i am good with both but cannot decide what to use :(

Whatever sounds best for the particular song you're playing at the time!

I played exclusively with a pick back when I was alternating between lead g**tar and bass. Then I got a call for a bass-only gig, practiced with a pick for a week, and when it came time for the show, I used my fingers.

Haven't used a pick since 2003, except for fingerpicks on my Dobro.

The freedom and expressiveness of fingers, for me, is vastly better than the limited tonality I can get from a pick.

YMMV, as always.:eyebrow:

Use your fingers. Pick users are guitar players who play bass. Bassplayers use their hands and fingers.

Use your fingers. Pick users are guitar players who play bass. Bassplayers use their hands and fingers.

This is a good way to think about it.

if you happen to be a primitive macho jerk.

Use both.

Definitely use both, depending on the song and what you want. I play fingerstyle 95% of the time. Why? I'm faster and I have more control over the sound that way (that said, my "usual" way of playing is a pretty aggressive fingerstyle). But every once in a while I find a song where the zing and hot bark of a pick is just perfect... and so I play it with a pick. Even if you lean heavily toward one style over the other (and you probably will), they both offer usable sounds, so just keep your ears open.

Brian

Whatever sounds best for the particular song you're playing at the time!

Uh, of course man, that's a given. Although fingerstyle may be neccessary to play faster, if you need to.

that sounds pretty good but.... how do i choose? :P

Use both.


Definitely use both, depending on the song and what you want.

+1

...and...

+1

[/thread]

When in top 40 and rock cover bands years ago, I occasionally played with a pick if the tune called for it but for the last 20 years or so have been a hands and fingers guy.

My main beefs against the pick are: ya gotta make sure you have one and, when holding a pick most folks lose the ability to bring other fingers into play. Try grabbing a 10th with a pick. No point. If I want a nice deep eighth note groove, I can get it with thumb sweep picking.

I would never say to anyone- you have to do this, or you have to play this way, I just think at the end of the day, the pick is more a limiting technique than an expansive in IMO.
Apologies to Chris Squire of course.

JKT :)

Use both.

Learn to use your thumb as well. More colors for your musical paintbox

that sounds pretty good but.... how do i choose? :P

Are you being serious?

Play with your fingers and if you decide you need a sharper attack that will cut through better - you grab the pick.

Your playing with a pick and you decide you want a mellower more "round" sounding attack - drop the pick and play fingerstyle.


Or play finger style on Tues, Thurs, Sat and Sun

Use a pick on Mon, Weds, and Fri.

Whatever you do - don't stop practicing either. You'll want and need to know both.

When in top 40 and rock cover bands years ago, I occasionally played with a pick if the tune called for it but for the last 20 years or so have been a hands and fingers guy.

My main beefs against the pick are: ya gotta make sure you have one and, when holding a pick most folks lose the ability to bring other fingers into play. Try grabbing a 10th with a pick. No point. If I want a nice deep eighth note groove, I can get it with thumb sweep picking.

I would never say to anyone- you have to do this, or you have to play this way, I just think at the end of the day, the pick is more a limiting technique than an expansive in IMO.
Apologies to Chris Squire of course.

JKT :)

It's not hard to snag a tenth with your middle or ring finger while holding a pick, guitarists use this technique all the time.

yeah i can easily hit the 10th

This is a good way to think about it.

if you happen to be a primitive macho jerk.

Use both.

i take it you play with a pick?

This is a good way to think about it.

if you happen to be a primitive macho jerk.

Use both.

Sorry! I was trying to be funny. I do believe, however, that one would limit themselves if he/she decided to play exclusively with a pick.

i take it you play with a pick?

I do, but I pride myself in the fact that at least with my band (and most of my private practicing) I have just about a 50/50 split between pick and fingers. I don't believe that any rock bass player can rock you as hard as they potentially could unless they use both.

Its nicer to feel the strings while playing :D

Its nicer to feel the strings while playing :D

I love the feeling of bass strings against my fingers. :hiding:

Yeah it is a nice feeling that you can't get when you play with a pick





Unless you haven't lost all the feeling in your fretting hand:hmm:

People who use their fingers or a pick are all sissies.

Play with your teeth! :D I mean, how else are you going to get that bone-on-metal sound?

It's quite an interesting topic (and always seems to come up...).


I have a slightly different slant as I'm an ex guitarist. I spent five years mastering my alternate picking, so my pick playing is far superior to fingerstyle. Back when I was in a band, if I couldn't play the piece cleanly enough with my fingers, then I would use a pick.

