Poll: finger style vs pick style

NickInMesa · #1 10-03-2010, 12:19 PM

Just a simple poll, sorry if I only have two options, slappers will have to stay out of this one.

When you don't slap, or use any exotic technique, are you a fingerstyle player, or pick player?

Exclusively, mostly, sort of half and half?

If you want to comment, I would like to know what type of music you play, your favorite bass and, very import: did you start on bass or on guitar? Any other string instrument? (If you started on the recorder as I did, the question has no relevance).

Thanks for participating!

NickInMesa · #2 10-03-2010, 12:20 PM

Personally I am 100% fingerstyle, started on bass before guitar and currently #1 bass is my Rj-IV.

Your turn

Sketchy · #3 10-03-2010, 12:24 PM

I'm trying to get better with a pick (as I'm worse at that than fingerstyle), but I enjoy fingerstyle more.

CapnSev · #4 10-03-2010, 12:26 PM

100% fingerstyle. Unless a specific song is distinctively picked, I don't use a pick.

smeet · #5 10-03-2010, 12:30 PM

I put 100% fingerstyle. I can play pretty well with a pick, but I don't enjoy it as much, so unless I really need to, I play with fingers. And I almost never need to, I can get a reasonable approximation to a pick sound with my fingers. Still, I have a little pick holder thingy stuck to my pickguard so I have them ready if I need them.

I play a Sadowsky 5 string. I like the way the pick sounds with my Fender Jazz, and I would use a pick more if I had a precision.

I play prog-rock eclectic stuff like Mr. Bungle, classic rock, funk and sometimes jazz.

shawshank72 · #6 10-03-2010, 12:32 PM

I am a full time picker.

jessicabass · #7 10-03-2010, 12:34 PM

I use a pick about 80% of the time, but I do finger a little.
I just prefer a pick.

AcidFripp · #8 10-03-2010, 12:35 PM

Kind of half-and-half.
Depends on if I want a smoother or a more percussive sound, really. And if I'm strumming chords, you know, more than one string at a time, right, I'd go with a pick. Or a finger-pick. Feels good, man.

Infidelity · #9 10-03-2010, 12:40 PM

Hmmm.. Mostly fingerstyle like 95% of the time.. lol

CaptainWampum · #10 10-03-2010, 12:50 PM

Whatever sounds more appropriate to the song. I think my set consists of 5 fingerstyle songs and 7 with a pick. However, I do find fingerstyle to be easier to keep up without getting tired or paying much attention.

Floridabass29 · #11 10-03-2010, 12:53 PM

Fingersyle, even though i seem to have a hard time keeping my nails on my right hand from hitting the strings (no matter how short they are), producing a pick-like sound.

Melik · #12 10-03-2010, 01:15 PM

Pick is one of those exotic playing styles to me so fingerstyle mostly... I do enjoy playing with a pick though

Arrachion · #13 10-03-2010, 01:22 PM

I use carrots.... but as you left that option out, I went with 100% Finger...as it is the closest.

But seriously... I can't even hold on to a pick and bass at the same time. And don't really want to.

gjbassist · #14 10-03-2010, 01:23 PM

100% fingerstyle. Oddly enough I played guitar for 15 years before I started playing bass. Always use a pick with guitar but never with bass. Don't know why, just felt natural.

Nashrakh · #15 10-03-2010, 01:32 PM

Mainly finger player, but I try to get better with a pick because I really dig the sound of a pick on flats.

But outside of band rehearsal and woodshedding, I always play fingerstyle. Like gigs, wanna be on the safe side there.

EagleMoon · #16 10-03-2010, 01:33 PM

It kind of depends on what I'm playing. Some things just rock better with a pick, and others sound better with fingers. Right now I'm in a band that plays a lot of classic rock, so I'm doing mostly pick. When I first started learning, my teacher gave me a pick along with some Carol Kaye books. So I learned both ways.

TomA1234 · #17 10-03-2010, 02:18 PM

To begin with I used 100% pick, then moved on to about 100% fingers now I play with mostly fingers but I do like to use a pick sometimes.

Bassdirty · #18 10-03-2010, 02:21 PM

Mostly finger...but sometimes a song just needs the pick.

Slax · #19 10-03-2010, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomA1234

To begin with I used 100% pick, then moved on to about 100% fingers now I play with mostly fingers but I do like to use a pick sometimes.

Same here.

And to answer Nick's questions, I play mostly classic rock and funky jam music. I usually use either my P or J bass and I started on bass not guitar.

totallyfrozen · #20 10-03-2010, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickInMesa

Just a simple poll, sorry if I only have two options, slappers will have to stay out of this one...

I consider slapping to be a fingerstyle.

I prefer the feel of fingerstyle (plucking; I'm not much of slapper). It feels more intimate; feels more like the music is coming from me. A pick separates me from the feel of the strings a little bit.