Using a pick is easier?

[Dkerwood]

There are only two occasions in which I will use a pick-

1. If the music is too fast consistently for me to use my fingers alone. For example, I was with a band that liked to tear through an extended version of "Proud Mary." 8th notes at 160bpm can wear out the hand pretty well, so I'd use a pick in that instance.

2. If the song I'm playing dictates the attack that you can only get using a pick. A lot of punk seems to be this way. Maybe it's just my jazz experience hurting me here, but I can't get that sort of trebley attack with just my fingers.

In general, I find that in all occasions except for sustained fast ostinatos, I'm faster and more controlled with my fingers. Ghost notes are a lot more difficult with a pick, and after all, I have three fingers that I use most of the time on bass, and that will always be faster than a pick (until your hand cramps up).

If I do use a pick, though, I have to be very careful that I'm not strumming all the strings. My guitar half wants to take over too easily there.

[jbennardo]

I'm no longer "ashamed" to use a pick. For years I was told that pick playing was cheating.

I guess it's about the music. period. I'm not letting my stupid pride get in the way of playing Green Day or Blink using my fingers.

Bottom line, If I feel like using a pick - I will. It's kind of fun to get busy with a pick. There is something to be said for a player who can just tear it up using downstrokes and upstrokes. It's another technique that I want to master so I'm not going to treat it like a second class citizen.

Oh and playing bass power chords better than the guitar player are pretty fun too