[builtmyownbass]

For the last couple of years, I reverted between pick and no pick for bass. In the last few years, I have also taken up classical guitar.
This thing is, classical guitar requires me to have longer nails on my picking hand (which are completely necessary for a good sound from the guitar), but they sound scratchey on the bass (They also get worn, and even break off, which can be very annoying for the next few weeks following...), so I have to play with a pick, which doesn't always suit the piece I am playing.

I am just wondering if anyone else has this problem, and has a way to overcome it. BTW, I am not going to cut my nails. I'm actually wondering if I could put something over the top of them to simulate fingertips...

Thanks for your help.

[Brownetown]

Maybe if you used some kind of rubber thimble or something like that it could act as substitute fingertips. Not too sure it'd work that well though.

I know you said you wouldn't cut your nails, but maybe doing that and using something like the finger picks below would be a comprimise.



(First post. Woooo!)

[AcousticSmash]

Dunno, I have never used long finger nails for playing classical guitar, since plastic ones are easy to deal with for me and it does not hold back the playing of other types of guitars.

[junior01]

Funny 'cause i have never seen a guitar player with such long nails that it may get in the way of playing other instrument. As it was mentioned before, surely finger pick would do the trick. Because i don't know about anybody else but for me long nails on a man is a big no-no.

[AcousticSmash]

Finger picks work for playing finger style on guitar. But I have never seen a REAL bassist use a pick of any kind, only those wankers in emo bands. Does Victor Wooten use a pick? Les Claypool? Geddy Lee? Good bass players don't or rarely use picks, I play my brothers spare bass and never use a pick when playing, find the fingers way easier to do, however it does take some adjustment to playing and I notice that it does hurt the fingers for a little bit because I am not used to it.

[randallflagg]

Finger picks work for playing finger style on guitar. But I have never seen a REAL bassist use a pick of any kind, only those wankers in emo bands. Does Victor Wooten use a pick? Les Claypool? Geddy Lee? Good bass players don't or rarely use picks, I play my brothers spare bass and never use a pick when playing, find the fingers way easier to do, however it does take some adjustment to playing and I notice that it does hurt the fingers for a little bit because I am not used to it.

What are you? 12??

I have been playing bass for nearly 35 years and for the vast majority of those years, I have used a pick. You strike me as one of "those" guys, who think they know what is best for everyone else. Answer me this....why the hell do bass guitars have frets?? I mean, a REAL bassist would NEVER play anything but a fretless sans fret markers (like MY fender fretless Jazz, that I play with my FINGERS no pick). As well, no self-respecting BASS player would EVER resort to playing anything but a Double Bass, right?? And God forbid, what decent bass player would EVER need anything more than 4 strings??

Frankly, I am NOT Les Claypool. I am NOT Victor Wooten. I am NOT Betty Lee (yes, I know his name is Geddy)

Quit putting everyone in the corner you think they belong in. Thank God we don;t have to conform to YOUR idea of music...




RF

[builtmyownbass]

Well, the thing is I do not want to have to use fingerpicks as a substitute for nails - especailly as a classical guitarist.
I can play fine with my fingers on bass (technical wise), but choose not to if I can help it because it sounds bad and cracks my nails.
I am really after something I can slip on to my fingers to act as fingertips, to get no nail noise. Playing with a pick works at the moment, but I can't always get the playing feel I need for particular songs, or even to demonstrate to my students.
I was wandering if something was designed for this purpose, or if there is a known domestic solution...

[randallflagg]

Well, the thing is I do not want to have to use fingerpicks as a substitute for nails - especailly as a classical guitarist.
I can play fine with my fingers on bass (technical wise), but choose not to if I can help it because it sounds bad and cracks my nails.
I am really after something I can slip on to my fingers to act as fingertips, to get no nail noise. Playing with a pick works at the moment, but I can't always get the playing feel I need for particular songs, or even to demonstrate to my students.
I was wandering if something was designed for this purpose, or if there is a known domestic solution...

Unfortunately, probably not. Long fingernails have long been the bain of MOST guitarist (whether it be bass or 6 string). Now, on the other hand, Betty Lee (as I understand) relies on the use of his fingernails for his sound. Very trebley and twangy (much like his voice). There USED to be (may still be) oversized hard felt picks that pretty much deadened the sound on the strings, but that's about the only solution that I can offer.

The only other alternative is to go to picks like wankers such as myself and Chris Squire....

Good luck to you!



RF

[ninjato]

have you tried felt picks?

[ravaging]

try using the fat part of your finger tips. if you're plucking with your fingers right, even a nail that sticks out a centimeter will miss the strings. if you're looking at your index finger from the side (finger horizontal), you should be plucking somewhere between the very tip and the very bottom of your finger.

[skunky123]

try slapping. it is easy and you play with a part of your hand in which your nails won't get in the way if done right.


Happy Playing

[AcousticSmash]

Doing bass chords I find actually toughens up my fingers on my picking hand which makes it easier to finger pick a steel string guitar but it might just be the way I hit the strings.

[dadfad]

I'm no "real" bass-player by any means, but you might wanna try using sewing-thimbles on your index and middle fingers. Most are made of metal but they are also made out of plastic, which is less cumbersome and can be sanded/filed to the shape of a finger-tip a little more. Unless you're playing prety complex lines (which I don't) (actually, which I can't ) they should be okay. The string spacing is usually wide enough to accomodate it.


(I just happened to accidently click into the bass forum and saw this topic!)