famous bassists who use picks

[Vinnyfunk]

I really like Bootsy Collins from Parliament. you all should check him out, his bass licks are really sweet.

 

[kolumbusz]

Dave Meros - Spock's Beard
Jonas Reingold - The Flower Kings
Pete Trewawas - Marillion
Most players of the prog scene are playing with a pick.

 

[CYDbass]

A lot of hard rock and heavy metal musicians used picks because you get that hardcore, scratchy tone. Some people can also play faster if they have a pick. I remember when Metallica covered "Iron Man" when Black Sabbath was added to the rock n' roll hall of fame. Robert Trujillo, who normally plays with his fingers, switched to a pick so he could hit those fast sixteenth notes near the final part of the song.

Trujillo needed a pick to hit fast notes?
Listen to some of the Infectious Grooves songs, Violent and Funky for example. I wouldn't say he needed a pick for speed.
I'd guess it was just for the tone, because pace isn't something he lacks.

 

[Exploiter8]

Maybe it's a generational thing, but I'm surprised no one has mentioned John Lodge of The Moody Blues. I don't recall ever seeing him play without one, but the studio might be a different story in your eyes. (Sorry!) He used Alembic on one tour but I believe he expected freebie basses for endorsement...the Wickersham's don't play that game!

 

[heath_r_91]

I think you could pretty much pick any newer rock (including metal, hardcore, screamo, post-hardcore, emo, etc...) and I'd be willing to bet that 98% of the bass players in the bands you would think of play with a pick.

 

[BassPlayer3187]

Phil Lesh and Mike Gordon

 

[A.K.]

Ian Hill of Judas Priest. Although, I think I remember reading this was a farely recent change...

No, Ian Hill's been using a pick for about 30 years.

AK

 

[sloasdaylight]

John Myung of Dream Theater.

No.

 

[4001]

I am 100% sure that he uses a pick from time to time.

Listen to Countdown (Signals) for instance.

But true, he is a mostly a finger player.

You're 100% WRONG.
He has never used a pick for any onstage or recorded bass parts with Rush. He DID use a pick when he switched to the 6 or 12-string on his doubleneck.

Geddy Lee is 100% fingerstyle.
He does have a newer strumming approach that he accents with his fingernails.

 

[THand]

Really? That's interesting. I read an article years ago where he slammed Chris Squire for using a pick and said he wasn't a real bass player. As Squire was my "God" at that time(19 years old) I never listened to another thing with Berlin. He's a great player, but I don't like his attitude.

He told me directly here on TB that he thought no less of someone using a pick, and that he used finger style just because it was more comfortable to him, personally.

He used Steve Swallow as an example of a pick user that he admired and respected.

 

[drewfunk]

I think you could pretty much pick any newer rock (including metal, hardcore, screamo, post-hardcore, emo, etc...) and I'd be willing to bet that 98% of the bass players in the bands you would think of play with a pick.

Went to warped tour this year, EVERY bassist i saw was using a pick.

 

[damonsmith]

Mike Watt played pick on a lot of early minutmen and on later post fIREHOSE projects.
Bill Laswell used a lot of pick, I don't know if he has been mentioned.
Mario Pliakas of free jazz trio Full Blast and Steamboat Switzerland plays pick.

I didn't have a BG for over a decade and when I got one I found I loved playing pick for chords and upper harmonics.
The bass guitarist I listen to most these days is the already mentioned Steve Swallow. I love what he does with a pick!

 

[zachoff]

Eddie Spaghetti!!!
Lou Barlow

 

[Mound of Sound]

John Myung Bass Player interview


Did you employ any new techniques on Octavarium?

On “These Walls,” I experimented with a pick for the first time, and that opened up an entirely new playing style to me. I don’t think I will ever give up playing fingerstyle, but I’ve definitely taken to the guitar-like quality you get from using a pick. It gives a clean, crunchy attack that sounds great on bass. Pickstyle playing is something that I’ve really come to appreciate, and I want to put some time into becoming more proficient at it.

 

[MikeM]

Burke Shelley --- Budgie..

 

[brokensilence11]

Mike Inez from Alice in Chains. probably my favorite bassist who uses a pick mostly

 

[Sav'nBass]

Did anyone mention Bernard Edwards of Chic and later The Power Station fame .... He was pretty funky in his day and layed down the bottom end on a slew of classic hits. He played fingerstyle as well.. but he was a monster with a pick.. that was how he layed down the line to "Everybody Dance" by Chic

 

[slipkorn917]

Jason Newsted, Duff McKagan, Paul McCartney, Paul Gray (R.I.P.), John Campbell, Gene Simmons, Henkka Blacksmith, Dave Ellefson. Robert Trujillo only uses a pick when he plays Newsted-era songs live with Metallica.

 

[I<34080]

Phil King

 

[berzerker92]

So i read all 199 posts and no one mentioned Greg K from the offspring????? I dont think he's ever recorded a song without a pick hahahaha