PICK or PLUCK

[lunker]

Originally Posted by christmetal

no no no
i mean if all someone does is use a pick and they go around saying they are a real bass player because of that then i think that is not true
but some people use picks and fingers and i respect that
i personally use fingers right now but i have used a pick
dont get me wrong

Real bass players no how to use the shift key.

[PSPookie]

Originally Posted by lunker

Real bass players no how to use the shift key.

They know other things as well

[lunker]

Ha! I just noticed that and was about to edit, but since I've been called out... que sera.

[mikopita]

Being a guitar player for 25 years and having started out on the bass almost 8 years later, I was determined to learn to play bass 'the right way'. I didn't want to get trapped in that 'I'm a guitar player who plays bass' stigma. I listened intently to those around me who are in-the-pocket groovers. I practiced constantly, and gigged heavily using my fingers 100% of the time... until I landed a gig with a hip little trio that did some pretty unusual music that required me to step out of my comfort zone.

Picking actually ended up being somewhat difficult at first, to nail beats precisely. It's such a different feel and attack than on guitar (To me anyway). This shocked me, and made me realize that I had been painting myself into a corner by using my fingers only. Now, I force myself to use a pick at least every few days in rehearsal or when woodshedding. It's another tool in the arsenal as far as I'm concerned. I still vastly prefer using my fingers, but must admit that there is nothing quite like the sound of a pick with my P-bass into my old V4.

[Quadzilla]

Originally Posted by lunker

Real bass players no how to use the shift key.

Now that's a good one!

[Ric5]

I use the thumb pluck, finger pluck, the Geddy finger flick, the Entwistle typwriter method, thumb slap and finger pulls, pick playing and any other method that I can think of

[The BurgerMeister]

Originally Posted by mwhite89

No..No..No...! My comment was not intended to be "sarcastic and a joke". I am very serious. As an evolution of the double that could be amplified, and played with "precision", it was intended to be played with the fingers.

In the early days guitar players switching to this new instrument naturally played with a pick. We can forgive their mucking up the issue. But, then again if not for the early guitar players switching over we would be having this conversation. it would be like when the double bass was invented to extend the lower range of the cello. The double bass players did not say "yes, this is an extention of the cello, hence we must play it with a pick like our lute brothers"! No. they played it with the fingers and bow like the cello brothers.

The above is one of the best posts I have ever seen on this subject. I sometimes surprise myself with my writing! Please forgive the pride that is showing thru.

Peace again, notice his little fingers working away

aiii, weird.

first of all the is rockin' out serious with a pick. couldn't let that go unrectified, sarcastic or not.

secondly, are you saying that the name "precision" refers to something other than the ability of the bassist to play with better intonation as a result of the fretted fingerboard?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precision_Bass

[EricF]

I can play either way. It all depends on what is needed for the music I'm playing.

I use my fingers like most Bass players, but when I have to play a song that a guitar player who switched to bass played on, I’ll use a pick to placate the songs sound.

IMHO fingers sound superior in tone for bass, but it really all depends who’s playing bass of course.

[pipe_godzend]

heeeeyyyy yo me voy pa puerto rico pa bailar con este ritmo tan rico

[nofxpunk138]

i slap, pop, and flaminco, but i generally use picks. they are just so much more comfortable.

[dls59]

After many years of not using a pick (I actually used one most of the time many years ago - like in the late 70s), I wanted to pick it up again. My bass mentors are people like McCartney, Cetera, Lake, Squire, among others, and I felt I was limiting myself. After a couple months, I am feeling much more comfortable, and don't sound bad. I'm working on various techniques, like the Carol Kaye method, and incorporating them into my own style.

So I can say that I play both fingers and picks with a degree of skill.

[eddybomb]

I keep a pick handy for a couple of songs. When I'm not using the pick, I lick the back of it and stick it to my forehead.

[ihateusernames]

if i play something that sounds better with a pick, i use a pick. if it sounds better with no pick, i don't use a pick. if it sounds best with slap i don't play it because it's not a sound i like to emulate. how's that for an einstein scientific approach? some songs require both, it's easy to hold a pick between a couple of fingers, in the thumb web, or in a folded up little finger.

[john turner]

we have sub forums for a reason - please use them properly. the basses forum is for -bass guitar instrument specific- questions/topics. this would be more appropriate in technique.

[john turner]

on the other hand, after reviewing this, let's just keep it closed, shall we?