Fingerpicks for Bass players?

dangerdong · #1 10-12-2006, 10:48 AM

Do any of you know if such a thing as "fingerpicks" exist for bass players? I play classical guitar so there's no way I can get rid of my nails! Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

dangerdong · #2 10-12-2006, 10:52 AM

I should rephrase my question. What I meant by "fingerpicks" is some type of solution to cover the nails on my picking hand. Right now I put bandaids over my pointer and middle finger so that I do not get that clicking sound.

GrooveBass · #3 10-12-2006, 11:11 AM

The bassist in Godsmack uses fingerpicks. I don't know what his name is or what kind he uses, all I know is that he uses them. Says they're as good as a pick, but better because, after a while, you can start to feel the string through them again.

vindy500 · #4 10-12-2006, 11:13 AM

you could play with a rubber pick. get a finger like sound

tradition_2kill · #5 10-12-2006, 11:22 PM

finger picks can work quite well for bass. someone does alot of this and i forget who?

Poop-Loops · #6 10-12-2006, 11:23 PM

If you get clicks when playing fingerstyle, it's likely because your fingernails are hitting the strings and you should clip them. I need to keep mine REAL short (as short as possible) in order to get rid of the click.

vindy500 · #7 10-13-2006, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poop-Loops

If you get clicks when playing fingerstyle, it's likely because your fingernails are hitting the strings and you should clip them. I need to keep mine REAL short (as short as possible) in order to get rid of the click.

umm poop. did you read his post i mean it was only two lines... kinda hard to miss...

Poop-Loops · #8 10-13-2006, 07:56 AM

Err... somehow I read his 2nd post instead of his first.

Do you really need fingernails for classical? My old chem professor said he plays with short fingernails (i.e. clipped always)

Have you tried wearing gloves? Preferrebly one white and one black?

MagicianMan · #9 10-13-2006, 05:19 PM

Have you ever seen Dominique DiPiazza?

JAUQO III-X · #10 10-13-2006, 06:13 PM

I use one of these on occassion(it's a thumb pick).

http://www.guitarnation.com/sharktoothgear.htm

lemur821 · #11 10-15-2006, 10:30 AM

You can probably trim your nails a lot more than you think without making them unusable for the guitar.

Jayhawk · #12 10-16-2006, 10:59 AM

As has already been said, Robbie Merrill (from Godsmack) uses them (Dunlop Clear “D” fingerpicks) and says that once he got used to them, it's like they're not even there.

I've tried them, because I like the idea of playing fingerstyle with the consistency of a pick, but didn't like them. To me, they felt clumsy and awkward. Maybe if I took several weeks of playing exclusively with them on I'd get used to them, but I don't have that kind of patience

.

dirkbasser · #13 07-28-2010, 06:27 PM

i've been playing bass for about 7 years now, and i was kinda playing off and on for a while, so i'd lose my calisus, and i kept getting blisters on my fingers, well i figuered why not use picks...i'm not one for strumming and i like the mobility i get from using my fingers, so i just take a hard pick, and cut it in half...then tape each half to my fingers with a small peice of duct tape or something...even the clear tape works alright, but that my help you out, i know it works for me

Nic. · #14 07-28-2010, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirkbasser

i've been playing bass for about 7 years now, and i was kinda playing off and on for a while, so i'd lose my calisus, and i kept getting blisters on my fingers, well i figuered why not use picks...i'm not one for strumming and i like the mobility i get from using my fingers, so i just take a hard pick, and cut it in half...then tape each half to my fingers with a small peice of duct tape or something...even the clear tape works alright, but that my help you out, i know it works for me

I would suggest cloth tape instead. Use that for some classical instruments with tortoiseshell picks.

themass · #15 07-28-2010, 08:02 PM

I'm in the same boat as the OP. I play acoustic fingerstyle guitar first, and bass occasionally. I need pretty long nails for guitar, but I hate the clicking when i play bass. I've yet to come up with a satisfactory solution.

Orangeclawhamme · #16 07-28-2010, 09:33 PM

Captain Beefheart's bassists sued banjo finger picks.

codeinedreams · #17 07-28-2010, 11:31 PM

I knew a bassist who used filed down fake fingernails (like Lee Press-On Nails) glued on with crazy glue. worked very well

makkE · #18 07-29-2010, 11:35 AM

Play with the thumb maybe? Angled in line with the strings, you'd get a warm sound while keeping the nail long.

TowerGuy · #19 07-29-2010, 12:29 PM

There are a lot of styles of finger picks. They should be fine on a bass as the strings are WAY farther apart than a banjo, which is the instrument these are most used on.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Finger-P...ick-Holders.gc