Pics or fingers

[.andrew]

which one do you use/suggest? i've been playing roughly 8 months so im mostly comfortable with my bass. thanks

[anderbass]

I suggest (and use) both.

[Phalex]

Fingers, Pick and the occasional Thumb.

[Visirale]

Whatever the music calls for... But I use only my fingers. Not a pick fan at all. If I need a more aggressive sound, I dig in more and EQ to taste.

[Parabolic Box]

Both.

[VincentPuleo]

I use fingers, I usually do not like how playing with a pic soudns except for Phil Lesh and the guy from the Doobie Brothers

[anthowl]

both yo, depends on the music.

[guitarrock24]

I say do whatever you feel most confortable with. I personely use strickly my fingers.

[Frost.Blast]

Use what you feel comfortable with. It's totally up to you.

I personally use only my fingers.

[prattguy]

I alternate both on some tracks of one of the bands i´m playing with, for example, there´s one song that has a very aggressive verse and chorus but it has a bridge that requires a soft fingerstyle tone, that´s why i do it that way. Some people don´t like it...but i think it´s up to personal taste.

[professor_bills]

<<<i'm a finger plucker myself but do what you got to do to get the sound you want. I've been thinking of practicing with a pick lately but when I do I use felt because I just cant stand the harsh sound a plastic pick makes...But Im also a flatwounder....

[bassist66]

mainly fingers. I started out using a pick since I learned how to play guitar first, and I was into pop-punk and mainstream altrock at the time, both are genres that use picks a lot. Then I started picking up some RHCP tunes and gradually progressed more to finger style. Basically it depends on the sound I want to achieve. I also like using picks when playing with overdrive as well for some reason.

[Stealth]

I've recently "rediscovered" and started to use the pick again, but only when the song I'm covering requires it. I still stick with fingerstyle.

[XtheDeadPawn]

Dunlop's Tortex .88's or Dunlop Nylons 1.00mm and .88mm

I try using fingers but, I just hate doing it.
I think I'm a guitarist in a bassists body and what's odd is I usaully play each note twice then go to another then do it again.

[MrVanimal]

I have been playing since I was 14 (am now 28) and up until about a year ago, I used picks. I can do so much more with my fingers in term of tone. I try to pick up a pick and I use it for less than 5 minutes until I put it in my mouth and start using my fingers again. I just cant go back.

[Dogbertday]

I use both... at once... and slap too... all three at once...

but really i do whatever i need to do ...i gotta get my speed chops up on my upright and get some two finger action goin... but to the OP/... do a search... this thread pops up at least 3 times a fortnight

[WolfBlackRiver]

i have always preferred picks, i started out as a lead/rhythm guitarist so dropping the pick was impossible. i get a nice punchy sound for my style with Jazz IIIs(black ones)

[98mtd]

Find no limits, use it all. Pick, pluck, pizzicato, pull, thumb, thump, tap, pull, bite, lick, and finally light on fire.

[nemo]

No pics, no fingers. You know the rule.

[Solarmist]

I've used Dunlop Nylon Picks .46 / .60 /.73 my whole bass playing career for 17/18 years now, and will never quit. I'm way faster, and I like the sound way better than finger style. Fingers make the strings [bright roundwounds] sound DEAD IMO! Pick playing is my "Style". Many will argue that "real bass players don't use picks" or "the best bass players don't use picks", but there are a lot of fantastic bass players out there that do.