Top bassists who use a pick

[AlstottMVP2]

Due to my 15 years as a guitarist before touching a bass for the first time, my left hand is very fast, but my right hand is slower. I can do the slap stuff, but when I use a pick, I sounds worlds better and can play very strong.

My Q is, are there any top bassists who use a pick all the time?

[jef44]

Paul McCartney comes to mind.

[Waspinators]

Jason Newsted and Rex Brown.

[shubball]

without this turning into a "fingers are better than picks" thread:

Flea sometimes uses a pick.

Jaco never did.

I use a pick in some songs, and in others I use my fingers. The reason why bassists (die hard bassists) say that picks are evil is because usually in popular bands the bassist is the singer/drummer/guitarists mate who only learnt to play cos he was their mate, and now they're famous we hate them cos we arent.

I can answer the age old question of which is better.....


but i choose not to.

[Amitio]

Duff Mckagan comes to mind

[gahpg]

There's plenty out there. Off the top of my head:

Justin Chancellor from Tool
Matt Freeman from Rancid
Paul Simonon from The Clash
(Pretty much most punk bands really)
Paul McCartney
Sting
There's more, but i'm tired and can't remember much right now.

Those guys will switch to fingerstyle on some songs. A good bass player can slap and play fingerstyle/pick style proficiently. Anyone who thinks using a pick is stupid is a moron, and anyone who can't do all three needs to broaden their skill set.

[andrew]

If you want to here a pickplayer where you might not expect one check out Bobby Vega, who does funk and r'n'b type music very well with a pick.

I guess it's a matter of what you consider a "top bassist" too, I think most of my fave bassist use a pick, and are very good bassists in their own right, but aren't considered popular bassists next to guys like Flea and Jaco.

I really like David Wm Sims from Jesus Lizard, and Joe Lally in Fugazi; both creative, talented pick using bassists.

[Codger]

Berry Oakley was a picker.

[AlstottMVP2]

Wow, I had no clue. I knew of Duff, but he was the only one I had noticed. I guess I'll stick with it. My band does a lot of 80s covers anyway, where recently using a pick has improved the attack a great deal.

[Lucas G]

allen woody.

[bassman314]

I prefer to use a plectrum...

[bassaficionado6]

Originally Posted by Waspinators

Jason Newsted and Rex Brown.

Those were the two I thought of when I saw the thread.

[cllsbass]

Anthony Jackson's flange + pick work is incredible

[Lady Kayri]

While John Deacon (Queen) mostly finger picked, you can see in some of the DVDs of Queen's concerts that he did use a pick on occasion...

[Daywalker]

Justin Chancellor, Chris Squire, and Duff Mckagan are my top three pickers...

[Ryan Mohr]

My favorites are Sting, Ben Kenney, and Paul McCartney.

[Basslice]

John Entwistle

[wallybill]

Gene Simmons
I never had the privilege of seeing John Entwistle, but the videos I've seen show him playing with his fingers. Which songs did he use a pick?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKUBTX9kKEo

[ollie1988]

dd verni - great thrash bassist

[Laredo]

..............Chris Squire of YES!!!! He is awesome, and a "pick" player!