What kind of pick do you use, or do you use fingers?

[duo8675309]

I use a heavy Fender pick and a 1.14mm dunlop for backup. But I mainly use my fingers b/c pick is a lot harder for me.

[FriscoBassAce]

I use Jim Dunlop Tortex .73 mm (the yellow ones) when I want a hard sound. I use my fingers when I want a softer, more transparent tone. Using a pick is perfect when you're playing hard-driving rock tunes!

[chaosMK]

I am mainly a finger style player. I cant really remember the last time I used a pick at a show (if ever!). When I rock out plectrum style, I like to use the blue Tortex picks.

[sethik]

i use both picks and fingers.
for picks i use jim dunlop 2mm s and dunlop 2mm "big stubbies"
great for fast and heavy with sharp notes
-s

[Redhotbassist]

Fingers..

[ModestCargo]

Fingers 95% of the time, but when I opt for a pick I use a Gibson Heavy.

[Dream Works]

I use a callus.

[d8g3jdh]

Fingers!

[tplyons]

Mostly fingers, but I'll reach for a Blue 1.00 mm Dunlop Tortex or a Carol Kaye pick.

[Bassist_Ben]

Some songs i use fingers, but mostly i use my pick. Fender Squier J Bass California Style guitar rules!!!!!!!

[JimmyM]

I use both picks and fingers, mostly fingers. Traditional sized heavies or x-heavies (picks, not fingers). I don't care who makes them. Right now I'm using Musician's Friend heavies I got for $2 a dozen. The other day, though, I found a pick on the sidewalk by House of Blues that I tried on a gig that I liked a lot, and I may switch to them. They were called Sharps, and instead of being rounded, they had a point on the tip. I think Dunlop makes them but I'm not sure.

Whatever you do, though, always use heavies for bass. You can really do damage to your hand by using lights or mediums.

[phxlbrmpf]

I like nylon picks the best, Dunlop or Peavey, the brand doesn't really matter. As they bend slightly, they give you the right amount of snap without sounding too harsh. I imagine you wouldn't be damaging your hand by using those, either.

[bonscottvocals]

I use a heavy Dunlop jazz pick (very small) when I pick, but that's for only 2 or 3 out of 45-50 songs a night.

[CrazyArcher]

Mostly fingers, but for fast and thrashy stuff I use a relatively small Dunlop 1mm.

[thedoctor]

In a recording situation or when I am playing with people my own age, I always use my thumb and my fingers. However, bass players being the creatures they are, I am now often asked to fill in for absent bassists with younger bands. There is no way my fingers can take a long night of that kind of playing so I started borrowing picks from the guitar players in these youth-bands. My favorite was a light gauge Fender until someone loaned me 100 Everly Pro picks. They are pink, have serrations on the body and, most cool, a hole about 1/4" in diameter right at the fattest part. The guitar player bought a lot of them and I don't think he cared for the color. That pick stays right where I need it. Way cool. A stiff pick does not to seem to work for me because I seem to lose control over the sound. A large pick seems to fall out of my grip rather easily. If I used one more my input would be of more value.

[lemur821]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Whatever you do, though, always use heavies for bass. You can really do damage to your hand by using lights or mediums.

Why do you say that? I hate trying to make a thin pick do what I want, but I don't see how I could hurt myself using one.

[JimmyM]

Because you have to work too hard to get any sound out of the string when you use a medium or light pick and eventually it stresses out your hand. Might take 20 years to happen, but it eventually will.

I was having pains in my hand earlier this year, and I learned Carol Kaye's picking method, which involves heavy picks and a radical change to my technique. My pains went away. A couple weeks ago, I didn't have a pick and I borrowed one of the guitarist's Fender mediums. Hand pains were back in a minute, even using Carol's technique. I had to drop the pick and finish the tune with my fingers.

[Pruitt]

Lately I've been using the rubber Wedgie pick almost exclusively when using a pick. Both the 3.1mm hard and the 5.0mm hard. You still get that nice pick attack, but with a warmer finger-style sound.

[fenderx55]

i usually go 60/40 fingers:ick. I find that the most aggressive/comfortable picks for me are the heavy fender california clears.

[lemur821]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Because you have to work too hard to get any sound out of the string when you use a medium or light pick and eventually it stresses out your hand. Might take 20 years to happen, but it eventually will.

I guess that makes sense. I've just never used thin ones enough to notice it.