A few questions

[CharmlessMan]

Oy oy!

Just some questions from a fan. You were a big inspiration for me to up the ante in my bass playing & my recent music has been much more bass driven. I recently made the switch to finger playing but still use a pick on some songs (really depends on the sound I want). How do you feel about the whole pick vs fingers debate? I've seen some people get ridiculously critical about pick players and I must say,I find it quite irksome.

Also,what's on your ipod right now? Are you a fan of Chris Wolstenhome?And did you take the cookies from the cookie jar?

[jmjbassplayer]

Hi there,

There is no debate. Both have a function. To limit yourself to one out of some philosophical stance is well...very limiting.

And I've heard plenty of good finger style players who try to get into pick playing after never having really done it, and they fall dramatically short in their feel and execution. And of course vice-versa, as well.

I started both at the same time, when I was 11 or 12...so both are innate. I am fortunate. But that doesn't mean that one can't adopt one or the other later on in one's bass playing journey, far from it. I'm just saying that both have a discipline, and the fingerstyle player who thinks that pick playing is unsubtle, technically inferior or whatever, just don't perceive it clearly enough.

Show me that person who thinks they can execute the same thing with fingers, with the right vibe, as something I play particularly with a pick, and I will open their eyes. And again: vice versa. The aesthetic can be so strikingly different....hence the need for players to at least CONSIDER pursuing both.

JMJ

[jmjbassplayer]

On my iPod:

Vitalic "Flashmob", Rolling Stones "Let it Bleed", Dillinger Escape Plan "Option Paralysis", Malcolm McLaren "Fans", Beach House "Teen Dream", Buraka Som Sistema "Black Diamond", Major Lazer, "Lux and Ivy's Favorites volume 1-11", Drexcia "The Quest (SVE-8)", ESG "A South Bronx Story", Deastro "Moondagger", The Free Design "Kites are Fun", William Basinski "The Disintegration Loops".

Who is Chris Wolstenhome? Is he the dude from Muse? Yeah, he's good!

Not sure what your cookie metaphor is referring to, but quite literally I had a cookie today.

Best,
JMJ