I am not ashamed of playing w/ a pick

[Lowner]

I met another bass player at my new job as we were waitng for the elevator. We we talking about bass stuff then he brought up the pick thing. I use both fingers and pick but for faster songs such as most metal songs I opt for a pick to keep my lock with the drummmer really tight. He told me he is ashamed to play with a pick and never uses a pick even if he loses the lock with drummer. I think playing with a pick sometimes just add to my style.

[Flintc]

Everything I know about picking hand technique, I learned from listening to, watching, and copying David Bromberg. They'll get my pick when they pry my cold dead fingers off it.

[00Funk]

I love playing with a pic. Gives my thumb a rest

[RockFace]

i have been playing for 5 years now, but just this summer started using a pick. I mostly play a fender jazz bass now, and i use it primarily with a pick. Before i had the jazz bass, i thought using a pick was a sin of bass playing, as even some of my favorite metal players (Between the Buried and Me, for example) use fingerstyle, but as i have come to realize, sometimes it's very necessary and even more fun than fingerstyle.

+1 for not being ashamed

rock.

[Drifta]

Not that i cant or dont like using a pick(i play guitar too so pick isnt that big of a deal to me) but i dont like the sound i get from the pick. :shrug:

[Fuzzbass]

I'm usually fingerstyle, but I've been working on pickstyle because it sounds better for some songs. But no bassist should be ashamed to use a pick, even when used all the time.

[morf]

Ah, how I missed these threads...

[Poop-Loops]

I've been playing my guitar more recently, and noticed that my bass picking improved. I still don't like it much, I feel like I have to turn the bass more horizontal or else my right hand is twisted too much in order to pick flat against the strings. =/

[Alec W. Conway]

I've always felt like using a pick is "cheating" in some way.

My fingers each have a 20 pound callous on 'em, and that's the way I like it.

[Gawd]

I play both bass and acoustic guitar. and lately I've been enjoying using a pick on bass more than fingers. but on acoustic I've been enjoying the sound of fingers instead of pick. It's like I've been reversing.

[Sandwich Man]

When I want something really melodic, I usually use a pick. Don't know if I'm the only one in that boat...

I always think of McCartney

[The BurgerMeister]

i would say i'm primarily a fingerstyle player, always have been. but i'm constantly developing my picking and slapping as well. i'm not ashamed of any of them... they all have their place. they're just a couple other pieces i can whip out from my arsenal, if need be.

dig!

[PluperfectArson]

When I first started out on bass, I used a plectrum, but then I realised that I preferred using my fingers more and left picking behind.

I can still use a plectrum, but, to me, it just feels horribly awkward, and I can never break through that barrier to use it more.

[The Craw]

Too bad the bassist you met felt ashamed. Whatever technique you choose, you should never let anyone else shame you about it.

Whatever instrument you play, the there are always losers who want to tell you how it has to be done. Ignore them.

[guy n. cognito]

I stopped caring what other think of me a long time ago. Try it sometime.

[sotua]

Originally Posted by Lowner

I met another bass player at my new job as we were waitng for the elevator. We we talking about bass stuff then he brought up the pick thing. I use both fingers and pick but for faster songs such as most metal songs I opt for a pick to keep my lock with the drummmer really tight. He told me he is ashamed to play with a pick and never uses a pick even if he loses the lock with drummer. I think playing with a pick sometimes just add to my style.

Idiot. You should not be ashamed of producing a sound that pleases you from your bass, be it with pick, fingers, teeth, funk fingers, whatever.

[Kickin'Fruit]

Not to fuel the fire but I say that playing with a pick is just another tool for you to use to get a favorable tone. It makes you more versatile. You should treat a bass like a tool and do whatever means necessary to get a sound out of it you like.

[emblymouse]

I'm ashamed for that guy who is too ashamed to play with a pick. Unless he picks his nose while playing. Then, he should be ashamed.

[Poop-Loops]

Originally Posted by Alec W. Conway

I've always felt like using a pick is "cheating" in some way.

How can you cheat at a musical instrument?

[Dash Rantic]

I play fingerstyle almost exclusively, but have been known to pick up a pick (heh, heh.... ok that was lame) when a song calls for it. I think judging people by if they use a pick or fingers is incredibly stupid--you can look very "cool" with either one, and you can also sound really good with either. I just use fingers because that's how I was taught, but some of my bass-playing friends use picks because that's how they were taught. Nothing wrong with that...

There are some *very* good pickbass players out there. For instance, I just saw Tool last night, and their bassist Justin Chancellor uses a pick. He's great, one of my bass idols.

Use whatever you like, and whatever sounds good to you. And remember if anyone makes fun of you for using either a pick or fingers, just smile and realize they're idiots.

-Dash