in ur opinon is pick or fingers better for metal

[T-BIRD bassist]

i ussually play with fingers but ive notice that a lot of metal band especially the faster types of metal use picks i was wondering if any of u know any ideas for getting a good metal sound

[Matt Till]

where is "ur opinion"? It must be some place in Sweeden, they've got good metal there.


Depends on the style of metal. I like the tone of a pick cutting through in thrasher heavy metals. But if it's Doom/Stoner metal I like the nice laid back fingerstyle approach. But hey, switch it up. These are all tools in your toolbox. Don't limit yourself to one tool. You wouldn't hire a clown to fix a leak in the john.

[Ozzyman]

Fingers all the way...

'nuff said

[SlavaF]

Cliff Burton and Steve Harris both used fingers... and both sounded great! Fingers all the way, but then again I can't use a pick when fast playing is required.

Learn both.

[Discgraham]

Most of the bass in classic metal is smooth and holds the groove under the screaching guitars. In more modern metal, the bass is more raw and on the forefront. Now depending on the style of metal you are playing, you make the choice. Play the same song with both fingers and pick and see which one you like better. We can't tell you which is better because one isn't better than the other.

I've found if you grow out the nails on your picking hand, you can get a great variety of tones! You can get a crisp loud pick tone without the charachteristic "click".

[Figjam]

Id say if you use distortion, pick.

If you are mostly clean, fingers.

[Adam Barkley]

Let the song decide.

For example, if the song was fast with a ton of string skipping I would probably use fingers for simplicity, but if the song was only on one or two strings then I would probably pull out the old .73.

[Benjamin Strange]

I'd say an open mind is best for metal. Use what your brain tells you.

[Ozzyman]

Originally Posted by Discgraham

Most of the bass in classic metal is smooth and holds the groove under the screaching guitars. In more modern metal, the bass is more raw and on the forefront.

Yea, in modern metal I think there's less of an ego contest
But fingers is more versatile. You can get a sharp staccato note for ultra fast 16th's (aka Battery -Metallica) or round smooth bass lines (aka World So Cold -Mudvayne)
Fingers looks cooler too haha!

[cowsgomoo]

there have been fantastic metal players who play with their fingers... and other fantastic ones who play with a pick

so the conclusion is.... (drum roll please) *BRRRRRRDDDUM*

it don't matter use whatever sounds best to you... hit the strings with a fork if you like the sound of it!

[Ozzyman]

Or a drumstick...
Don't ask

[Vegeta]

If you have seen Deicide concert, the basist looks like he's playng with a pick but I think that he's playing with his thumb. It's very good for death metal songs because it sounds like slap bass.

[srxplayer]

IMHO fingers is better for everything.

[Adam Barkley]

Originally Posted by srxplayer

IMHO fingers is better for everything.

Not better for getting a pick tone.

[teprodic]

i was wondering how do you get that click sound when you play with your fingers without it sounding like crap? Any tricks or certain strings that there is behind that? Thanks...

To answer your question it really depends what style of metal you're playing and the tone you want. IMO Playing with your fingers sounds better for Death Metal. Some metal-core bands have a nice bright tone to their bass and it comes from using a pick. I'd probabbly suggest that you experiment with both styles and probably different strings to look for your ideal sound. When playing with my fingers I've experienced a good tone from using D'Addarios XL nickle plated roundwound strings.

[gazman_res]

I do alright with the fingers..

Please dont slap.

[CrazyArcher]

That really depends on teh song... For extreme metal I"d use a pick rather than fingers, 'coz I like the bright and somewhat agressive sound a pick...

[Josh Ryan]

please don't slap....

fingerstyle is better for everything...


blah blah blah blah blah..... not to single you two out, the whole thread is 90% lame.


Maybe the question was, "what do you like?"

[Mon Rominee]

Yeah, how many iterations of "pick vs. fingers" can there be?

[Josh Ryan]

Originally Posted by Mon Rominee

Yeah, how many iterations of "pick vs. fingers" can there be?

At this point even 1 is too many.