick slightly so that the string rolls of the curve of the pick. You will not know if I am using my fingers or the pick. Then I also let my finger rest on the string with the pick to dampen the sharpness of the note. Very versatile if used right.

[@lrschultz]

Glad I came across your video while trying to learn to play with a pick. I really like the song choice. I feel more inclined to use my fingers on it instead of a pick. It's good practice on perseverance when I'm inclined to throw the pick down in frustration and use fingers instead, to just keep at learning with the pick.

[@clairecouplandmusic]

thank you so much for the free guide, it's awesome! so helpful, especially the fact that you made fretboard knowledge tests and went that extra step. thank you!

[@MrFy2013]

Thanks for this. There are relatively few video bass tutorials on pick playing (the vast majority show teachers playing fingerstyle) , and even fewer that go into economy plectrum picking. I will testify that if you had alternate picking or 'downstroke on the beat' (Carol Kaye style) styles drilled into you like I did, it's hard work to get economy going. Another neglected technique for bass is joint barring with the fretting hand. Wish I'd learned that one earlier too. A video on it would be useful.

[@rustyshacklferd535]

"I'll do whatever the hell I wanna do!!" -every true musician ever.

[@kendavis6471]

lost the tip of my right index, i dig using a pick ,sharp ,aggressive sound. just play the damn thing !

[@johnandrewmunroe]

Thanks for this! Great walkthrough for picking bassics. :-D

[@tetsusiega2]

ROFL, Waters uses a pick too?! My main inspiration is JC from Tool, so picking has always been my default, but I’d play “Money” sometimes with my fingers thinking it was originally played that way.

[@Xubuntu47]

As a guitarist I'd been working on a version of efficiency picking. But then I got into bass, and got some study materials from Carol Kaye (carolkaye.com). It turns out she has a very specific technique where all downbeats are down strokes. The downsrokes are synchronized with taps of the left foot (right foot if you pick left-handed). Her rationale came from keeping the rhythm while sight-reading music in the studio for 8-16 hours a day, with minimal mistakes. It was more about rhythmic accuracy and feel than speed and fluency. I am working with it for now, but I'm not sure if I'll change back to something more efficient in the future. I do try to incorporate some of Troy Grady's pick slanting methods to smooth it out.

[@pablobendixiii5536]

When someone bitches about playing bass with a pick, give them two words: Chris Squire

[@garethevans2650]

I learned in 1970s by listening to tapes and seemed obvious there are different tones from pick and fingers and even different gauges of pick. I make heavies from old credit cards (Brian May uses old coins) so will practice Money with one!

[@tetsusiega2]

10:00 Shouldn’t you always upstroke for the last string since there’s no thinner string to jump to?

[@nigelbob797]

Nice tee shirt ! Thank you for all your videos !

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

David Ellefson from Megadeth is one of many guys to play w/ a Pick

[@johnbacher7481]

Thank you this has help a lot

[@kushking420]

I'm just starting bass and I'm always using my fingers. I didn't want to start playing with a pick cause I want to get better without needing one. I play money with just my fingers like the first time you showed it

[@donvape336]

Wow, what timing. I decided to get back into bass, again, and decided Whipping Post was the song. That's a lesson of my pick playing needs improvement.

[@samarsa.]

im a finger player who also slaps and plucks, but cant use a pick. i think dont know how to hold it! there are really very few lessons on holding a pick (i guess its assumed you know how to hold a pick?) and yet there are soooo many lessons on fingerstyle and slapping techniques. learning from guitarists is obviously not an option ;)

[@kaliakoudis]

That's all well and good but how exactly are you supposed to anchor your plucking (picking) hand? If you're used to playing fingerstyle you never need to look at your plucking hand since your thumb is always anchoring your hand on the above string or pickup. Is there an efficient way to anchor my hand on my bass while I'm playing with a pick?

[@ZombieBath]

Great class, thank you!

[@kaliakoudis]

How do you mute open notes when playing with a pick?

[@HunterBell-y3k]

I play electric but i like bass guitars as well

[@dguyiop8]

Couldn't agree more. Next they'll be saying real bass players don't wear pink tutus and wear ballet shoes. We all know that's utter bs. Can I get a hell yeah from my fellow bass players!!!

[@damnyankeex1]

Hell Fuken yeah bro!

[@rradiosilencee]

you inspire me alot! thank you!

[@ravelitschimo]

It depends on the bandsound

[@eaglebauer944]

That's not the topic of the video.

[@daveweed2765]

Honestly if you play bass with a pick especially rock genres do the downstrokes. Especially on 8th note runs. Its harder. Some songs on 8th notes sound good but save the alternate picking for triplets and gallops. There is so many sounds you can make using a pick on bass. Specifically palm muting. Totally different sound with a fretted string than muting with your fret fingers. Palm muting you are muting the note on the string. Perfect example is ACDCs War Machine. The open A the C and D is palm muted close to the bridge then goes full on in the intro and then palm muted for the verses. Pre chorus unmuted. Its an extremely simple bass line but two different levels. Every aspiring bassist should know fingers and picks. In a studio using a pick keeps the sound man happy. Bass is a bitch of a beast. Hear we go again just like real bassist dont play with picks another good one is experienced basdists play the higher frets. I actually think the notes higher on the fret board sound like crap. Closer to the nut its more of a stretch but sound so much fuller. And I am guilty too. Tabs are so much easier to read than actual notes in sheet music. But tabs are not hard to find alternate notes closer to the nut. I have to stress that everyone that plays bass needs to know every note on the fretboard. You need to know where the thirds, fourths, fifths and octaves of every root note the guitar/guitars are playing. This is so simple. A little music theory goes a long way.