It is quite liberating being able to pick up a bass and start playing without spending ten minutes trying to find a pick :p

It really depends on your style, but my money is on playing pickstyle. Ignore the people who talk about its effect on your tone, you can make your sound warmer or sharper or anything you damn well please if you know how to use your EQ properly. I played fingerstyle for a year, exclusively. Then, for a month, I was left with a guitar while my bass sat in the garage of a rather irresponsible drummer. This forced me to learn to play with a pick. By the time I got my bass back, I could play stuff with a pick I wouldn't have dreamed of fingerstyle, stuff like the Iron Maiden gallops, in less than a tenth of the time I had spent learning to play with my fingers. YMMV, but I found that playing with a pick gave me the sort of speed that was very difficult to attain playing with fingers.

Edit: This is for playing mostly metal and ska. No guarantees for other genres.

I would suggest a pick, ;) I used to play with my fingers which I liked but a pick is more satisfying, with a pick you can play so fast your hand just becomes a blur and when your attacking those strings everythings very crisp sounding.

I like playing with my fingers too but it would be hard to combine both styles in one song or one gig without something to even out the volume such as a compressor unless you want to manually change the volume on your bass when you change styles.

People who use their fingers or a pick are all sissies.

Play with your teeth! :D I mean, how else are you going to get that bone-on-metal sound?


Actually, when I played guitar, I sometimes used bone plectras a bit similar to this (couldn't find a pic of the ones I used):

http://shunarakane.up.seesaa.net/image/dugain-thumbnail2.jpg

They were expensive as hell (about 20-30 euros) but gave a really great attack and a very distinctive sound. The best ones I've tried, actually.



To the OP: Why do you need to choose between pick or fingerstyle? If you're comfortable with both, do what fits the songs best.

I hate this either/or culture in music. Either you have to play with fingers or a pick. Either you have to solo or you have to support. Either you have to play rock or jazz. Either you have to have sex with the opposite sex or the same se...er...forget that last one.

Stop trying to box yourselves, people!

after playing strictly FS for a number of years, I recently performed a song at church that just said "pick"...so I borrowed a pick from the guitarist during practice, and it worked very well in the song.

I'm starting to appreciate that strong agressive attack that only a pick can deliver...even though I'll probably stay fingerstyle for 95% of the time...there is definitely a time for the pick...

by the way...I have a great method of making felt picks using cutouts from plastic coke bottles ironed flat (in a damp rag) and then using craft glue to stick felt on either side...let dry...trim the felt to the plastic, and WOILA! cheap felt picks...you choose the size and the colour :)

i am good with both but cannot decide what to use :(

use either, we don't care

Use your fingers. Pick users are guitar players who play bass. Bassplayers use their hands and fingers.

+1.

I also hate bass player who turn their knobs during the shows! ffs, the tone comes from your fingers, NOT FROM USING A PICK OR KNOBS. Set your knobs and then don't change them! You change the sound with your fingers :hiding:


A pick gives you a different sound. Do you want that sound? If you want that sound if you use a pick. Do you want the sound of a Jazz bass played finger style over the bridge? Then kill the neck pickup and play fingerstyle over the bridge on a Jazz bass.

There you go.

+1.

I also hate bass player who turn their knobs during the shows! ffs, the tone comes from your fingers, NOT FROM USING A PICK OR KNOBS. Set your knobs and then don't change them! You change the sound with your fingers :hiding:


A pick gives you a different sound. Do you want that sound? If you want that sound if you use a pick. Do you want the sound of a Jazz bass played finger style over the bridge? Then kill the neck pickup and play fingerstyle over the bridge on a Jazz bass.

There you go.


yes, because everybody has a jazz bass....
face it, playing with a pick is just another paintbrush to create with, by shutting it out you're only limiting yourself as an artist. your theory makes no sense at all.

Whatever sounds best for the particular song you're playing at the time!

+1,000,000,000

+1.

I also hate bass player who turn their knobs during the shows! ffs, the tone comes from your fingers, NOT FROM USING A PICK OR KNOBS. Set your knobs and then don't change them! You change the sound with your fingers :hiding:


A pick gives you a different sound. Do you want that sound? If you want that sound if you use a pick. Do you want the sound of a Jazz bass played finger style over the bridge? Then kill the neck pickup and play fingerstyle over the bridge on a Jazz bass.

There you go.

I can;t decide how much of this post is B.S.
I mean, everyone should know by now that you can do whatever you want with your fingers, and it isn't going to boost the low end even a fraction of the amount that it would if you just turned the knob up a little. So I'll just assume that was sarcasm.

I was anti-pick for a long time. Like others have said, some songs require it for certain sound. Who knows? You might have a bandleader who requests you play with one. Better be prepared.

I keep a package of picks in my gig bag just in case. I sometimes use one when a group does 8th note/punk rock stuff. I'm going to call myself a 99% finger style player, but if some one calls a Tool song, I know where my picks are.

