Geddy

[1-0-0-1-0-0-1]

QUOTE (Moonraker @ Nov 19 2004, 10:19 AM)

Never heard of either of those 2 bass players. And I am sure you can play fast with a pick, but I am most definatly certain through my own experience that a well trained bass player can produce a faster sound using all 4 fingers on his right hand. It just seems like a 4 to 1 thing to me, you have 4 fingers, but you only have 1 hand. Its better for chords I admit, but they are still easily producable without a bass.

Just to play devil's advocate here...say you're playing on one string, and were trying to play a note as fast as you can. Can a player who's rolling all four fingers across the string play it faster than a player using a pick in a fast up and down motion? I just tried it on my bass, and although I'm no Stanley Clarke (I'm not really a bassist either, I'm a guitarist ), I was able to play a note on one string much faster with a pick. (When I do fiddle around on my bass, I use my fingers, not a pick.)

 

Now, where a finger-using bassist has a distinct advantage is when they're playing across different strings ("Different Strings"...Hmmm......). I'm thinking alternating fingers makes for smoother and quicker string hopping. Again, I'm not really a bassist, so you bass-heads can give your take on this.

[Moonraker]

I dunno, I've always found the more practice you do with fingerbassing, the faster your fingers get. A good way to practice and try to keep in time is playing a song like Red Sector A with your fingers. I think its pointless though, for people that have trained themselves with guitar, they will think picking is the way to go. For those that trained themselves with fingerpicking, thats the way to go. Besides, with a pick, you're right, you cant play different strings all that easily. Try putting a huge emphasis on the D-string, while lightly playing the G-string as an accompanyment (sp)?.

[My_Shrimp_Cot]

QUOTE (Moonraker @ Nov 19 2004, 10:43 AM)

while lightly playing the G-string

I love lightly playing with G-strings....ahem

[Slaine mac Roth]

QUOTE (Moonraker @ Nov 18 2004, 09:35 PM)

If your trying to attain a particular sound, picking is ok, but I dunno. Generally I have always abhored pick using as a bass player because it so severly limits the speed in which you can play. You only have 1 pick, but you have 4 fingers on your right hand to use, the left and the right hands can work equally as fast together. 5 fingers on your right if you can get your thumb in there, but its a lot more difficult to switch between thumb and fingers unless your thumb is just on the D string. I dunno, I just always found it sorta funny seeing bass players play with a pick.

I'm a bassist and I use a pick.

 

It may have something to with the fact I have limited flexability with the fingers of my right hand (my left is OK) and I find it very difficult to play with my fingers. However, due to the fact there is nothing wrong with my wrist (no sniggering at the back there) I find using a pick no problem.

 

As with any musical technique, you have to find what is most comfortable for you otherwise, your playing will suffer.

[Moonraker]

QUOTE (Slaine mac Roth @ Nov 19 2004, 04:23 PM)

QUOTE (Moonraker @ Nov 18 2004, 09:35 PM) If your trying to attain a particular sound, picking is ok, but I dunno.  Generally I have always abhored pick using as a bass player because it so severly limits the speed in which you can play.  You only have 1 pick, but you have 4 fingers on your right hand to use, the left and the right hands can work equally as fast together.  5 fingers on your right if you can get your thumb in there, but its a lot more difficult to switch between thumb and fingers unless your thumb is just on the D string.  I dunno, I just always found it sorta funny seeing bass players play with a pick. I'm a bassist and I use a pick.   It may have something to with the fact I have limited flexability with the fingers of my right hand (my left is OK) and I find it very difficult to play with my fingers. However, due to the fact there is nothing wrong with my wrist (no sniggering at the back there) I find using a pick no problem.   As with any musical technique, you have to find what is most comfortable for you otherwise, your playing will suffer. snicker snicker

[Indica]

QUOTE (1-0-0-1-0-0-1 @ Nov 19 2004, 10:36 AM)

