A Bass Guide for Guitarists: How to Get a Bass-Like Sound with Pick Playing

I originally aspired to be a guitarist, but by a twist of fate, I started getting asked to play bass, and now I perform actively as a dual player on both guitar and bass. These days, I’ve been playing more fingerstyle bass, but given my long history with the guitar, playing with a pick still feels the most natural to me.

That said, pick playing on guitar and bass are similar but fundamentally different. I imagine many guitarists out there also play bass for home recordings and such, but have you ever found yourself thinking, “But why doesn’t it sound like a real bass”?

In this article, I’ll share some tips based on my own experience on how to get a bass-like sound when playing with a pick!

What Does a “Guitarist-Like” Bass Tone Sound Like?

When guitarists play bass with the same feeling that they use for guitar, the result often lacks mid and low-end presence, with the attack standing out too much resulting in a hard or brittle tone. While this sound isn’t necessarily bad, in a band context the bass can feel like it’s lacking in weight or stability.

When I first started playing bass, my teacher often told me, “Your tone sounds too light.”

Choosing the Right Pick

When playing bass with a pick, thicker and larger picks are recommended. The standard triangle-shaped pick that’s often favored by bassists works well. But personally, I use the Jim Dunlop Tortex teardrop shape (1.0mm).

JIM DUNLOP / TORTEX STANDARD 1.00

Thin picks tend to give way under the strings, making solid picking more difficult. Also, sharp-tipped picks like the Jazz shape have less contact with the string, which can overly emphasize the attack and result in a clicking tone.

How to Hold a Pick

Pick grip varies from person to person, but since bass strings are thicker and offer more resistance than guitar strings, using the same grip as you would for guitar often results in the pick slipping.

A method I recommend is using the thumb, index, and middle finger together for a more stable grip. This technique is also used by Masayoshi Yamashita of Loudness.

By the way, I personally use a unique grip where I bend my thumb backward. By doing so, I increase the surface area between my thumb and the pick, which stabilizes the grip. This also allows me to keep the pick parallel to the strings, regardless of how high or at what angle I hold the bass.

Pick Attack Angle

In my experience, pick angle is the most crucial factor in achieving a bass-like sound when using a pick.

When guitarists switch to bass, they tend to adopt a forward angle—that is, attacking the strings with the pick tilted downward in the direction of the strum.

While this emphasizes the attack and clarity, it reduces low-mid frequencies, often resulting in a thinner, less “bass-like” tone.

To counter this, I highly recommend picking with the pick as parallel to the string as possible. This allows the fuller frequency range of the note, especially the low-end body, to come through, giving your tone that rich, grounded feel that's essential in bass playing.

With this method, you can maintain the crisp attack that’s characteristic of pick playing, while achieving a more balanced tone overall.

Notably, Seiji Kameda of Tokyo Jihen also uses this parallel angle approach when picking.

Here’s a visual comparison of the frequency distribution when playing the open 4th string on a Jazz Bass:
- Forward angle (top image): Shows prominent peaks around 1.5kHz and 2.8kHz, but the crucial midrange between 200Hz–1kHz is noticeably angled.
- Parallel angle (bottom image): Delivers a more even and balanced frequency response that’s ideal for a solid and full bass tone.

How to Achieve a “Bass-Like” Tone Even with a Forward Pick Angle

Many well-known bassists who favor pick playing actually use a forward pick angle.

If you’re someone who finds parallel picking awkward, or if you simply prefer the sharper attack that comes with a forward angle, don’t worry. You can still get a full, bass-appropriate sound.

Here are two techniques to help you maintain that bass feel even when using a forward angle:

1. Use a Precision Bass

The Precision Bass (P-Bass) is famously well-suited for pick playing and is a favorite among many pick-style bassists.

Personally, I use a PJ-style bass, and when playing with a pick, I switch to only the Precision pickup. Compared to a Jazz Bass, the P-Bass delivers a thicker, rounder tone, which helps retain solid midrange presence, even with a forward pick angle.

Here’s the frequency analysis from playing an open 4th string on a Precision Bass with a forward angle:
You can see that the sound maintains a well-balanced frequency spread, providing that punchy, “bass-like” tone despite the angled attack.

2. Use Only the Neck Pickup on a Jazz Bass

Jazz Basses come equipped with two pickups, but using both at the same time can cause phase cancellation, which thins out the midrange—similar to the "in-between" positions on a Stratocaster.

If you're aiming for a thicker tone with a pick, try using only the neck pickup. This configuration delivers a warm, mid-rich sound that gives your playing a fuller, more “bass-like” presence.

Here’s the frequency analysis from playing an open 4 string on a Jazz Bass (neck pickup only) with a forward pick angle:
As you can see, the result is also well-balanced, showing that even with a forward angle, you can achieve a robust and rounded tone.

Picking Form

A common picking technique among guitarists is to rely mainly on wrist snap. However, since bass strings are much thicker and offer more resistance, this approach tends to emphasize the attack too much, resulting in a sharp, thin sound.

When playing bass, it’s better to use larger movements involving the whole arm, and not just the wrist. This allows the strings to vibrate more fully, producing a heavier, fuller tone that better suits the instrument’s low-end role.

Picking Position

Many guitarists have the habit of picking near the bridge (rear position), but this is something to be mindful of when switching to bass. Picking closer to the bridge increases attack, but it also dampens string vibration and results in a harder, thinner tone.

If you’re aiming for a more balanced and fuller sound, try picking directly over the pickup area around the front pickup on a Jazz Bass, for example. This position allows for better string resonance and helps achieve that deep, round "bass-like" tone.

To summarize

This time, I shared some tips on pick playing for bass based on my own experiences.

The techniques I introduced here reflect my personal style and musical preferences, so they’re not absolute truths. However, I hope they can serve as useful hints for guitarists or anyone wanting to try playing bass with a pick!

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