Actually, when I played guitar, I sometimes used bone plectras a bit similar to this (couldn't find a pic of the ones I used):

http://shunarakane.up.seesaa.net/image/dugain-thumbnail2.jpg

They were expensive as hell (about 20-30 euros) but gave a really great attack and a very distinctive sound. The best ones I've tried, actually.



To the OP: Why do you need to choose between pick or fingerstyle? If you're comfortable with both, do what fits the songs best.

Yeah but it just ain't the same! You don't get the occasional gums and spit on it with a bone pick that ya do with your teeth. And if there's blood, well then it's all gravy!

So I'll just assume that was sarcasm.

The whole first paragraph. Does this forum has a decent roll eyes smiley? :P

My point was that if you want a certain pick/finger sound, then play with either. If you want a pick sound, you can't get this with fingers, so play with a pick...

Since you also play dobro, you might want to consider getting a heavy thumb pick. That way, you could switch easily within the same song, if needed, without having to palm a flatpick. I myself do that for one song (I also play dobro). Otherwise, I use fingers 95% of the time, but that's me.

A question regarding using both pick and fingerstyle:
What is the recommended approach for comfortably switching between those techniques in the "heat of the moment"?
Keeping the pick(s) in my pocket before a rehearsal and starting to search for one when a hard/fast tune comes up is awkward and not fast enough.
Putting the pick(s) on top of the amp is little better, assuming I can locate a pick perfectly every time and havn't thrown too many picks on the floor while switching to fingerstyle.
Having one of those ugly pick containers glued to my bass is another approach, but is there anything better?

Just use it all! I play fingerstyle the majority of the time, but I play with a pick maybe a riff or two in my metal band. I like the fact that I can switch between different styles in a given song- one song, I play the opening riff with a pick, then fingerstyle for the most part, then slap a few riffs too.

A question regarding using both pick and fingerstyle:
What is the recommended approach for comfortably switching between those techniques in the "heat of the moment"?
Keeping the pick(s) in my pocket before a rehearsal and starting to search for one when a hard/fast tune comes up is awkward and not fast enough.
Putting the pick(s) on top of the amp is little better, assuming I can locate a pick perfectly every time and havn't thrown too many picks on the floor while switching to fingerstyle.
Having one of those ugly pick containers glued to my bass is another approach, but is there anything better?

I usually hold my pic, flat on the palm side, with my pinky and ring finger of my right hand while i'm playing fingerstyle. This is when I use both during a song, which I do very frequently. Otherwise I put them in an ugly pic container that is on top of my amp.

Of course this is my opinion, but it works for me.

A question regarding using both pick and fingerstyle:
What is the recommended approach for comfortably switching between those techniques in the "heat of the moment"?
Keeping the pick(s) in my pocket before a rehearsal and starting to search for one when a hard/fast tune comes up is awkward and not fast enough.
Putting the pick(s) on top of the amp is little better, assuming I can locate a pick perfectly every time and havn't thrown too many picks on the floor while switching to fingerstyle.
Having one of those ugly pick containers glued to my bass is another approach, but is there anything better?
I use a thumb pick, so its always attached to my thumb, and when I need it I just hold it like a regular pick.

I use a thumb pick, so its always attached to my thumb, and when I need it I just hold it like a regular pick.
This looks very useful, I have to try that. Hope the choice of pick thickness/shape is not limited compared to standard ones (I like the dunlop purple 1.5-2.0mm picks) and that required change of pick attack angle won't hinder alternate picking speed.
edit: on second thought, this looks useful for arpeggios, but wouldn't an upstroke tend to separate the pick from the curved part around the thumb, unless the pick is held very firmly?

Very hard to groove with a pick.

Maybe it is for you.

i think i will try the thumb pick then i can switch form fingerstyle to pick mid-jam in neccesary, thanks for the idea! :D

anyone know about any bass-thickness thumb picks?

Are you being serious?

Play with your fingers and if you decide you need a sharper attack that will cut through better - you grab the pick.

Your playing with a pick and you decide you want a mellower more "round" sounding attack - drop the pick and play fingerstyle.


+1000

/End Stupid Troll Bait Thread

I can't use a pick.

