STOP HATING ON PICKS!!!

[Surprise Panda!]

oh,

So i was watching a video on youtube of a guy playing a bass w/ a pick. One comment told him he sucked because he used a pick. I responded saying, a lot of great bassists use picks. He commented back with stuff i can't say on the forums. This really gets me angry. "real bassist's play with a pick". Now I don't use a pick, only sometimes, but it just really bugs me that people think you automatically suck because you use a pick. God this is annoying!@

[bassmonkeee]

Feel better?

[Mharris]

I understand but I wouldn't let it get to you. We all know better.

[Mike Shevlin]

Keep a can of root beer with your stuff. Shake it for 10 minutes and offer it to anyone who tries to tell you how to strike your strings. If they turn down the drink open it for them.

[nicfargo]

Picks are for guitards, not bassists. I'm just messing with you. I usually finger, but there are certain songs where alternate picking is a must, and when I try to finger it, it just sounds like a weird waltz of some sort. Picking has it's place, I wouldn't do it all the time though.

[bassteban]

Don't argue w/those fools; there are plenty of idiots that love you over here.

[funkybassplayer]

I have been battling with working up my pick chops again. I have recently joined a group that will be mainly a studio project with some light gigs but i want to have the clarity and definition that come with using a pick while in the studio. I have always been a fingerstyle player (thanks to Rocco) but i realize that pickstyle is just as important of a technique.

[alembicguy]

YOUTUBE? Yes there are a bunch of really important comments posted there HA HA,dont let it get to you most of the comments are from people who have nothing better to do or say they just want to get under anyones skin.

[JmJ]

you can pick your bass & you can pick your nose but you can't pick your friends bass with your nose.

[Sandman1278]

Whatever soots the song! Finger/Pick/Slap/Tap/Beer Bottle We do what me must, because we can

[J. Crawford]

Originally Posted by JmJ

you can pick your bass & you can pick your nose but you can't pick your friends bass with your nose.

Priceless.

[fearceol]

Originally Posted by Mharris

I understand but I wouldn't let it get to you. We all know better.

+1. Concentrate on playing the way you want.

[Flalaski]

note that those are Youtube comments. they are always dumb! i don't mind picks. i never use them, but they are good for certain songs. it all depends on how the song is.

[69nites]

[jaywa]

Personally, I don't play as well with a pick. On a typical 4-hour night of covers I might use a pick on two songs total, and those are definitely the least comfortable. I don't like being "separated" from my bass by a piece of plastic... it kinda feels like trying to ride a bike with platform shoes or something.

And, I very rarely hear good bass TONE (live at least) on live gigs where the bassist uses a pick.

That being said, in no way will I ever say using a pick is categorically wrong. I used a pick exclusively for my first few years of playing till my right hand fingerstyle chops got to a point where that became more comfortable. One of all-time favorites, Joe Osborn, got tone from heaven and I'm not sure he ever recorded a song WITHOUT a pick (if he has ever played live and anyone here has heard him, I would love to know if "that sound" carries over live).

When I'm giving tips to beginners I strongly encourage them to start playing fingerstyle (string muting being one of the biggest reasons, and tone another)... but am quick to encourage them to also work on pickstyle and focus on that if it is more comfortable and/or suited to the genre they expect to play in.

[Bassenstien]

Originally Posted by 69nites

HA I was waiting for this one

[Stumbo]

Troll alert.

[joelc1319]

Originally Posted by 69nites

+1. Enough of these threads already. They all end up being 10 pages long, just restating the same information. Bassists use fingers. Bassists use picks. Bassists use women. Enough said.

[dreadheadbass]

according to youtube comments that i have read....

all bassists are gay
john entwistle is talentless
billy sheehan sucks (just plays fast scales no big deal)
real bassists play fingers
real bassists play picks
james jamerson is lame
jaco pastorius stuff is really easy
geddy lee cant play for s**t
flea is overrated
pete wentz is the best bassist on the planet
mark hoppus is way better than steve harris
the moon landing never took place
i can play a bass faster than paul gilbert can play guitar


i wouldnt take much notice of youtube comments if i were you the comments are written by talentless losers that talk a big bassline but have no job or no girlfriend that feel the need to sit infront of the pc all day bad mouthing and slating just about any video they can get there hands on in order to fill there life with some kind of purpose

[paganjack]

i can barely hold on to picks for more than 30 seconds. Maybe with a big stubby i'll last a minute. but they all fly away sooner or later...
one of my drummers is the same way with sticks, but he doesnt have the option of playing fingerstyle