Is the picking style for the uneducated b-players?

Abr@hamBassBoy · #1 01-19-2003, 04:20 PM

I am simply wondering, as i heard a someone, somewhere on the forum stating that playing bass using a picking style is generally considered "uneducated and very amateur"... Is this true? Isn't it all about finding a playing style which sounds the best and of which you feel the most confident with?

BassWizard55 · #2 01-19-2003, 04:23 PM

NO!

Listen to some Yes. Chris Squire plays with a pick and he is one of the most respected bassists on here.

jondog · #3 01-19-2003, 04:35 PM

Picking is for when you want a sharper attack. Learn as many playing techniques as possible so that you can choose what is right for the song.

Johnalex · #4 01-19-2003, 09:21 PM

It all depends on the song and genre of music.

ahh and for whimpy guys who can't handle the pain of growing calusses.

BehindTheMoon · #5 01-19-2003, 10:05 PM

Ever heard that saying "don't believe everything you read"?

LiquidMidnight · #6 01-19-2003, 10:41 PM

One of the best local bass players where I live, plays exlusivley with a pick.

I think people need to quit worrying about trival stuff like putting down people who play with picks, play 6 strings, and everything else purist worry about and just listen to what the player has to say musically.

Spearhead · #7 01-19-2003, 11:06 PM

I can get the same tone from my fingers as I can from a pick.

BassWizard55 · #8 01-20-2003, 12:35 AM

You must be a medical marvel.

Dave Castelo · #9 01-20-2003, 01:20 AM

Chris Squire, John Entwistle and Matt Freeman have proved me wrong on the Pick topic

still I dont use them and still think you should leave the picks for the guitarist that play bass or punk bassists.

jondog · #10 01-20-2003, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BassWizard55
You must be a medical marvel.

Or have poorly trained ears.

Aaren Double J · #11 01-20-2003, 07:38 AM

I almost always use plectrums , as 'pick tone' , that bright , sharp attack , is an integral part of my 'tone'.

At the end of the day , other bassists are more like us than different , so we shouldn't be too quick to judge...

Spearhead · #12 01-20-2003, 10:15 AM

or maybe I just dont like playing with a pick

. But, really. If i adjust my preamp, play closer to the bridge and use the edge of my finger to make contact with my fingernail I can make it sound like any pick ive ever played with. Im not telling you not to use one, im just saying fingers are far more versatile. Maybe if you could hear me then you could afford the chance to be skeptical.

Eric Moesle · #13 01-20-2003, 10:25 AM

My experience was that as a pick player, I didn't get much respect on the session scene. All through college I played with a pick exclusively. When I started doing session work, and lost some work because of it, I switched over to fingers exclusively, and it was the best thing I ever did. It records better, gets more respect from producers and engineers, and gives me much more control and versatility.

Nothing wrong with playing with a pick if its "your style", ala Chris Squire. However, if you want to be versatile, its not the best way to go, IMO.

Aaren Double J · #14 01-21-2003, 05:00 AM

Yeah, I'd agree.

moley · #15 01-21-2003, 05:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Abr@hamBassBoy
I am simply wondering, as i heard a someone, somewhere on the forum stating that playing bass using a picking style is generally considered "uneducated and very amateur"... Is this true?

No.

Isn't it all about finding a playing style which sounds the best and of which you feel the most confident with?

Yes.

Picks are for people who want the sound of a picked bass. Doesn't matter how educated they are.

thrash_jazz · #16 01-21-2003, 10:11 AM

I use both, for the tonal possibilities.

The only problem I have with picks is that some people use them exclusively because they are too lazy to learn to play properly with their fingers.

jcadmus · #17 01-21-2003, 02:08 PM

There are finger bigots and pick bigots. Personally, I find the whole discussion silly.

I started out as a pick guy, and now I'm mostly a finger guy. Lately though, I've been wanting to work on my pick technique. Ironic.

One of my favorite players -- Tom Hamilton of Aerosmith -- is mostly a pick guy, but he still gets the fattest tone. Don't know how he does it.

John K. · #18 01-21-2003, 02:17 PM

I starting playing bass with a pick cause all the punk guys did it, I really wish that I started out with fingers, it would've made my bass playing a lot easier than it is now.

I'm glad that I do know how to pick though. It makes me more versatile as a bassist.

Like NBC says...

"The More You Know..."

dancehallclasher · #19 01-21-2003, 02:51 PM

that's dumb. i started playing with my fingers, and am pretty good at it. i've just recently started using a pick on most of my band's songs. it sounds better, so i do it.

#20 01-21-2003, 08:11 PM

DHC - how does it sound better? Im honestly curious as I have never heard a bass played with a pick that I thought sounded good. You can always tell and to me it sounds...well just bad. Are you playing punk music?