Does anyone else find it difficult to play bass with a pick?

[mccartneyman]

The problem for me is muting with my right hand, not the picking. I started fingerstyle and moved to pick when Chris Squire appeared. After that, I played a little of both. Today, if I need to be precise and funky, it's easier to do with my fingers. If I want attack and there's not too much damping required, I'll use a pick. On my Hofner I use pick exclusively. So does McCartney these days, although he has used fingers in the past.

 

[Rocky]

Palm muting + Pick + All down stokes = very ballsy bass sound

 

[musicbackissues]

I do. Ever since I first played a bass, I have always used my fingers. When I use a pick, I can only play at around half the speed that I can using only my fingers, and I always find myself fumbling and sometimes missing the string completely. Just wondering if anyone else is like me

I never really have used a pick. I've always used my fingers. I played classical guitar for a long time, so using my fingers seemed like the best choice for bass.

I tried picks a couple times, but it just seems weird compared to picking on skinny guitar strings.

Overall, I just prefer the tone of fingers on the bass over the pick sound.

Paul

 

[Meatbass]

I started playing bass with the good ol' fingers, but switched to pick because I couldn't get the speed/gallops I wanted.
I now play with both styles (can do the same with both), it just depends on what sound I'm going for now.
Practice practice practice. It will come to you quicker than you think!

Actually, picks have ups and downs. Fingers only have ups.

HAHAnotreallyfunny.

I found that hilarious!

 

[SurferJoe46]

The thinner, tortoise shell type picks are too thin unless you want that Euro-sound with the bass like Bert Kaempferdt's basses sound - cool and kinda "007/Goldfinger/Thunderball" effects.

Mostly when I need a thump and play with a pick I just use the white felt picks for jazz guitars or even the big fluffy black felt ones.

The Dunlop Standard Felt Guitar Picks are very stiff and tight at first but develop a nice soft edge that sounds a lot like a nice finger tip sound.

Plus for me they are a little faster to use 'cause my fingers are dumb.

Thumbs are smart though.

 

[darkhorse9]

When I started on bass I tried hard to stay strictly on th efinger method, but I quickly found I could play things so much cleaner with a pick. So I settled on playing pick almost exclusively.

There are some song that require a bit more mellow sound and I'll finger those. But as a general rule I use Dunlop nylon picks.

 

[Pilgrim]

I played fingerstyle only for many years, and I've just learned to use a pick in the past few months. My choice is one of the large felt picks, as I don't really like the harsh attack of the plastic ones.

I'm still learning how to use it - if I really need to be fast and accurate, I'm still better with my fingers. Also, sometime the pick does twist around while playing. However, for simple repetitive patterns the pick is at least as fast and doesn't make my right hand lock up. For more complex fast patterns, I'm not good enough with a pick yet to hit the right strings...I need to use my fingers.

When I play a lot of fast patterns fingerstyle, I REALLY need to concentrate on relaxing the hand and minimizing muscle tension.

Here's a stock shot of a couple of Dunlop felt picks - I think these are what I'm using. They're about half again as large as the ball of my thumb.

 

[dorknowitzki]

my shallow reason is: i wanted to learn playing with my fingers so i won't have to give away picks anymore to some kids who don't even know our band's name. or worse, they don't know what instrument i'm playing.

 

[perfektspace6]

It takes practice, just like any other technique.

+1. and with that I absolutely suck at playing with a pick. I play pretty damn well with my fingers and I don't need all that plastic on metal clanging you guys generate

Two guys who have a great pick tone: Dave Ellefson and Eddie Jackson.

 

[dorknowitzki]

my shallow reason is: i changed to fingerstyle because i don't want to give picks anymore to some people who don't even know our band's name. picks cost money too. im not even paid to do music.

 

[dorknowitzki]

sorry double post. i thought my reply didnt make it through. sorry

 

[can_v]

I switch back and forth between pick and fingers in every gig. I'd rather use it for fast songs or songs that I have to play 16th notes or more continuously. It's not like I can play faster with it. It's just my timing seems steadier with it, and I can control the dynamic more as well.

I never actually play with a pick, but I don't find it very hard. For songs like Hysteria by Muse it would be a LOT easier using a pick, plus it makes it easier avoid problems with tendons and such in the right hand (I've had tendinitis twice, and while I won't get it again by playing bass in general, songs like Hysteria or What Is Hip by Tower Of Power could get me in trouble), plus it just won't be so tiring. I play some guitar too, and that's probably why I find it easy to use a pick even on bass, but as I said I never use it.

and, yes, hysteria is easier with pick for me. This vid is my proof

 

[Exploiter8]

When I was playing out in the 80's, I alternated between pick and fingers. I retired from playing for a couple decades and when I got back into music, a pick just didn't feel right anymore.

X8

 

[joshwilkesbooth]

I play all downstrokes with a pick. It is the only way to do things, imo.

 

[vladchrome]

I'm another one who has trouble with the pick, I haven't thought about it in years so recently tried a pick I thought I'd be able to play a lot faster. Well that was not the case in fact it was a little slow and awkward. But like others have said it is a technique and may require practicing.

 

[steelhead2]

thread was locked down after 16 pages but i'll add this;i do,have and will(use one)`the journey' here has me always seeking tone to mimic what i hear,and,thru the day i hear music that sounds like`i'd use a pick to record THAT because i could be precise,,and a fretted bass too,,,get what i'm saying?,(i currently only own a fretless but can see under certain circumstances a fretted bass would be better for recording CERTAIN music,other types not so much)

also i will not pickplay for a month at a time and then i'ts all about picking depending on the jonre i'm studying,the attack,yesterday i was`plucking' bluegrass tones out with a thumb i'd never ever used before=go figure!(i got into jamming with some people and MADE it happen i guess?)

are we confused yet?,use what feels good and works for a given scenario,guitarists do the same thing/lighten up on yourself/relax/it's all good if you feel good/don't let anybody P in your pancake mix it won't taste right in the morning/talk to you laterbye peace love and happyness(it's late all this pandering is keeping grandpa up)

 

[Stumbo]

Pick/not to Pick?

 

[Krügmeister]

I think Rick Savage from Def Leppard doesn't know how to play.

Fixed it for ya!

 

[marchone]

I need finger style for most things and plectrum playing for some. Felt pick is great for a rolling wall of sound, gentle or driving. I love sharp-sounding trebly power chords with a hard pick. A constant open string progression is huge with roundwounds and a hard plec. It just fills all the space

 

[bunkaroo]

I'm sure it's been said before but like any other technique it's something that gets better with practice. I think there's a little bit of an misconception that it's easy. It might be easy to get started with, but you can still have a lot of control and nuance with one. I've used one since I started playing 22 years ago. I've gotten pretty good with fingerstyle in that time but I am very fluid and precise with the pick. I've also adapted my sound and technique so it doesn't sound quite like a harsh attack - my picks wind up curved a bit and I think it helps them roll off the string a bit.