Pick Epiphany???

[Setebos]

Although I always thought that the best thing for a bass player is to know how to play with fingers and pick, in the around 5 years I 've been playing I always been a "fingers" guy.
Tried several times to use a pick but always found it weird. Difficult to keep the pick in place, to jump from one string to another. I tried using different picks, even smaller guitar pick but always saw it as "quite complicated".
Yesterday while practicing for an audition for a Pop band I decided to give it a try using a pick. And to my surprise it worked pretty good. Those songs are rather easy so I tried other songs I used to play and besides mistakes here and there it went out quite well.
I also enjoyed the "clarity" of the notes. I guess I will start giving the pick more time during my practices!!!

[mrjer]

I had a similar experience this week! My guitarist was using a different cab at practice and the sound sort of washed out my bass tone. I grabbed one of his picks just to try to cut through while we worked a new tune. It was a struggle, but I was digging the tone. Last night, I decided to play a whole show with the pick......it's rock covers and most of the tunes are played with pick anyway. I got a bunch of compliments on my tone!

Just a note: I use flats....I think the pick with the flats kept it booming!

[loveandbass]

pick with flats (or groundwounds FTW) can get such epic tone. for string skips with a pick sometimes i will use my ring finger or pinky while keeping the pick where it is.

[makkE]

Oh yes, picks and flats go so well together.

I think what is most important is to find the right pick for you. I used to play mostly fingers, and for picking I used some large triangle type picks.

I recently found this one:


Tortex Sharp 1.5mm, has plenty of space to hold on to, and the sharp tip gives me lots of control. Easy to skip strings and for up/downstrokes. The triangle ones always felt a bit clumsy, and regular guitar picks too small. This one works perfect. I play more pick now

It's really about finding the right pick ime.