Fretless with a pick?

[Edro]

It's probably blasphemous just thinking of it, but has anyone tried playing fretless with a pick with good results? I've tried it a few times, mainly because of wrist problems and the bad angle of my plucking hand, especially while sitting and playing. The last few years have been worse, and using a pick has been the only way I can play any bass for more than a few minutes without pain making me sound like a train wreck.

There are 3 fretless basses that I love to play and don't want to give up or have collect dust. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

[Quinn]

It's probably blasphemous just thinking of it, but has anyone tried playing fretless with a pick with good results?

 

Yes, Rick Danko!

 

Also Bill Wyman, and Mick Karn (I think.) If it works for you, do it. There are no rules.

[Tim C]

i don't use picks, but it seems like you dont have much choice in the issue. i'm sure you can get it done with some practice, don't give up just yet. my buddy joe plays with a pick and he gets pretty good tone out of fretless basses when he plays them.

[The Geoff]

I played my fretless for the first time at a gig last night. there's one number we do (Walkin' by Myself) which needs a fast bassline and I use a pick for that.

 

Whatever works.

 

G.

[kenfxj]

I don't use picks much, but if I had to use them with fretless I would think about trying felt picks or rubber picks. .

Good luck.

[rdepelteau]

Some call it outrageous, others call it innovative.

 

I played guitar for 35 years, and I'm very fast and comfortable with a pick on the guitar, and I play fretless, but I don't use a pick, since I want to develop dexterity in my right hand, which I find is lacking. I try to gain speed without a pick. I suppose I can play with a pick, and I probably will do it one of these days. I used to pick and pluck on the guitar, so I can use the same technique on the bass.

[Edro]

Just tried it with my Carvin that has tapewounds on it...not bad! If my intonation is off it is really noticeable with a pick, which isn't a bad thing. It'll keep me from getting lazy and maybe make be a better player o' the smooth board.

 

i don't use picks, but it seems like you dont have much choice in the issue.

Yeah, I'm trying to avoid surgery if I can. The percentage range of mobility loss the doc told me was too high.

 

I might give those felt and rubber picks a try eventually, thanks!

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Phil W]

Most people don't play fretless witha pick as the desired nature of a fretless is often a smoother attack. However, all sounds can work if that's what you want or that's what you're able to do. I would do it if I wanted to.

 

Go for the pick thing.

 

Take inspiration from oud players from North Africa and the Middle east. The oud is a fretless instrument played witha pick and has a very distinctive and beautiful sound.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oud

[Edro]

Phil W, after checking out a YouTube video of the oud...wow, very nice sounding instrument.

 

Someone on another forum showed me a way to use the pick on guitar that works well for taking some of the "bite" out of it on bass too. Instead of holding it the usual way, turn the pointed tip in and use the rounded ones. It also helped to choke up on the pick so some flesh from the thumb or fingers comes in contact with the string to soften the tone. Great for classic country thumpin'.

 

 

[BenLoy]

Pick on a fretless? Why not?

 

It worked for Tony Levin when he recorded the bassline for Sledgehammer...why not you?

[Edro]

I play mainly country, so using one on any bass freaks other musicians out. It used to anyway. I don't understand why that is, with the older recordings having the tic-tac bass, and a lot of what sounds like picks used on Fenders strung with flatwounds.

[Eric VB]

First off, Quinn is quite correct: there are no rules.

 

The first pick I used on bass was the felt pick described by kenfxj. They'll feel weird at first because of their thickness, but I think you'll like the different tone they give you. I haven't tried the rubber ones yet.

 

Of course when I think of fretless bass, like most people I think of it being played fingerstyle. To me fretless is more about enhanced expressivity, and I feel more expressive when I play fingerstyle. It's like playing URB with a bow: it's not just because everybody (especially in an orchestra) does it, it's because it is more expressive than pizzicato.

 

That's not to say that you cannot be expressive with a pick. There are tons of different pick techniques; I'm just not that comfortable with a pick. (Although I am using one more in the band I'm currently in for certain songs.)

 

For country I'd try taking one of those felt picks and plucking close to or even on the neck for that old-time thumpy tone. Of course that may be more painful than your normal playing position.

 

Speaking of which ...

[...] wrist problems and the bad angle of my plucking hand, especially while sitting and playing

Have you tried consulting a bass instructor about your technique? They may be able to work with you to find an optimum position given your physical limitations.

 

Off hand it sounds like you wear your bass low, because if you wore it like a bowtie its position wouldn't change when you sat down. We've discussed the issue of bass height a few times here and here. Maybe you can try holding your bass a little more vertical to minimize the bend in your plucking hand?

[yourlord]

I play fretless and don't use a pick. I really dislike what a pick does on a bass. But, if the choice is play with pick or quit playing bass, play with a pick man!!

 

 

[Edro]

I usually have the bass strap adjusted so it doesn't change when standing up. I've tried lowering the strap to help straighten the right wrist, but that puts the left hand at an awkward angle. After checking out the various pics in the bass height thread RicBassGuy, I might have my right arm in a broken wing-like position. I'll grab a bass after this post and see what bad habit I need to change.

 

Have you tried consulting a bass instructor about your technique?

No I haven't. That isn't an option right now, but some day I would like to.