picking - with a pick..

Hey, I'm a new bass player as well as a newcommer to the forums... I'm looking forward to learn to use a pick with a bass. Well... I got a pretty good picking already as I am a guitar player too... When I am sitting, I can pick quite fast and I have no trouble with that, but I just can't find a confortable position while standing.. I've been looking for such videos but didn't find any very helpfull. I'dd like to receive some tips from those who are used to play with a pick (tremolo picking, metal oriented riffs) while standing.

I believe i am doing it the wrong way since all my upstroke notes are sounding quite bad and sloppy.. as opposed to clear and powerfull notes..

It would also be seriously awesome if someone could do a short video showing the hand position and the basis.(or if you know any..) I also believe the bass needs to be a little "higher"? (shorten the strap)

thanks to any further tip and help regarding this.

The only thing I can offer is that height isn't a thing that's dictated by a set of rules, just your own personal comfort level. Other than that, I am useless to you seeing as I've not even touched a pick in five years, so I'm probably in the same boat you are. I'm more comfortable using what I was born with. In situations where I would need a pick to strum chords, I just use flamenco.

Firstly: do you have good picks? light guitar picks really don't work on Basses, you need a medium at least.
Also, a lot of metal Bassists and Guitarist have their instrument practically around their knees, if you feel that, as DTL pointed out, height might be an issue you might want to shorten the strap and having it higher, you can always lower it back down gradually after you get a bit of feel for the 4 stringer.

Thanks for the replies!

I actually bought pretty thick pick for bass playing, 2mm and 3mm picks. (I use 2mm for guitar, but not the same ones... they kind of feel... softer). Yet i've picked similar shaped pick.

And I just can't get how they have their bass around their knees and use a pick -.- I'll try to shorten the strap a little, but I believe it will feel uncomfortable for the left hand..

I use thin picks! There's no such thing as a 'guitar pick' or 'bass pick', it's just what you feel comfortable playing with on whatever instrument. I use 0.86mm picks and get a good tone IMO. I find trem picking very easy with them. I have to use a lot more effort with thick picks as there's not a lot of 'give'. As for position, I rest my arm on the body on the bass and pick over the neck pickup rather than closer towards the bridge.

All of the above is just my opinion and what I have found to be best for me. Try various positions, strap heights, pick types, etc. until you find the perfect way for you

EDIT: Also raising your strap hight might help. I'll do a video tomorrow if you want showing you how I pick... Also watch Dman's pick video

ah balls smax beats me to it again
raising your strap will definatly help

Svatjern wrote:Thanks for the replies!

I actually bought pretty thick pick for bass playing, 2mm and 3mm picks. (I use 2mm for guitar, but not the same ones... they kind of feel... softer). Yet i've picked similar shaped pick.

And I just can't get how they have their bass around their knees and use a pick -.- I'll try to shorten the strap a little, but I believe it will feel uncomfortable for the left hand..

Aww did you get those big stubby dunlops? That's the last pick I used, hard as hell to keep ahold of.

Dropthelines585 wrote:

Svatjern wrote:Thanks for the replies!

I actually bought pretty thick pick for bass playing, 2mm and 3mm picks. (I use 2mm for guitar, but not the same ones... they kind of feel... softer). Yet i've picked similar shaped pick.

And I just can't get how they have their bass around their knees and use a pick -.- I'll try to shorten the strap a little, but I believe it will feel uncomfortable for the left hand..

Aww did you get those big stubby dunlops? That's the last pick I used, hard as hell to keep ahold of.

Exactly! I use the same ones -2 and 3 mm's - for guitar, and I like 'em, both for guitar and bass.

I tried to shorten the strap, and it is way better for picking, but as I thought, it isn't as comfortable for the left hand, but i'll try this out for some time.

Svatjern wrote:

Dropthelines585 wrote:

Svatjern wrote:Thanks for the replies!

I actually bought pretty thick pick for bass playing, 2mm and 3mm picks. (I use 2mm for guitar, but not the same ones... they kind of feel... softer). Yet i've picked similar shaped pick.

And I just can't get how they have their bass around their knees and use a pick -.- I'll try to shorten the strap a little, but I believe it will feel uncomfortable for the left hand..

Aww did you get those big stubby dunlops? That's the last pick I used, hard as hell to keep ahold of.

Exactly! I use the same ones -2 and 3 mm's - for guitar, and I like 'em, both for guitar and bass.

I tried to shorten the strap, and it is way better for picking, but as I thought, it isn't as comfortable for the left hand, but i'll try this out for some time.

I think angling your bass a bit so the neck is higher than the body ought to help. That way you don't have to bend your wrist.

ThreeLetterSyndrom wrote:
I think angling your bass a bit so the neck is higher than the body ought to help. That way you don't have to bend your wrist.

+1
Shortening the strap should make it easier for your left hand! What's your left hand technique like? How do you position your hand on the neck?

I play for 7 months and I don't seem I get along with picks also. PFT!!!

SuperMaximo93 wrote:

ThreeLetterSyndrom wrote:
I think angling your bass a bit so the neck is higher than the body ought to help. That way you don't have to bend your wrist.

+1
Shortening the strap should make it easier for your left hand! What's your left hand technique like? How do you position your hand on the neck?

Kinda hard to explain that in english -.- I'll give it a try.

I do it just like when I play guitar. My elbow is quite of my body so my hand can be perpendicular to the neck. I try not to "break" my wrist too. I asked my second band's bassist about that 2 days ago, Yet he he's not playing with a pick anymore he gave me some tricks. I already am more comfortable playing when I stand up, but I believe there are some possible correction.

Nocturnal_Pulse wrote:I play for 7 months and I don't seem I get along with picks also. PFT!!!

Was quite easy for me as I am a guitar player. I found it easyer than guitar cause of the strings not being as close to each other. (I got a 5 strings bass). I quite enjoy bass guitar, yet I'll need to add some bass solos to our songs eh eh... I just dislike how the bass often lacks some attention in metal. When I'm playing it, at the very least... -.-

Problem is I played 8 years the acoustic guitar.

Fingerstyle.

Hmm, do you pick like the singer/bassist here? He doesn't really use his wrist but uses his elbow

the guitarist is beating the crap out of that tambourine.

Awesome thread, and question! Some great replies as well.

And it's reminded me of a video log I meant to do, aagggggeeeeessss ago!

The importance of practicing standing up. You have to adjust your whole technique (as you've just found out)

I had the same problems. It's ok, you'll adjust your technique and it'll come eventually.