Fixed. :smug:

use both, and you don't ned a thumb pick, i play with a pick probly 70% of the time w/ my band and when i don't use it i use my middle and ring fingers. no palming pick, i can cut thruogh with my pick fo most of the song and during soft part i can use my fingers. plus, i made a neclace out of it so i can tie it around my wrist (playing) or hang it on my neck (not playing)

use both, and you don't ned a thumb pick, i play with a pick probly 70% of the time w/ my band and when i don't use it i use my middle and ring fingers. no palming pick, i can cut thruogh with my pick fo most of the song and during soft part i can use my fingers. plus, i made a neclace out of it so i can tie it around my wrist (playing) or hang it on my neck (not playing)
Interesting, I've read that guitar players that can't hassle with thumb pick utilize this technique (search for "hybrid picking").
If I already warm up and do some gallops using my ring finger, I might as well try to do two-finger (ring+middle) playing while using the index finger to hold a pick.
One more thing, how exactly does one utilize floating thumb technique without getting the pick stuck in the strings?

I've never played with a pick and never considered it

Use your fingers, better tone and you can play a whole lot faster, well, for me

I've never played with a pick and never considered it

Use your fingers, better tone and you can play a whole lot faster, well, for me

Ahem, DIFFERENT tone, not better.

I have got myself a thumb pick so i can switch between fingerstyle and pick more easily.

Am loving it so far!

i'm using a medium dunlop tortoise thumbpick.

Very hard to groove with a pick.

Tell Herbie Flowers and Anthony Jackson.

I've played with a pick as long as I've played bass, and before this summer I had a goal: To learn to play with the fingers within the summer-vacation.

Result halfway into it? Giving up. My technique with a pick is so much better than with my fingers.

Calm songs works pretty well, but I can't play that relaxed which I can with a pick.

As for the one who started the thread I will just say as the other people here (or, the people here that don't judge your damn playing out of your style ;) ) : use both. If you're comfertable with both use the one needed in the correct situation.

Calm songs works pretty well, but I can't play that relaxed which I can with a pick.


i find the same, if i really want to put some oomf into what i'm playing i either need to play maiden or play with a pick.

After almost 20 years of being 99.99999% exclusively a finger/thumb player, I've started experimenting more with a pick. You know what, it's quite nice. Snobby finger-centrics be damned.

I used to feel a little clumsy and hindered while attempting to use a pick on bass, but I suppose my increased time with guitar over the last few years has helped to get me over that hump.

And anyone who says you can't get any nuance, or tone variance, or get any groove going with a pick... well, they just don't know how. :D

well, they just don't know how. :D

So true

when i first started playing...not so long ago. i only played with my fingers, but i started playing tool and you need a pick to get it to sound the same, so look at it that way, they sound different, but you need to know both so that you can play any style you come across, so slap and use classical style as well. btw i cant do classical to save myself.

I've played with a pick as long as I've played bass, and before this summer I had a goal: To learn to play with the fingers within the summer-vacation.

Result halfway into it? Giving up. My technique with a pick is so much better than with my fingers.

Calm songs works pretty well, but I can't play that relaxed which I can with a pick.

As for the one who started the thread I will just say as the other people here (or, the people here that don't judge your damn playing out of your style ;) ) : use both. If you're comfertable with both use the one needed in the correct situation.

I'm almost in the same situation. Not really ready to give up yet...

Just another weapon in the arsenal. I use what ever is needed to get what I need to achieve what I'm after. Whether it's fingers vs pick, clean vs dirty, fx vs no fx, ect, ect.
Why would you show up to a gun fight with just a knife?

Why would you show up to a gun fight with just a knife?

cause then yu can wimp out and say 'ok, this dont count cause i dont have a gun'

:p

I've been playing for over 25 years, always with my fingers. Picks were never hard enough to give me the oomph that my fingers could. Recently, after taking a couple of years off, I started playing again. I discovered thumb-picks. (Talk about a closed-mind) Thumb-picks allow me to go back and forth, even within the same song, and get just the sound that I need. I'm loving it. I can actually get a harder, dirtier sound with the thumb-pick than my fingers. All while not taking off the calouses that I spent years developing.

Use whatever is right for the song. Who the crap cares what some pretentious bozo thinks if he sees you using a pick?
Personally, about 70% of the time I play fingerstyle, but I have a few songs where I use distortion. With those, I use a pick to have a more defined attack, even through the grind. (I use a Metal Muff.) Whatever sounds right, is right.

Why would you show up to a gun fight with just a knife?

I don't think you should bring a knife at all, let alone just a knife. Wouldn't guns be the only weapons at a gun fight?

He means that you would be stupid to bring a knife to a gunfight, because everyone else would shoot you. Just like it would be stupid to be an exclusive finger style player in a situation where you need to use a pick.
And if you think there is no such situation...I'm afraid you are wrong.

I use strictly fingestyle. I love the sound of it and it just feels more natural to me. My pick playing is sloppier and more inconsistent. My friend uses a pick because he plays metal and can play faster that way. I would never put him down for it though. I wish I could play with a pick because palm-muting seems easier that way, and I bet if I could pick fast enough I put together some nasty chord combonations.