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Any skilled Pick Players?

#102
Quite frankly I think the question is an ignorant one! Of course there are skilled bassists who use a pick (David Ellefson for one and many others who were named on this thread) Personally I am sick & tired of this "Pick or Fingers" schism that exists in the bass world, and it seems like the problem is found mostly with finger style bassists, who like to arrogantly thumb :smug: their noses at players who use a pick, as if they are a lower form of life or something. The well rounded bassist should be able to play and be familar with all styles and techniques used to coax sounds out of this great instrument we call a Bass!

I use a pick on some songs and my fingers on others. I am trying to master thumbing and slap n pop techniques & I know I will be a better bassist because of the time I put in learning new techniques.

It just depends on the song and what I think it needs. You just can't get the same kind of attack with your fingers as you can a pick-which is why a pick is prefered in certain genres like hard rock and metal. I will be the first to admit I use fingers most of the time and am most comfortable in that style-but most "Fingers only" bassist need to get over themselves :crying: , like there pure or something and are the only ones playing the bass correctly. You want to limit your horizons fine but keep your disdain to yourself and let the innovators make music anyway they like!
 
#107
darth-bass said:
Quite frankly I think the question is an ignorant one! Of course there are skilled bassists who use a pick (David Ellefson for one and many others who were named on this thread) Personally I am sick & tired of this "Pick or Fingers" schism that exists in the bass world, and it seems like the problem is found mostly with finger style bassists, who like to arrogantly thumb :smug: their noses at players who use a pick, as if they are a lower form of life or something. The well rounded bassist should be able to play and be familar with all styles and techniques used to coax sounds out of this great instrument we call a Bass!

I use a pick on some songs and my fingers on others. I am trying to master thumbing and slap n pop techniques & I know I will be a better bassist because of the time I put in learning new techniques.

It just depends on the song and what I think it needs. You just can't get the same kind of attack with your fingers as you can a pick-which is why a pick is prefered in certain genres like hard rock and metal. I will be the first to admit I use fingers most of the time and am most comfortable in that style-but most "Fingers only" bassist need to get over themselves :crying: , like there pure or something and are the only ones playing the bass correctly. You want to limit your horizons fine but keep your disdain to yourself and let the innovators make music anyway they like!
Click to expand...

Though I think that "lower form of life" part may be a small stretch, I agree. It makes me sick that people think there is any non-sonic differences between using a pick and not.
 
#112
I think the question is valid, since by numbers, there are a lot more bassist that play without a pick, so naming 10 recognizable pick players, metal or not, can be a challenge for many people.

I play with a pick 50% of the time. I often get local bass players stop by my gigs, and I love when I get compliments about my "funky" pick playing. I can do some cool 16th-note runs and string skips that get some attention. Lots of bass players have no idea that a pick can be your best secret weapon, either because prejudice, or because they just can't play with a pick to save their lives.

Kinda funny that people get all worked up about this subject.
 

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