Famous Pick Bassists

[Fullmetal]

I hear alot about people playing bass with their fingers, and I have been trying to learn fingerstyle (it's tricky cos I'm used to pick and my fingers lock up easily) and I'm nowhere near as good with fingers as I am with pick.

I know of alot of bassists that play with their fingers, and I'm just wondering how many famous pick bassists there are? I'm guessing there must be some out there.

[drden]

chris squire from YES

[wizay]

jason newsted

[bluesblaster]

Paul "whatzisname" from that 60,s group, you know, those british fellas.

[bluesblaster]

Phil Lesh
Barry Oakly
Joe Osborne
Anthony Jackson
Dave Hope

[sometypeofplay]

Matt Freeman from Rancid is an animal with a pick! A few others that spring to mind:

Joe Osborne and Carol Kaye- studio players from the 60's-present
Steve Swallow- modern jazz player
Anthony Jackson- a master of the instrument
Justin Chancellor- of Tool fame


...and a whole lot more, but that should give you a good start.

[debassr]

Sting
Kim Deal

[sirbigguns]

Didn't Rick Danko play with a pick?

[wafu_vasco]

Greg Kriesel - Offspring
Mike Dirnt - Green Day

[Thangfish]

Allen Woody - The Allman Bros, Gov't Mule, etc
Roger Waters - Floyd

[PackardGoose]

Entwistle played with a pick in a few songs, but a majority of the Who was with fingers.

[Bassamatic]

Carol Kaye

[Thangfish]

Originally Posted by sirbigguns

Didn't Rick Danko play with a pick?

Yup

[wizay]

Lemmy Kilmeister ;P

[RobBass33]

Most pick bass players aren't too special, for instance Jason Newsted, who in my opinion could be player a little less lazily, but as somebody said before, Chris Squire from Yes is probably the best pick bass player, as well as one of the greatest rock and roll bass players. If you're going to play with a pick I would certainly watch his playing style. Also this one Youtube bass player, MarloweDK, is a great bassist, who plays phenomonally with both his fingers and pick. He uses the pick in a more funky manner. Two great bass players you should check out right there.

[dmusic148]

Originally Posted by Gio S

Carol Kaye

+1. And she's a session player appearing on about eighty bazillion records.
I mostly play with fingers, but have been learning to play with a pick!! It's all good, as long as you make a good noise it doesn't matter how you do it.

[Fullmetal]

Originally Posted by RobBass33

Most pick bass players aren't too special, for instance Jason Newsted, who in my opinion could be player a little less lazily, but as somebody said before, Chris Squire from Yes is probably the best pick bass player, as well as one of the greatest rock and roll bass players. If you're going to play with a pick I would certainly watch his playing style. Also this one Youtube bass player, MarloweDK, is a great bassist, who plays phenomonally with both his fingers and pick. He uses the pick in a more funky manner. Two great bass players you should check out right there.

Wow, these guys are pretty good. And I wouldn't say Jason's style was lazy necessarily. And I don't personally see why pick bassists aren't as special as finger bassists. It still sounds good and everyone has their own technique. Thanks for the info though

And thanks every else too :P

[millsbass5]

I love the sound of a pick hitting a fresh set of round wounds.but dammit!! it just dont seem right!! maybe beause pick playing is one of my primary weaknesses on bass ?

[Fullmetal]

I've never personally had a problem with the pick sound, gives it a bit more tone I think (but being a metal bassist (laugh it up) pick bass sounds good anyway)

[Ric5]

John Entwistle
Chris Squire
John Wetton
Paul McCartney
Greg Lake
Roger Waters