pick or no pick?

[THE HIPPIE]

Just curious why do most bassists use bare fingers when playing bass when you can use pick to sound heavier?

[Lowactnsatsfctn]

Because most people don't care about " heavier"
You can get more speed with fingers and
you won't forget to bring them to a gig

Picks aren't as versatile ( not to bash, they work for some things)

I take it you've never heard slap with heavy distortion (fingers)

Stop, drop and troll

[EssJay]

I play both, fingers work for some things where I need a mellower tone and a pick for when I need a more pronounced attack.

[EpiRipper]

Picks for me. I find I can play faster with a pick than I can with fingers. And I like the sound I get when I really dig in. YMMV

[SolomonHelsing]

I can get the heavier sound from bass with my finger style of play if I so wish, It's not something a pick does for me, A pick is an annoying piece of plastic that just gets in the way.

I have tried many practices on a fast song using a pick, i get four bars in, toss the pick the other side of the practice room and go mad with my fingers to get the speed, I am working on getting it down properly with proper stamina training.

As we're wanting to do some early metallica and Iron Maiden, I have my work cut out for me, but I seriously doubt if you ask a good pick player and a good finger player to go head to head using same equipment, that the finger player couldn't replicate the 'heavier' that the pick player gets but not have to deal with annoying plastic. Rant over =]

[Duke21]

I love the tone of a picked bass, and my fingers are too slow

[SoVeryTired]

Pick or no pick?

No, pick and no pick. Sometimes (for me at least) pick sounds better, usually fingers sound best.

[perogato02]

I like playing with my fingers, but for playing with the band I play with a pick
to get that agressive attack.

Just use what suits the music.

[mcnach]

Originally Posted by THE HIPPIE

Just curious why do most bassists use bare fingers when playing bass when you can use pick to sound heavier?

Yawn

[SoVeryTired]

I tend to use bear fingers more than bare fingers - great for getting that real growly tone.

[MostlyBass]

I was anti-pick for at least 10 years... now, I do what the song calls for. For me, I like fingers better.

[THE HIPPIE]

Thanks for your replies guys. For me, i don't know why i am so sloppy with fingers. I don't even know how to slap. I use pick all the time coz my rythm is a thousand times better with it, and yes, it sounds heavier.

[kedo]

no

[T-MOST]

No pick. I get soooo much more variety of tone with my fingers. Some of which are very "pick like". But, If the tune definately calls for a pick I think there is one in my gig bag.

[cracked_machine]

lol Is that time already?

Fingers first, but I like the sound of a pick sure enough. I find you get more of a trebly, thwak sound with a pick, rather than a heavy sound. So not sure what that's all about. My pick skills suck really in comparison to my fingers, plus I get nasty hand cramp sometimes with a pick. So I only use pick if the song calls for it. You can definitely get a more driving sound with the pick.

I'll go along with Solomon tho. I've definitely thought "hell with that" and thrown the pick away mid verse.

[iamthebassman]

Originally Posted by cracked_machine

lol Is that time already?

Look at it this way, we've already got this week's "Pick vs Fingers" question done with. Which means we can statistically look forward to going the rest of the week without another one. It's good to get it over and done with early in the week.
See ya at next week's "PVF" thread!

[Mikio]

I pick a lot and I love it, the tone is different and you can't get it without the pick.

I also love fingers, slap and tapping.

Different things for different music/situations.

[RBX4]

Both. just depends on the song

[lazyone2]

PLaying music is fun. Do what works best for you.

[mjac28]

When I use distortion and need a fast attack I use a pick for mellow and Funk I use my fingers