Fingers v.s Pick is it a crime?.....Resolved!!

[NoiseNinja]

Originally Posted by No Malarky

I don't care if a person uses a spoon or a ball bat...JUST PLAY

I actually used a spoon in a part of a song by my old band Menfolk for sliding/tapping/making noise.
And I've got a bass that I don't use anymore and is in pretty bad shape, so if a song ever calls for a bass to be smashed I think I will take up the ball bat part

[grendle]

I guess the way I always thought about it was 99.9% of guitarists play with a pick, so if I can play as good / fast as they can with a pick, I can play with any of them on bass. Now I play bass (guitar too) , but a bass isn't just a guitar with 4 strings, so if I can play well with fingers, slap, tap / chord form , and anything else I care to do I can pretty much play anything with anyone , anytime. Problem solved

[iunno]

I only ever use a pick if I want to smack the hell out of the strings with something hard. I prefer to use my fingers, sometimes I play with one going back and forth for the pick rhythm.

[FaithNoMan]

Originally Posted by IanPM

i dont se the problem with using a pick over finger playing. some music requires the pick to make a brighter more powerful tone, i really dont understand why people hate it

Because some people have the remarkable talent of listening to music with their eyes.

The rest of us have to use our ears(really outdated).

[bunkaroo]

Originally Posted by FaithNoMan

Because some people have the remarkable talent of listening to music with their eyes.

The rest of us have to use our ears(really outdated).

I had a gig a couple years back where this dude was watching me the whole gig. I realized during the show I had seen this guy play bass in another band before. I recalled he had a Ric (because I hate them LOL), and he was a very traditional sort of player (fingers, way he held the bass, etc.)

So he comes up to me after gig and he's basically incredulous. He tells me "Man I can't believe the sound you're getting using a pick. It sounds like fingers."

I took that as a massive compliment from someone who obviously didn't care for pick playing. My rig at the time was an SR5 H into an Eden WT-550/D410XLT. No effects - minimal if any EQ.

I'm sure it's in the way I use the pick, where I tend to roll it off the string a bit when I pick. I still use my fingers on certain parts that call for it, but I love the pick for the fact that I can get a rounded sound and a nice, precise attack.

[Birdland11]

Since Ive made this vid, i use a pick at least one song per show.

[vbshredder]

I enjoy playing with my fingers when i'm playing around the house, it almost feels "more at one" with the instrument to me. But lately whenever I get to band practice or a gig, i always reach for the pick. I just like the punch that i get with a pick better for most songs. I've played in some bands where i've been all fingers all the time. It really just depends on the vibe of the music for me, and right now the music i'm playing seems to want that rock solid pick attack.

[bass nitro]

pointless subject - RESOLVED!

[trunkshope6]

Once my blisters break open then It's time for a pick

[JimmyM]

I got arrested for using a pick on my gig earlier tonight. Turns out it really IS a crime in some jurisdictions. But it's not federal, so it varies from county to county.

[Birdland11]

What gauge was it?

[viking power]

For someone who has been internally debating the merits of pick vs. fingers, I appreciate the time you took to make the video. Thank you!

[Rockin Mike]

When I play pickstyle, I use my fingers to hold the pick,
and when I play fingerstyle I have to pick which fingers to use.

I use a Dunlop Ultex for a very edgy pick tone,
Fender heavy for a normal pick tone,
Dunlop nylon Jazz III for a warm almost fingerlike tone.
The shape of the Jazz III takes some getting used to but gives you a lot of precision.

[Sethbass]

Ok!! For me it completely depends on the song! Some more rock or power punk tunes i use a pick or if it is traditional rock or jazz, blues I use fingering and slap! The real question for me is do you use the big triangle shaped "bass picks" or heavy gauge guitar picks.. I like the Fender guitar picks of a heavier guage.. The big bulky "bass picks" are ridiculously awkward!

[rtslinger]

I think it is just another tool and technique available to us period. I never look down on pick players. and in most of my gigs I switch between pick and finger style since I am covering other players music and attempting to emulate their sound and technique. I started on upright I normally play finger style but in the past I was in a metal band and was a pick player in the 80's. switch to finger style to improve my technique and get back some of my finger dexterity in that style and for no other reason. I even recently did something I haven't done in a long time I played and entire show using just a pick. It was a nice change up and fun to boot.

[obimark]

IME, there are a lot of rock songs that sound better with a pick and are more consistent to play.

Most Funk songs I use my fingers. Some songs we do like "One HEadlight" I use my fingers for the rhythm, and to keep my strength in fingers up.

Probably 80% pick, 20% fingers for my band.

[Joedog]

Carrots!

[EssJay]

I'm a "depends on the tone needed" person. I play an epi-thunderbird and when I play fingerstyle I rest my thumb on the end of the neck over the last few frets, influenced by Geezer Butler, that way I can get a softer and more mellow attack that has a lot more low end to it or when I really dig into the strings I get a bit of string click but keep the low warm sound.
But when I play with a song it's generally because I want better note definition and I pick in the middle of the neck and middle pickups. Not to mention that it gives a better sound with the muff engaged.

If that doesn't really make any sense, it's 4:30am here and I'll been up all night in rather bad pain, I'm somewhat high on my painkillers and... well, that's it, I thought I had a 3rd reason, but my mind no work now. I think it's time for some sleep.

[klejst]

I use a pick. Say what you wish, but I am not ashamed of it.

[Liv3rman]

Fantastic video. My thoughts exactly. Thanks for taking the time to put that together.