Beginner - pick or no pick?

[39-Bassist]

BOTH...
Learn to play EVERY type of technique you can...you WILL need to use them at any time.
Have fun and it goes to 11 !

 

[Koshchei]

They're very different techniques with not a lot of overlap. Pick the one that the person who inspired you to pick up the instrument uses, and then learn the other when you've got your technique solid.

 

[interp]

Both.

 

[MCF]

Both are valid - try both and see which you prefer.

Just like everyone said you need a pick and a Ric to get the right tone for Yes - till Geddy nailed Roundabout with a Jazz and fingers.

Wish I’d spent more time developing pick technique when I was young. Fingers work so much better/faster for me. And I play a lot of Clash stuff. I think it’s best to develop proficiency at both.

 

[Humbled]

Whatever you like. Go for it. I'm just delighted you're taking up bass, and I hope you will be too!

I personally usually play with fingers, but some songs I just wouldn't want to play unless using a pick.

 

[CatchaCuda]

I started with a pick and had a borderline obsession with DK at the same time

It certainly was easier to play at speed with a pick. Starting finger style took a lot of practice to get up to speed. I'm mostly finger style these days, but don't neglect the almighty pick!
Pick, finger, thumb, slap, thump, pop, pluck - what ever it takes to serve the song and sound good.

 

[mikewalker]

both, in fact be a bit obsessive to actually make sure you split your development time equally - e.g. play everything you do both ways

 

[Stumbo]

I played with a pick for decades (started on guitar, so...) until I joined TalkBass and found out I was a low-life, no good, rotten, SOB, DB unless I could pluck the bass.

So I took a couple of months of off/on practice 'til I had it down.

 

[Keger Jupit]

Hi. I'm just getting started, learning to just play some simple riffs and play along to some easy grunge and punk tunes.
At the moment I'm playing without a pick, plucking with fingers but my main interest is punk and I've noticed a lot of my favourite punk bassists (especially hardco re bassists) seem to use a pick.
If I want to play punk, should I use a pick from the start or learn to play without and then change?

BOTH!

Have fun!

Welcome to TB!

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Hi. I'm just getting started, learning to just play some simple riffs and play along to some easy grunge and punk tunes.
At the moment I'm playing without a pick, plucking with fingers but my main interest is punk and I've noticed a lot of my favourite punk bassists (especially hardco re bassists) seem to use a pick.
If I want to play punk, should I use a pick from the start or learn to play without and then change?

Learn to use both.

 

[Pirate Captain]

The way I see it is the majority of "famous" bass players either use pick or dont. You dont see them change back and forth.

Tony Franklin does

 

[BurtMacklinFBI]

Just starting out, go without a pick for a bit. Once you build up some skill and develop a better ear for what you want to sound like, try using a pick and learn to use that as well. I love the sound of a pick and use one most of the time, but I still think it's best to stick to fingerstyle when learning the basics. It's not like you're going to be locked into whatever you start with forever.

 

[Pirate Captain]

learn to use a pick, try many different picks, also learn to thumb pluck, learn to finger pluck, learn to slap, learn the Entwistle type writer method, learn the Billy Sheehan 3 finger plucking method, and learn pretty much any method out there

...and if you like Motown...learn the Jamerson "hook"

 

[Mugre]

Channel Lock or Vise-Grip? Have 'em both in your toolbox.

mugre

 

[geesharp]

Pick whichever technique you're most comfortable with.

Coming from classical guitar, I started playing bass fingerstyle. Then I learned to use pick and played with pick for a while.

After less than a year, I went back to fingerstyle... because I was much more comfortable playing fingerstyle then playing with pick. That was decades ago, and I've been playing fingerstyle ever since.

So, pick the technique you're most comfortable with.

 

[Tommy V]

 

[bobbybass85]

17 years after picking up the bass, my advice is this:

Learn to play with:
*Your fingers
*A pick
*A pick muted
*Your thumb (slap style)
*Your thumb (muted)
*Bass over your head
*Bass behind your back

If you think of others, add them! Learn how to play in every possible way. They all have uses and purposes, and even in a single genre ALL HAVE THEIR USES!

 

[grimjim]

Everything. Pick, fingers, slap, tapping, scales, chords…..Learn as much as you can.

 

[two fingers]

Hi. I'm just getting started, learning to just play some simple riffs and play along to some easy grunge and punk tunes.
At the moment I'm playing without a pick, plucking with fingers but my main interest is punk and I've noticed a lot of my favourite punk bassists (especially hardco re bassists) seem to use a pick.
If I want to play punk, should I use a pick from the start or learn to play without and then change?

Welcome to TalkBass!!!!

There is no shame in either way. My best advice is to learn both. I shunned picks for WAY to long. I wish I hadn't been so snooty and had learned both out of the gate. As it stands I spent over a decade looking down my nose at pick players. Now I play pick almost half the time.

 

[tradernick]

I dont like playing with a pick, so I never do.
It has never been an issue or cost me a job.

And yes, you can play punk without a pick.

Well... all due respect but there are certain auditions in which you'd need to show you can play with a pick. Maybe it never cost you a job because you haven't auditioned for those gigs.

A lot of really great players play with both including a lot of Nashville session guys. If you want to be a well rounded bassist, you need to be able to do it all.