Gotta say... I've really warmed up to "pick playing"

[ethanbowen666]

I used to hate it when bass players used a pick. But recently I've been really digging into some 70s stuff, and man I must say there are QUITE A FEW bass players that where rocking the pick!

I'd have to say that this album "Svitanie" by Czechoslovakian group "Blue Effect (Modrý Efekt; M. Efekt)" really pushed me over the edge into realizing "there is a time and place for everything."

There is just some magical thing about these three things:
-P-Bass
-Pick
-70's prog


Thoughts anyone?
Does anyone ever listen to that Czechoslovakian band Blue Effect?

[ethanbowen666]

I didn't mean to say that there aren't any other piece out there with different kind of bass that are just as amazing. Like Camel an Tull (don't use pick)

[Diesel Kilgore]

I used to look down my nose at those who played with a pick. But I must say, ALOT do, and its waaaayyy harder to do then one would think. Especially not coming from a guitar backround. I love how fast you can play, I can jam 1/16th notes all day on a single string. Want me to put together a chord or go vertical? Forget it.

[wvbass]

I blame TBird1958, but after 30 years of finger-style playing, tomorrow's gig will have more pick playing than all my previous gigs combined.

[Tvrtko]

http://youtu.be/T1vqrjdZUCk

Fender P
Acoustic 371
Pick

[danomite64]

When I started playing in '83, I was nothing but a pick player. I wanted to be a 'real' bassist, so I kept trying to ditch the pick, and finally succeeded when I joined another band. All through the '90's I never used a pick, just fingerstyle and some slap/pop; I was finally a 'real' bassist! Then in 2000, I was recording my parts on my band's 2nd cd, and for kicks I pulled out an old pick from my gig bag, and cut a track with my Musicman Sabre. It was magic. Since then, I just use whatever works best for the song.

[ethanbowen666]

Originally Posted by Tvrtko

http://youtu.be/T1vqrjdZUCk

Fender P
Acoustic 371
Pick

=) 70s lol

[tomnomnom91]

For the first couple of years I played I was completely against pick playing. I think it was something to do with my dad telling me bass should be played with fingers, he kind of poisoned me against picks. But after a while I started using one occasionally, and I love the tone. It annoys me when certain people seem to look down on me for using a pick, when I use one purely for the sake of the tone. Most of the bass parts I play are fine to play with fingers, so I really don't see the problem. I think that's all that should be considered in th pick vs fingers argument really: which tone you prefer. Obviously I can now use both and it makes me a better player overall.

[bassbenj]

Originally Posted by danomite64

It was magic. Since then, I just use whatever works best for the song.

Well Duh! That sure took you a long time to figure out!

I imagine there is a tendency to look down on pick players because of guitarists converted to bass, but really as always it's just about what works best in the music not what "kind" of bass player you are!

[Tvrtko]

I had to use pick for very fast songs...
Here is example of me playing pick in "live" conditions:

http://youtu.be/QLMCosGoLoc

[TBird1958]

Originally Posted by wvbass

I blame TBird1958, but after 30 years of finger-style playing, tomorrow's gig will have more pick playing than all my previous gigs combined.

Lol!

I don't have any choice with the band, most of what we do just would be impossible for me to play fingerstyle - But see the link in my sig, I give it a go on "Hungry like the Wolf".
Today, at home I tried "Doctor Doctor" by UFO fingerstyle, didn't make it halfway and my middle finger had cramped

When I was 19 and used a Rick 4001 I somehow managed to play that song.

[ethanbowen666]

hmm I still don't know if I agree with using a pick just "because it makes it easier" per say.

But I was thinking more along the lines of this...

Originally Posted by tomnomnom91

I use one purely for the sake of the tone.

[mjac28]

I agree use what sounds good.

[slapnthebass]

Gain all the skills and techniques you can to have a massive toolbox of tone options. That's what I've learned. It's funny, because when I started playing bass, my metalhead friend that helped me learn told me the opposite from most people: to stop trying to use my fingers because I'll just always do better with a pick.

