Picks & Plectrums

Renesongs · 2008-06-02T15:22:34+00:00

For the last 10 years I have had a tempestuous relationship with plectrums, (guitar picks). I am a bit of a hybrid hack (I use fingers and pick at the same t...

Picks & Plectrums

Robin

Wish I could use a plactrim AND fingers simultaniously...I can only play with my fingers OR plactrim, but have to admit i enjoy the fingers better. I remember years ago when i use to play with plactrims, i also used the Dunlop 38mm (white) diamond shaped, but i guess it all depends on "style" and "what type of music"

Wessel

@ Bane. I think the red and black ones are the same. Really can't see the difference. Maybe thats a different kind of pick?

Renesongs

I think the red and black ones are the same. Really can't see the difference.

LOL - If you look very carefully you will see the red ones are red and others are not. Seriously though, besides not being as easy to lose, the red ones seem to be slightly more glossy and slip easier against the stings. I think that may be more cognitive than physical, rather like red sports cars being faster.

Bane

hmmm try cutting up a black and a red Jazz III, the red one cuts easier. Pretty sure the red one is softer. But have been wrong on occasion (ok, many occasions ?)
Oh and lethe, i have the same problem. Some contact glue and sand paper or simply cutting a few lines on the surface helps alot

Wessel

the red ones seem to be slightly more glossy and slip easier against the stings. I think that may be more cognitive than physical, rather like red sports cars being faster.

Excately! Because there was not so many red JazIII's at my local music shop they became more special to me than the black ones. And therefore I can play way better with them. ? Them being special and everything.

deanBailey

Bane wrote: hmmm try cutting up a black and a red Jazz III, the red one cuts easier. Pretty sure the red one is softer. But have been wrong on occasion (ok, many occasions ?)

+1

I used Jazz III's but I found they slipped out of my hands way to often and I'd have to grip harder which then tenses up the muscles in my hand.
I then had the idea of taking a blade and scraping deep slits into it on both sides which helped a lot but I thought it pointless to fix a problem that...well...shouldn't be a problem.

So I moved to the Dunlop Tortex Jazz picks as they are closer to JAZZ III picks in size and comfort. (the ones everyone is talking about here) The purple ones specifically because I need very precise picking when I play up to 220 -240 and I need the pick to be stable under my fingers. the green ones are cool for slower tempo picking but that's another problem that shouldn't be a problem.

A friend of mine caught Peter Lindgren's (ex. guitarist of Opeth) pick and it had slits on them too.
I guess it's the same with drummers that put tape on their sticks.
I also noticed the Jazz Tortex (M3) picks are weak when it comes to strumming because of it's size (which would mean you'd need to limp your hand bit more in order not to break any strings) that's why I realised why Peter used the Standard Tortex as it was just like the JAZZ tortex in character but better for strumming.

Another thing I require from Picks is that they maintain their "Edge" as it's that scraping sound that adds to your tone, for those that like crunchy scrapy tone ala every band with a breakdown, but I need it because it makes the notes i play alot more articulate and pronounced.
That, in turn, made me think about using stainless steel picks.
Besides slowly ripping your strings apart are there any downsides to using these? Anyone tried these?

CornFlakes

What is a good plectrum to use for playing BASS?

deanBailey

CornFlakes wrote: What is a good plectrum to use for playing BASS?

I have sessioned Bass for a Tech Death Band called "Guttural Evisceration" (yes I know tech death has some funny named bands)
I usually frown upon using picks for playing bass as it takes away so much feel but that's where I argue with myself in saying that "Different solutions for different problems for different applications"

If my latter self was looking for a pick, I'd say first find a pick that fits in my hands comfortablly withouth falling out because the strings are thicker which means more pressure is required to pluck a string than guitar. (duh)

Then once that's decided, I worry about the thickness. If my pick is too thick It tends to make my bass to plucky sounding and punky (especially on SoundGears) and i've seen TONS of bassist pick their bass to damn hard anyway causing their notes to be played way to sharp. So with that discovered I move on to lighter picks. Almost something that is slightly transparent in the tone but yet still firm enough to hold up against constant 125-130 Gauge string bashing. For standard Rock/Metal bass I'd say try tampering with Tri-Tip Torex (hows that for alliteration ?)

