Bass Picking - Know Your Options

Bass picking, sweep, alternate, economy, string skipping, scale sequencing, sweep arpeggios all relate to methods of how to use a pick to play the strings on a bass. Some bass players use a pick, some do sometimes, and other bass players do not use a pick at all. The use their fingers to pluck or slap the bass strings. However, if you want to use a pick at all, then the most common way to hold the pick is between the thumb and the index finger. However, some players hold it differently and the way they hold the pick works for them. If a world class bassist holds the pick in a very odd manner, "Should you hold the pick the way he does?" Ultimately that depends on you. You should use the method that allows you to play at your best.

Remember, for bass players who just play with their fingers, this won't matter. Many players will find the common way to hold the pick for their bass picking as the most natural and productive method for their playing ability. However, you will have to be the ultimate judge of that.

This is very important to understand in regards to your bass picking. You will run into some various approaches to holding a pick, even if they are simply nuances in how some players hold the pick with the common method. You may try some adjustments and find either they improve your playing or they don't. It shouldn't take very long with some practice with a particular method to see what bass picking feels right to you for your best playing or not.

Along with how you hold your bass pick, again there is much more to bass picking. What method are you interested in developing and do you really know about alternate picking, sweep picking, or economy picking? This is completely covered in our bass learning software.