So I kept playing with both fingers and a pick and even started to work on slap after that. I did the right thing, and he was stupid for what he said lol

Now I have almost 3 times the tonal options compared to before. On top of this, experimenting with all these styles on flatwound strings vs rounds, palm muting, and on a jazz vs. a precision vs a PJ, I've built so much knowledge on different tones that I know exactly what I like to do for each situation.


You can never have too many skills. Just refrain from skill overkill. Not every song needs heavy aggressive picking or hardcore slap, and not every song needs smooth, round, fat-sounding finger-style playing (though, IMO, this does fit more situations than picking all the time ).

Sometimes you might deviate from the norm, but I promise, just have an ear for the best style in the music you're playing and you'll never go wrong.

[MEKer]

Originally Posted by ethanbowen666

I used to hate it when bass players used a pick. But recently I've been really digging into some 70s stuff, and man I must say there are QUITE A FEW bass players that where rocking the pick!

I'd have to say that this album "Svitanie" by Czechoslovakian group "Blue Effect (Modrý Efekt; M. Efekt)" really pushed me over the edge into realizing "there is a time and place for everything."

There is just some magical thing about these three things:
-P-Bass
-Pick
-70's prog


Thoughts anyone?
Does anyone ever listen to that Czechoslovakian band Blue Effect?

Glad to see you've gained maturity as a musician. You are definitely benefiting and having fun, no doubt.
The "Hating..." and "Looking down on..." are pretty puerile as you probably can see now. Kind of a 15 year old thing.
The ONLY thing that matters is "CAN YOU PLAY YOUR F'in BASS!". I've always laughed at those that think they are "all that" because they don't use a pick and look down from heaven at those who do. What a joke. They ought to take their case to Carol Kaye and make her feel bad that she uses a pick... .. along with a whole bunch of great players. Yeah, TB has had a scad of ridiculous pick vs fingers posts---pretty worthless.
So keep rollin', dude, and congrats on the growth spurt. And play, play, play!!

[TBird1958]

Originally Posted by ethanbowen666

Hmm I still don't know if I agree with using a pick just "because it makes it easier" per say.

But I was thinking more along the lines of this...

Thunderbird + Pick = tone

[slapnthebass]

Originally Posted by ethanbowen666

Hmm I still don't know if I agree with using a pick just "because it makes it easier" per say.

But I was thinking more along the lines of this...

Exactly. I don't use a pick to play something easier if it doesn't fit the right tone for the song. If it calls for fingers and you can't play it yet, it's time to buckle down and get some more practice in!

[stepswork4me]

I played almost exclusively with a pick for 20 years, except when tapping. I now use some finger style. I'm at the point where a thumb pick has become necessary for switching styles during the same song.

[tomnomnom91]

Originally Posted by TBird1958

Thunderbird + Pick = tone

This! My bass tone is honestly my favourite I've ever heard, and I use a Thunderbird with a pick.

[ethanbowen666]

Originally Posted by MEKer

Glad to see you've gained maturity as a musician. You are definitely benefiting and having fun, no doubt.
The "Hating..." and "Looking down on..." are pretty puerile as you probably can see now. Kind of a 15 year old thing.
The ONLY thing that matters is "CAN YOU PLAY YOUR F'in BASS!". I've always laughed at those that think they are "all that" because they don't use a pick and look down from heaven at those who do. What a joke. They ought to take their case to Carol Kaye and make her feel bad that she uses a pick... .. along with a whole bunch of great players. Yeah, TB has had a scad of ridiculous pick vs fingers posts---pretty worthless.
So keep rollin', dude, and congrats on the growth spurt. And play, play, play!!

Thanks!!!

Though I didn't say I "hated" bass players that used a pick I hate when they use one. I would still hate to see someone using a pick not for the tone but the playability and therefor limiting themselves as a player

That's why I always frowned on it because I felt that they where limiting them selves (particularly in metal where I don't really feel it's necessary to use a pick). But that's another topic of discussion. We're talking about what pickin bass sounds good on!

70s prog