pick

[harpguy74]

i have only been at it for a short time and have been trying to use just my fingers but it just feels better with a pick. i quess it has to do with 20+ years playing guitar.i play mostly blues such as SRV and so on. i think i might just stick with the pick.

[1958Bassman]

Originally Posted by harpguy74

i have only been at it for a short time and have been trying to use just my fingers but it just feels better with a pick. i quess it has to do with 20+ years playing guitar.i play mostly blues such as SRV and so on. i think i might just stick with the pick.

It's going to take some time if you don't fingerpick guitar but it's worth doing. Play with a pick but I would recommend working on using your fingers when you play bass. It's worth it.

[XtheDeadPawn]

Just use what you want.

[soulman969]

(Shrug) Some things sound better when played with a pick. I've played for over 35 years and I've used both techniques and I'm sure most other bassists have at some time or another as well. Just use caution not to overplay with the pick that's all.

[Govier966]

I started playing with my fingers and i prefer that but i have to say, when im playing with a band a pick sounds way better. you should be able to do both though.

[FaithNoMan]

Originally Posted by XtheDeadPawn

Just use what you want.

This.

I used to scoff at pick players for years...until I tried to emulate them with my fingers, realizing a lot of the basslines I like are pickstyle. That made me sad, actually - all these great players I liked, using a "stupid" pick.

This only became more hilarious when I eventually talked myself into using one, and attempted to play what they played, with a pick.

I still use my fingers a LOT though - they are used to hold my graphite pick.

[sammyp]

if you're a blues guy and you are starting to really dig bass you should pursue fingerstyle ...it won't take that long ....sinse you're right hand is well developed as a guitarist you can divert a lot of practice time to right hand on bass!

[FaithNoMan]

Originally Posted by sammyp

if you're a blues guy and you are starting to really dig bass you should pursue fingerstyle ...it won't take that long ....sinse you're right hand is well developed as a guitarist you can divert a lot of practice time to right hand on bass!

I agree on this as well, even being a "picks only' snob.

[anonymous122511]

I played over 30 years with only my fingers. Several years ago I began the process of learning to play with a pick. About two years ago I stopped using my fingers altogether. I regularly do blues, straight ahead jazz gigs and work with a singer/songwriter. There's no music you can't play with a pick if you put your mind to it and do the work.

To hear what's possible with a pick search YouTube for Steve Swallow, Carles Benavent and Bobby Vega. The recordings of Joe Osborn are worth checking out too.

[Jay2U]

I play both styles. The muting technique with finger style is a little easier, as the thumb can rest on the unused lower strings. The advantage of a pick is that I can be a little quicker. It's also fun to have a variety of picks, made from different materials and in different gauges, as they do produce different sounds.

[Vincent P]

I've always been a finger player, and decided to try picking month ago. I find picking for me very sloppy and noisy. I admit that with practice it has cleaned up some but, I still perfer finger style. Do what feels right to you. There is no wrong way.

[Stevorebob]

Carole Kay and Paul McCartney use picks. Good enough for me.

[Jay2U]

Originally Posted by Vincent P

I've always been a finger player, and decided to try picking month ago. I find picking for me very sloppy and noisy. I admit that with practice it has cleaned up some but, I still perfer finger style. Do what feels right to you. There is no wrong way.

As I wrote already, muting is a little more complicated. I try to rest the inward curled little finger of the picking hand on the unused lower pitched strings. The fingers of the left hand assist in muting, by staying in contact for a while with a just released string. I don't know whether this advisable, but I also use my left hand thumb to keep the E-string from ringing. Just to force myself to enhance my picking, I rehearsed every song I knew both fingering and picking.

[buckeyebragi]

I use fingers, thumb, slap-pop, and pick...for my own tastes I often prefer the pick...I like the percussive clarity it gives.