Any Fingerstyle Punk Players

[HailCorduroy]

I've been practicing some of the songs I was using a pick for and at practice last night, I played all but 2 songs finger style. I thought it sounded better and I was able to follow the drummer better. We cover The Misfits' "We Are 138" and it just has to have a pick.

Bass is a Fender P w/ flats

 

[Luke S Mouse]

Most punk bassists have been using fingers save Jay Bentley from Bad Relgion and a few others. I know that several bassists in Black Flag have used fingers, also Glen Matlock, the Bassist from DOA, Paul Simonon of the Clash I don't know anybody else.

 

[Infernal Affair]

Jason Black from Hot Water Music uses fingers and has great tone. A Precision bass with a pick may be the punk stereotype, but you can find plenty of finger players (who also don't use P basses).

 

[notalent]

Jason Black from Hot Water Music uses fingers and has great tone. A Precision bass with a pick may be the punk stereotype, but you can find plenty of finger players (who also don't use P basses).

I think he's a great bassist. Was lucky to go to school in gainesville while they were still there. Saw them 4 or 5 times in the late 90s

 

[AleemRadunzel]

I was looking for discussion not advice. Besides, my right hand is also my "loving" hand. My GF would kill me if I grew nails on it. I'm happy with my sound and interested in the experiences of others

A lil pain never hurt anyone

ill rephrase =P

i find that if you grow your finger nail on your first finger on your right hand that you can tremolo pick wth one finger and it sounds 90% dead on..

 

[kanonfodr]

I play some punk songs fingerstyle, and I tend to go metal style with a low action where I can jam the heck out of my strings to get a hard, pick-like attack. Sounds pretty clanky solo, but I bet it mixed quite nice. It sounds good when I am jamming with...anything really.

Peace,
Greg

 

[John Rogers]

chuck dukowski of black flag
kira roessler of black flag
jerry only of the misfits
mike watt occasionally but that's already been said
and flea actually when he played in a band called fear in the 80's

OH! and richard hell from the voidoids. gosh I love the voidoids.

 

[deadhead]

I'm not a huge punk player but here is why I prefer fingers over a pick:

The problem with a pick is it sounds awesome when you are playing on your own but when you start playing with a band the higher register that is created by using the pick sound gets covered up by the guitar/drum snare and other things. It actually cuts out your overall sound out of the band and leaves low end of the music really in need. You'll realize if you play with your fingers in a band the lower sound actually jumps out more and you'll find yourself with more prominence in the sound.

Now, I would think that any crazy fast line you could play with a pick you could also play with fingers. In fact, I think that fingers are the overall faster and more durable way of playing. You have five fingers on your hand and with a pick all you have is that one pick. Most successful classic bass players around have played with their fingers...but for a more hard rock example just look at Cliff Burton and then show me someone who can play faster than that on a bass with a pick.

Cheers, best of luck.

 

[G00D+~VIBES]

I don't play punk on a regular basis. Occasionally, I will sit in w/ a band that I have a bunch of friends with (who plays Punk primarily), and although I can't really get a "punk/pick" sound w/ my bass (high action tight strings) when I borrow the one regularly used by the band (rounds/LOW action) I just get beefy with it near the bridge.

I think there is some merit in what deadhead is saying. The guy I sub for uses a pick, and they always make comments about how their sound "seems more full" when I use my fingers.

 

[Blade3dge]

I don't play punk on a regular basis. Occasionally, I will sit in w/ a band that I have a bunch of friends with (who plays Punk primarily), and although I can't really get a "punk/pick" sound w/ my bass (high action tight strings) when I borrow the one regularly used by the band (rounds/LOW action) I just get beefy with it near the bridge.

I think there is some merit in what deadhead is saying. The guy I sub for uses a pick, and they always make comments about how their sound "seems more full" when I use my fingers.

I use 45-105 strings with a high action and actually quite like the punk sound I get. I play a jaguar in passive mode and favour the neck pickup. That said I stick more to pop-y-punk songs.

 

[mpm32]

In my punk band days I played fingerstyle and fretless.

Oooo, I was breakin the law.

Seriously, play whatever and however you please as long as it rocks.

 

[Blade3dge]

In my punk band days I played fingerstyle and fretless.

Oooo, I was breakin the law.

Seriously, play whatever and however you please as long as it rocks.

Breaking law is the name of the game when you're playing punk music haha

 

[tZer]

To achieve a more 'thrashy' sound, I'll hold my index fingertip like a pick and go at it as if I were playing 'pick style'. You do have to have a fingernail, but it does not have to be long.

I'll adopt the Wooten style thumb picking for really fast stuff too. Again, as long as you have reasonably intact nails and angle your digits 'just so' you can get a very pick-esque effect.

But I'll also break out a pick when I really want to get a great pick-style sound! I am a firm believer in using the right tool for the right job! I do not hold the belief that playing bass with a pick is somehow a cop-out.

If it works, use it.

 

[Nigel Rahmshard]

I think he means to say:
"There is a plethora of posters on this fine forum that enjoy playing their electric basses with their fingers as opposed to a plectrum, and they claim that should they ever find themselves in a musical ensemble which is of the 'punk' tradition, they can emulate the sound of a plectrum with their digits. In fact, they are so certain of this ability that you will not spy a plectrum between their digits! However, I have yet to see or hear irrefutable proof of this claim."

Probably one of the funniest things i have read on TB. i seriously did LOL.

 

[precision punk]

i love playing punk music with my fingers. i am faster and more precise and i get a certain growl with my fingers i cant get with a pick when i play close to the neck.i use a fender p with rounds and i love the tone.

 

[FunkMetalBass]

I was looking for discussion not advice. Besides, my right hand is also my "loving" hand. My GF would kill me if I grew nails on it. I'm happy with my sound and interested in the experiences of others

It's time to work your left hand up, good sir. You play bass and have the intricate movements down pat, now you just need to work on the non-bass applications of that hand .........

....like typing speed.

 

[mpm32]

Breaking law is the name of the game when you're playing punk music haha

Exactly - who'd play punk if there were rules.

The very definition of punk is to break the rules. (Well my definition anyway)

To me Johnny Cash was punk - he went against the mainstream country at the time.

 

[GriffinREX]

One of the best bassists in punk, Karl Alvarez, plays fingerstyle.

 

[BDL1991]

but for a more hard rock example just look at Cliff Burton and then show me someone who can play faster than that on a bass with a pick.

Joey DeMaio and that is a bass, a piccolo i do believe

 

[sonic assassin]

brian robinson is the best example, as seen on the first page.

i play fingerstyle ALWAYS unless playing punk. too fast, and too much attack, and i play fingerstyle and make it SOUND like a pick.