I used to be 100% against picks, but now I have amazed myself.

TUEP · #1 06-23-2010, 12:58 AM

I used to be the guy that was arrogant and frowned on pick playing on bass. I would play anything and everything with my fingers. Some stuff I knew in the back of my mind would sound better with a pick.

Now I have opened my eyes and having been messing around with a pick, and WOW!! The articulation I get in hard rock, and metal is so awesome!!

Its like I can do all those fast things the guitar player does and stuff!!

makanudo · #2 06-23-2010, 01:02 AM

Same here, i feel like im a slow turd with my fingers and with pick i can play some really cool riffs and stuff

St Drogo · #3 06-23-2010, 01:25 AM

Funny, I went in the opposite direction. switched from guitar and played with picks only for the longest time, because I would write new riffs with pick faster than my fingertechnique would develop. Started playing with fingers a while ago and its the greatest thing EVA.

But good to hear you're expanding your playing styles and great to hear you're so happy with it. It's not only the difference in sound is it? I for one tend to come up with totally different things when playing picks or fingers...

Righteous Thunderer · #4 06-23-2010, 01:43 AM

+1 to the OP, it's a tone thing for me. Like you said, for some music it just sounds "right" to play it with fingerstyle, and for other music the pick just fits right in; and of course, just like almost everything else with tone/playing method, it's subjective.

makanudo · #5 06-23-2010, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by St Drogo

Funny, I went in the opposite direction. switched from guitar and played with picks only for the longest time, because I would write new riffs with pick faster than my fingertechnique would develop. Started playing with fingers a while ago and its the greatest thing EVA.

But good to hear you're expanding your playing styles and great to hear you're so happy with it. It's not only the difference in sound is it? I for one tend to come up with totally different things when playing picks or fingers...

Same here, complicated stuff = fingers
Some melodies and speedy stuff = pick

sonic assassin · #6 06-23-2010, 01:52 AM

ill only use a pick if it's too fast or the song calls for that sound.

otherwise it just bores me. regardless of how it sounds.

calebbarton · #7 06-23-2010, 02:13 AM

I enjoy pick playing with distortion and fingerstyle clean. Sometimes its hard to make up my mind though......or it really depends on the bass I am playing at the time.

fearceol · #8 06-23-2010, 02:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sonic assassin

otherwise it just bores me. regardless of how it sounds.

I have heard many negative things ascribed to picks, but never as boring...

Xray66 · #9 06-23-2010, 02:30 AM

I use to only play with fingers years ago... Mainly because I was weenie and caved to the constant smart a** comments. Now that I'm older, I don't give a sh*t. I like playing with a pick. Bottom line... The reason why fingers became more prevalent, is because a lot of early guys switched from upright to electric, and they used fingers on upright... So it just stuck with a lot of guys. That's the only reason. It's retarded to criticize people who use pick. And I always wonder what kind of little d**k syndrome guys have who always feel the need to hassle people for that. It's like the idiots that harassed Mac users for the last 20 years... Get a life already.

Mr. Lovejoy · #10 06-23-2010, 02:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thunder Pulse

I find it ridiculous that the general consensus is that it's completely acceptable for guitarists to play with picks, fingers, finger picks, slides, coins, polished stones, or their teeth, and that they can play rhythm or lead....... but a bassist is only supposed to play fingerstyle, and if he does anything flashy he's told that that's not what a bass player should do.

I would say it is simply the result of a very complicated storm of neuroses and hang-ups that were fostered at a very young age.

fearceol · #11 06-23-2010, 02:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thunder Pulse

I find it ridiculous that the general consensus is that it's completely acceptable for guitarists to play with picks, fingers, finger picks, slides, coins, polished stones, or their teeth, and that they can play rhythm or lead....... but a bassist is only supposed to play fingerstyle, and if he does anything flashy he's told that that's not what a bass player should do.

I agree. There have been many "you are not a "real" bass player if you use a pick" threads here. Cant see any logic in it myself.

TUEP · #12 06-23-2010, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by St Drogo

Funny, I went in the opposite direction. switched from guitar and played with picks only for the longest time, because I would write new riffs with pick faster than my fingertechnique would develop. Started playing with fingers a while ago and its the greatest thing EVA.

But good to hear you're expanding your playing styles and great to hear you're so happy with it. It's not only the difference in sound is it? I for one tend to come up with totally different things when playing picks or fingers...

Not just in sound but also in my attack. In some stuff I can pump out the quicker notes along with the guitarist, a lot better.

JimmyM · #13 06-23-2010, 12:57 PM

i would congratulate you for learning a new and useful technique, but your being arrogant about it in the first place kind of takes the edge off it for me

oh well, better late than never.

JimmyM · #14 06-23-2010, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Lovejoy

I would say it is simply the result of a very complicated storm of neuroses and hang-ups that were fostered at a very young age.

i just thought they were douchebags for no apparent reason

relwof · #15 06-23-2010, 01:11 PM

I mostly stick with the fingers. Full on pick is a little bright for my taste, but then I don't play much frenetic high energy stuff. However, I really like the sound of a pick when the strings are barely muted near the bridge (using the side of my right hand). Makes for an edgy mix between sharp attack and dull thump - not something I use much, but nice for variety on occasion.

BigOldHarry · #16 06-23-2010, 01:13 PM

I will concede that there are times when picks are useful. And that's about it. I don't think I've EVER gigged with a pick in 35 years of playing -- but that doesn't mean I never will...

relwof · #17 06-23-2010, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

I will concede that there are times when picks are useful. And that's about it. I don't think I've EVER gigged with a pick in 35 years of playing -- but that doesn't mean I never will...

Man, but you've ALWAYS got to keep a few picks with you. Or at least you will after suffering through a gig where your guitarist manages to show up without any...

stepswork4me · #18 06-23-2010, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by relwof

I really like the sound of a pick when the strings are barely muted near the bridge (using the side of my right hand).

Just FYI, this is called palm muting.

I've been playing primarily with a pick for 20 years. I play more prog rock/metal and it has suited me well. I also tap quite a bit and have been on the search for a comfy thumb pick for a long time. I would like to do a more natural shift between picking, tapping, and plucking.

relwof · #19 06-23-2010, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stepswork4me

I would like to do a more natural shift between picking, tapping, and plucking.

That's actually one of the reasons I haven't used a pick much - I like the ability to use a variety of sounds. I can switch between tapping, plucking, slapping, etc.. any time, but with a pick I'm stuck with my meager repertoire of pick techniques for the whole song (or at least the intro).

Are there techniques for smoothly transitioning from using a pick to fingers and back without dropping out (or dropping the pick)? I suppose I never really checked. If so, it might be worth working on...

DrewinHouston · #20 06-23-2010, 02:23 PM

I think a good bassist can do both when it's called for. When I switched from guitar to bass back in 1981 I played fingerstyle exclusively, so I would learn the proper technique. I am just now going back to playing with a pick regularly on some songs because there's a punchiness and precision in timing that you can't get (or maybe I just can't get) with fingerstyle.