Trying out different sizes/thickness' that fit your playing style and hand. The same thing that I mentioned im my previous post about guitar picks scraping the strings applies here if your're a metal or rock player as you'd be surprised how much overdrive is used on Bass for those genre's.

Hopefully that helps ?

Renesongs

I eventually went back to Jazz III, (Red ones), and hope to remain monogamous from now one, scoring the surfaces does really improve the grip quite substantially.

CornFlakes

@ DeanBailey

Thanks for the advice! I’ve played bass without plectrums for long but when I play more progressive rock my fingers start to cramp up en stuff so that’s why I started using a pick.
I prefer playing without a plectrums when comes to bass “you get a more natural song and feel” but JA..

deanBailey

hmm..I don't know how to say this without it sounding shitty (I mean it in the nicest way possible), but I'd suggest practice more.

If your hand is cramping, means you're not physically fit to do that speed (in a nutshell). I remember when I started learning bass properly it took me a while (2-3 months of constant practice) to get comfortable with using my fingers when doing 16th notes, but just start slow and work your way up. Kinda like Double bass (and everthing else) where the drummer starts at a slow tempo making sure all his hits are in and feels comfortable, then increase your speed. ?

Renesongs

@ Flakes - Plectrum and bass usually don't go well together. However there is a particular style of punk/grunge and some styles of Ska that sounds good with a palm muted plectrum style. Imo a big plectrum like a large triangular stubby by Dunlop is best because it is easy to grip and less likely to get shot into the audience.

If your hand gets cramped with finger style bass it is generally a sign that you are plucking instead of tickling the strings ( the biggest mistake made by guitarists playing bass). Turn the volume up and pick more lightly, your speed will improve as well ?

deanBailey

Renesongs wrote: @ Flakes - Plectrum and bass usually don't go well together. However there is a particular style of punk/grunge and some styles of Ska that sounds good with a palm muted plectrum style. Imo a big plectrum like a large triangular stubby by Dunlop is best because it is easy to grip and less likely to get shot into the audience.

I agree on all those points, Except that the stubby's are a bit to dense (strictly my opinion) for bass as they are the picks that tend to make your "duhm duhm" notes into "dwahm dwahm" because they always tend to pick too hard. Usualy I'd prefer a pick that bends moderately.

If your hand gets cramped with finger style bass it is generally a sign that you are plucking instead of tickling the strings ( the biggest mistake made by guitarists playing bass). Turn the volume up and pick more lightly, your speed will improve as well ?
[/quote]

The most simplest piece of advice yet the most sense I've heard all day.
Watch Billy Sheehan at work:

Love that song

CornFlakes

That is so true I do the “plucking instead of tickling the strings” reason for that is I get a bit overexcited when jamming. Personally I think I’m going to stick to the finger style bass playing I’m must just be more gentile.

Thanks again for the advice guys!

Bane

nother thing I require from Picks is that they maintain their "Edge" as it's that scraping sound that adds to your tone, for those that like crunchy scrapy tone ala every band with a breakdown, but I need it because it makes the notes i play alot more articulate and pronounced.

At one stage so got way to comfortable with the reduced edge of the JazzIII i always play with and then had problems playing with a new one, so now i play with a pick maybe 2 weeks max, and then change to a new one.

Bane

ha the quote thing worked! ?

NorioDS

Unless I missed something, no one has mentioned the Jaxx III XL's? Apparently these are the same as the Jazz III's but bigger, for more grip (but suffer by offering maneuverability). Any word on these?

I just picked up a few Jazz II's at the shop as the III's were out of stock. Very nice grip! Haven't been able to try them out properly yet tho.