[@Frogmilk]

Using a pick on bass is illegal and will always be frowned upon. Ex-Friend of mine tried out for a band once and he got all set up and everything, plugged in, reached into his pocket and pulled out a pick, then was immediately ejected and beaten.

[@misterauctor7353]

How?

[@herbertc.g.9884]

You have done a great page here! \m/ But this example I would play: d d u d d d d d cause it's easy to stay in time right :) down on the beat, up at the "and" (well, I'm a guitar player playing most of the time with a pick) cheers

[@Xubuntu47]

Wow, you're instincively doing what Carol Kaye teaches. It is very much NOT instinctive for me; I had to totally relearn to pick for bass.

[@herbertc.g.9884]

@@Xubuntu47 Well, I think the example at 4:55 alternate picking is not good. This is very hard to stay on time. because you play at 2 and 2and up/down 16th note. all other notes are 8th so you have to change the speed of your hand for the 2 and 2and. If you make a constant speed 8th down, you only pick at 2and up, all other ups are in the air. With that style, you are always on time :) and your movement of the hand is right on metronome - I think I have learned this on guitar because my weakest point is to stay on time. But I'm not a bass player - I'm a guitarist who plays from time to time bass :) cheers

[@herbertc.g.9884]

@@Xubuntu47 this example works only because there are 8 notes (6 8th and 2 16th) in a 7/8 measure. if you have 2 times a 2x 16th you get completely out of time.

[@spacedgroove]

Any reason why you rest the pick on the tip of your index finger instead of making a fist and resting the pick on the side of the index finger?

[@BecomeABassist]

Just personal preference. If it works and it's not causing any harm to your body (no pain etc.) then it's usually all good. I feel like I have more control doing things this way than the fist method, but if I'd spent my whole life with the fist, then things would probably feel better that way.

[@spacedgroove]

@@BecomeABassist Thanks! I've been playing fingerstyle for many years and now trying to learn with a pick. I find your method more comfortable too. Some norms from guitar technique don't always apply to bass

[@Likeaforest]

Luke is a good teacher and I'm happy to have you're free help If you're coming to Israel for a trip, please visit us we have a great place by the sea

[@jpbautistagarcia4854]

Hi im from the philipines i just want to learn bass guitar from you 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@ErixSamson]

Nice 2CV t-shirt

[@jdmarino]

Got any plectrum recommendations?

[@thomasfioriglio]

I like the variety packs so you can try different thicknesses. Thinner picks have a brighter tone, thicker ones have a deeper tone. I use Dunlop Gator Grip. Went through the variety pack and settled on the 1.14mm.

[@jp8628]

Nice 2CV

[@LLoofusO]

I played strictly empty-handed for nearly 20 years before trying a pick. Interestingly, I found myself employing economy picking right out the gate. I'm not sure what part of my past playing experience made it come naturally to me, but I didn't even realize players would do lines on multiple strings with alternate picking, nor can I really see how or why that would be easier to do.

[@davidt8546]

Pick playing is far far more difficult...especially because you have to mute the unrequired strings with your fret hand. I love the tone of Pick but for me it's way too hard compared to fingers

[@elpeluca7780]

Fr!! My main problem is that literally 10 seconds of playing with a pick makes my shoulder hurt like a mf

[@carlotapuig]

I started playing with a pick because I played electric guitar. It was a bad idea. As soon as I started fingerpicking, playing the bass became real fun.

[@jasonhoffmoff6032]

But why no hybrid picking? So common for new rock music styles like polyphia etc.

[@X-EvilAsh]

I dont think alot of basslines use hybrid picking, correct me if I'm wrong haha, I'm not sure. I think it's more of a guitarist thing to hybrid pick

[@fudgesauce]

Another possible video: it is harder to mute strings when playing with a pick because the fingers of your picking hand aren't as available to act as mutes. Another issue I struggled with when I started playing with a pick is the pick always wanted to rotate, maybe my fingers would get just a little bit sweaty. Buying textured picks solved that problem for me (dunlop max-grip).

[@jakvisuals]

Why don't you show how to to hold the pick properly?

[@diegojaque8597]

I can play with my fingers, but I I think playing with a pick has more personality, most of npc bass players are like "noooo you can't play with a pick". Who tf cares, really.

[@chupacabra4897]

I have to use a pick I can't play with my fingers . A pick sounds better anyway

[@BecomeABassist]

👍

[@MrProfGary]

Why are you making each of these notes staccato? That's not the way it is written in your examples.

[@vismitv.nagdeve5701]

No! Don't! Not a pick! your bass will blast if you play with pick! -Davie 504

[@damnyankeex1]

And your pee pee will shrink.

[@alexhamilton4084]

I use thick felt ukulele picks to mute the attack. A lot of metal bassists use picks to get that extra volume and attack.

[@carlosvillarroel6665]

for certain types of tones the pick is useful but not always... for speed passages are the four finger picking, double thump and three fingers picking (metal)... avoid the pick as your main technique... Trust me. Cheers

[@eaglebauer944]

I wouldn't trust anyone who wants to tell me how I have to play my instrument. Cheers.

[@carlosvillarroel6665]

@@eaglebauer944 jajajaaaaaa good luck

[@eaglebauer944]

@@carlosvillarroel6665 I do play fingerstyle, btw.

[@carlosvillarroel6665]

@@eaglebauer944 excellent

[@eaglebauer944]

@@carlosvillarroel6665 two of my favourite bass players happen to be pick players and I always wanted to learn it, but it just doesn't work for me.

[@eaglebauer944]

Blasphemy!

[@_Broun_]

Grow up

[@eaglebauer944]

@@_Broun_ I was being sarcastic... and no, I don't want to grow up! (Tony Lombardo)

[@Xubuntu47]

🤣

[@necrodamus5481]

@@eaglebauer944 Guy had a great downpicking technique on bass.