Pickers ???

Mark Boyer · #1 07-11-2006, 11:50 AM

I play with a pick - Tom Petersson, Paul McCartney, Bill Wyman - were the guys I liked (how old am I ??!!) - any way any other pickers out there?

FaithNoMan · #2 07-13-2006, 11:22 AM

I think I'm now the unofficial defender of pick-players on Talkbass, heh..

I played fingerstyle for many years before realising that I liked playing with a pick even better..

Welcome to TB

ardorx · #3 07-14-2006, 02:33 AM

i'm a picker. always have been, always will be.

FriscoBassAce · #4 07-14-2006, 02:45 AM

I have been playing with a pick nearly all the time for as long as I've played bass. I always liked the attack that it gives the notes, as well as the click you get along with it. Lately however, I've been forcing myself to use my fingers on everything I play. I did this after reading a thread here on TB about the pick v. fingers debate, and what I realized was, you need to be proficient in each style if you want to be a well-rounded player. I'm in cover bands, so it's important for me to be able to emulate the style from the original recording.

I'm currently learning about 50 songs by August 5th as I have a sub gig with a band I know. Certain songs, like "Bad Case of Loving You" by Robert Palmer are decidedly pick style. Others, like "Vehicle" by Bo Bice sounds best just using my big fat fingers.

I love playing with a pick, and that's what I'm best at. But I see the advantage of being able to play with your fingers.

Up next: Pop and Slap!

PrimusNut · #5 07-14-2006, 05:05 PM

I enjoy playing with a pick. When i first started playing (not that long ago really, maybe 8 or 9 months?) i was anti-pick. After listening to more and more pick players, and watching music vids with pick players, i decided to try it. What do you know? i LOVED it! It feels more natural, and sounds better depending on the song. I try to practice both ways equally.

iamlowsound · #6 07-14-2006, 08:06 PM

Both are good to be able to do. I used to be a much better pick player than I am now, but when I started tapping the pick playing got left out of my pratice time.

lowsound

FaithNoMan · #7 07-14-2006, 08:11 PM

I love Paul D'Amour's sound and style..along with Justin Chancellor's..

uuuuuhhhhh.....

.....it seems I forgot to check out the guy who's signature is on Paul's Ric, heh

All this talk about picking, and I just discovered Chris Squire outside of "Roundabout" ..like.....three days ago...and I'm 29

If anyone likes picked basslines and Progressive rock at the same time, I think you owe it to yourself to listen to some early Yes albums(Fragile, and Close to the Edge are good starters)

At 5:22, in a song named "Siberian Khatru" starts a bassline that could easily fit into the new Tool album - and this was in the early 70's ..

Also there is a song named "Heart of the Sunrise", and at the beginning, there is a fast energetic part followed by a cool groove that would easily sound right at home in a Chili Peppers song.

...my mind has officially been blown now.

sorry for the rant, BTW

Carver · #8 07-14-2006, 08:19 PM

Check out Carles Benavent...One of the best pickers out there IMHO.

Seattle_BassMan · #9 07-14-2006, 08:22 PM

I played with a pic for probably the first 10 years, then I started using my thumb occasionally and finally switch to the "two finger" method about 4 years ago. It took me quite a while to get used to using my fingers and at first I would only play a few songs that way. Now, I find that I really like the fingers approach, but early on I didn't think I'd ever move away from the pic.

I'm not a "finger style" purist. I still use a pic if the song calls for it (usually 5-6 songs a night) and I still use my thumb for certain songs. My point is that I don't think that it's "wrong" to use a pic, it just depends on what fits your style and the song. However, I do find that a pic doesn't quite fit every song (although certain styles of music it may work better than others.....I think speed metal would probably be difficult without a pic).

Anyways, to each their own ...as long as the music sounds good. But don't be afraid to try different methods as well. You may find that a thumb or fingers approach works well for some songs .....and you may find you like these methods as well.

#10 07-14-2006, 10:22 PM

Funny, I've been a musician since I was two and cut most of my bacon playing trumpet since I was 10. I'd been paying attention to great bassists, saw pretty much all of them using fingers, and of course heard that fingers are the appropriate technique for bass.

When I took up bass a year or so ago, I defretted my first one within a month and then picked up fretless playing on a five stringer. About four months ago, I finally started experimenting with using a pick, initially to faux a fretless baritone guitar sound out of my bass (which is strung tenor), for doing my own metal recordings. These days, my weapon of choice is a pick, as I feel it puts me in far more control of the bass in terms of what I hear coming out. Fretless bass with a pick through a good DI / tube emulator for me is my sound these days.

BrandonBass · #11 07-15-2006, 02:25 PM

I like the sound of the pick more on some songs, especially when alot of it is played on the e string. But i play fingerstyle mainly cause it just looks cooler.

I usually practise my fingers on bass and pick on guitar, i can like transfer the skill over