QUOTE (Moonraker @ Nov 19 2004, 10:19 AM) Never heard of either of those 2 bass players.  And I am sure you can play fast with a pick, but I am most definatly certain through my own experience that a well trained bass player can produce a faster sound using all 4 fingers on his right hand.  It just seems like a 4 to 1 thing to me, you have 4 fingers, but you only have 1 hand.  Its better for chords I admit, but they are still easily producable without a bass. Just to play devil's advocate here...say you're playing on one string, and were trying to play a note as fast as you can. Can a player who's rolling all four fingers across the string play it faster than a player using a pick in a fast up and down motion? I just tried it on my bass, and although I'm no Stanley Clarke (I'm not really a bassist either, I'm a guitarist ), I was able to play a note on one string much faster with a pick. (When I do fiddle around on my bass, I use my fingers, not a pick.)   Now, where a finger-using bassist has a distinct advantage is when they're playing across different strings ("Different Strings"...Hmmm......). I'm thinking alternating fingers makes for smoother and quicker string hopping. Again, I'm not really a bassist, so you bass-heads can give your take on this. I agree with you 10101010101. My friend whos one of the best bass players I ever saw uses a pick most of the time. He plays speed metal in a band called knee deep, you could probably find some of their songs on garageband.com. I know what moon is saying about using 4 fingers and all but just think of the guitar, and how malmstein uses alternate picking on his solos. This is how my buddy plays the bass. Theres a lot of fast stuff played on 2-3 strings that you could play way faster with 4 fingers but as far as pick tremloing on 1 string a pick can be wicked fast. A lot of stuff played with 4 fingers is impossible to play with a pick. I love watching Geddy and geezer Butler pick those notes with all their fingers, theres nothing like it.

[rinty]

Of course, Geddy plays using one finger most of the time. He uses his index finger very much like a pick, unless he's breaking into a multi-string-thing

 

You can see this technique really well on the studio footage filmed for MFH.

[Indica]

Hendrix used his teeth sometimes just to look cool.

[barney_rebel]

Geddy plays a very unique style. He picks the nail of his thumb at times and plays with only his index finger. Whatever style he is playing though.. sure hope he keeps it up because he's amazing.

 

As for him using a pick on Resist - lmao good one!

[Schro]

Question: If Geddy only uses his index finger, then how the heck does he do those lightning fast triplets in "Marathon"? I'm not an expert, but it would seem impossible to do that with one finger to me.

 

[darth by tor]

Well you probably wont believe this but this is god's honest truth.

Geddy used to use a pick when playing the twelve string Rickenbacker Guitar at the close of Xanadu, How do I know this? Because my wifes best friend managed to get one on the moving pictures tour and gave it to me!

Its a tortoise shell one with the rush logo on one side and geddy's name on the other!!!

[troutman]

Nice post!! yea, the only time I have seen him play with a pick was at the end of Xanadu on ESL video. At least I think he was.

[Spirit of the Radio]

If he only uses his index finger, how come he calls his middle finger his noisy b*stard on the Rio documentary?

[zilla04]

Geddy does, indeed, use his "Noisy Bastid" middle finger.

[RushGuru]

I love watching geddy's hands on Leave That Thing Alone. And of course YYZ. But on LTTA he kind of flicks the strings with a sort of waving motion. Its so awesome! Geddy is my favorite bassist in the world.

[Sodoff Baldrick]

QUOTE (esmeralda @ Nov 18 2004, 12:55 AM)

I haven't seen him using a pick either. He does everything with his hands....

Oh, yah.

[Drumnut]

I'm watching The Radio City Music Hall DVD right now and Ged uses a pick for "Heart Full of Soul" (acoustic version)

http://www.guitarpicks.com/cart/gp/rush23.jpg

[Drumnut]

http://i2.ebayimg.com/03/i/03/2d/e9/97_1.JPG

Buy your own Geddy Lee '04 guitar pick here.

 

[DoubleAgent420]

From what I understand, bass guitar with a pick is maily used for funk.

[Steel Rat]

http://www.palhetas.com/foto080.JPG

[Steel Rat]

I play bass, and sometimes I play with a pick, sometimes I don't.

 

I think with a pick, you can play on one string faster, but it's harder to move from string to string. Like said earlier, you get a brighter sound, too.

 

With fingers, you've got a lot more control. You can move from string to string like easy. And then fingers are also more fun than picks! You can pop and slap with fingers. Can't have that kind of fun with picks.

 

I've never seen Geddy Lee use a pick, but I HAVE seen his bass guitar picks. I'd prefer using my fingers over my picks any concert.

 

But if my fingers bleed enough, I'll consider using the pick...

[Uncle]

He must have used a pick in the opening bass line of My favourite headache.

[darth by tor]

No way!!! Its a tricky one to do with fingers but that Geddy and his noisy bastard in full flight! No picks were harmed suring the recording of that track!

[Uncle]

ok I believe you.

 

Just tried it on my bass and you can do it with your fingers if do it hard.