why is picking faster then plucking

[godsmack]

Originally posted by dancehallclasher
yeah, but if you'd been practicing with a pick for that long too, it would be faster.

yeah that is true ... i played with my fingers for about 6 months and 1 month with about a pick and i can go about 3 times faster... sometimes you don't what it too fast though, so fingers would be good, but with punk music, a pick is faster.

[Brad Johnson]

Abbraham Laboriel
Michael Manring
Victor Wooten
etc.

Nothing against pick players (hey, Anthony Jackson is at the top of my list) but until I see a pick player capable of either multi-string speed or the equivalent of Abe's five finger plucking...

[star]

I, personally use a pick most of the time. It feels natural to me. Secretly---I have problems using my fingers sometimes. I guess I haven't played long enough with my fingers to have gotten them in shape. When you use a pick, the sound (tone) is more clear. Using a pick is just my style.
Anyone have any suggestions for me on how to develope my plucking fingers??!!

[rickbass]

Originally posted by Rockinjc
so is it the alternating down/upstroke thing or the plastic that makes you faster?
j

They're interdependent. I can make my hand a blur but if the pick tip is too thick to snap back to position fast enough, the wrist speed is in vain. If the wrist isn't up to it, forget it.

There's an old instrumental warm-up song, "Loose Goose," by Dust where Kenny Aaronson's bass is the lead instrument ( www.cdnow.com has a sound clip). Some of the best, breakneck-speed, rock picking on a Precision I've heard.

[brewer9]

OK, lets take score,

PICK: Up/down alternating on a single string = FAST.

FINGERS: Two at a time matches the pick's up/down with the possibility of adding a third or even a fourth finger, plus simulataneous string playing = FASTER.

[KillsOn4String]

Hell if you can go fast with your fingers use them
if you want to use pick , use it

[Bruce Lindfield]

Originally posted by KillsOn4String
Hell if you can go fast with your fingers use them
if you want to use pick , use it

Well that's blindingly obvious, but the question was asking about which is faster and why!

He already knows he can use either, but the thread is about why you would use one or the other.