Pick or pluck?Music

[Ryan2]

For all you guitar players - Do you pick or pluck when you play? I usually just kind of strum on it with the side of my thumb. I'm trying to get used to a pick, though.

 

[LoudMusic]

I don't play, but my friends who play bass use a pick. How do I tell them that plucking sounds infinitely better without hurting their feelings? (:

 

[Ryan2]

Try plucking it for them and see how they like it. It requires no guitar talent whatsoever, just show them that it sounds better.

Or something.

 

[koolsax]

I pick 95% but that's because I only play guitar. If I played bass I would probably pluck. I do a little hybrid picking on occasion, but the only time I ever strickly pluck is when I'm fooling around with it.

 

[Pako]

Originally posted by LoudMusic
I don't play, but my friends who play bass use a pick. How do I tell them that plucking sounds infinitely better without hurting their feelings? (:

Well, pick definately has it's different tone about it. "Punk" and "Death Metal" are good genra's for pick use. Most pickers on bass that I know, started out on guitar first. As a result, using a pick was just the natural choice. Show them such artists like Victor Wooten. He is all fingers... That might inspire them to drop the pick.

Good luck.

 

[Gil]

I spent months learning to finger-pick. I feel it's easier to keep the strings "straight" and not pick the wrong note.
As an aside, it took me over 2 weeks to learn to "Travis pick".
I thumb pick on a bit of lead stuff when I play blues.

 

[Pako]

Speaking of pickers, all you young bucks should reall check out some Chet Atkins. He is a monster picker.

 

[Gil]

Originally posted by Pako
Speaking of pickers, all you young bucks should reall check out some Chet Atkins. He is a monster picker.

He was the best.
For blues style finger pickin' Check out Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, and Jimmie Vaughn-SRV's Big Bro.
For your absolute astonishment:
Phil Keaggy
Doyle Dykes
Monte Montgomery
Michael Hedges (defies catagorization)
Laurence Juber

That will give you some examples of awesome finger-pickers.

It truly matters not how you choose to play. Once you're comfortable, and sound good, you've found your style.

 

[MistaX]

I use a pick. Mid or Heavy usually.

 

[milefile]

Both. It depends on the song. But if your style is pretty narrow then it'd have to be one or the other.

 

[sn00pie]

What exactly is the difference?

 

[milefile]

Picking has a sharp, snappy sound and finger picking, which is what I think they mean by "plucking", has a warmer, softer sound (some might say muddy).

 

[Pako]

Originally posted by sn00pie
What exactly is the difference?

Picking tone: *ting, ting, ting, ting*

Plucking tone: *bah, bah, bah, bah*

Sorry, that's my best description of the sound and tone of the differences of the two. I will add, that they make felt picks for bassists so that they can use a pick but make it sound like they're using their fingers. Haven't tried them, well because I use my fingers already.

 

[milefile]

I like pick bass, but it has to be done right and it has to fit the song as a whole. Then there's Geddy Lee who uses his fingers but his Rickenbacker and crunchy sound jump out at you as much as a pick.

 

[Pako]

Originally posted by milefile
I like pick bass, but it has to be done right and it has to fit the song as a whole. Then there's Geddy Lee who uses his fingers but his Rickenbacker and crunchy sound jump out at you as much as a pick.

Geddy actually uses both, depending on the song and/or bass that he's using, I've seen him use both picks, fingers, and fingernails which is like a natural pick.

There's definately a place for both, it all depends on the "tone" your going for. How about this:

Notice the drumsticks....

Many different options.


Also, check out this harmonic tapping technique:

http://artists.mp3s.com/artist_song/3134/3134579.html
http://artists.mp3s.com/artist_song/3135/3135021.html


Oh and, lets not forget about Les Claypool:

 

[milefile]

And then there's Marc Sandman who uses a slide. I could not find a pic of him actually playing though. But I guess that's the other hand.