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Famous bassists who use picks
- Thread starter Tin Cadillac
- Start date
Maybe Gene Simmons of Kiss, Ollie Riedel of Rammstein, Sean Beasly of Dying Fetus, Scott Plummer of Viraemia uses a picking like motion with his fingers. Just look at metal bassist mostly death metal were there's sweep picking
A more fun version with the drill is Mr. Big with Sheehan and Gilbert ripping it up.
I'll confirm Gene and Blades..I have picks from both, being close enough to road warrior my way to them from a stage flip. I think quite a few alternate to get that bright, tight sound on some songs with the pick then moving to fingering to flatten it without relying on knobbing it live. I see this plenty with not so famous bassists (many of them converted guitar players, of course) who are only dragging one or two axes to a gig, have no roadies and need to cover a wide variety of sounds (like a cover band would do).
In my experience, the bassists who make silly statements about 'real' bass players not using picks, usually have no game with a pick, or are scared to try and work on their pick playing as it may prove challenging. I think it can only make you a better bassist, being able to play with your fingers and I pick.
I regularly use a pick on sessions with my P bass strung with flats, and always get complimented on my tone, and how the note sits against the kick drum. Plus its just kinda fun to be able switch between pick/fingers live to change it up and explore ways to control both. And yeah, you dont have to look very far to garner a pretty big list of famous/pro players who use plectrums as part of their tone
That used to be me.....I used to think playing with a pick was cheating....too easy, that the only real way to play bass was with your fingers.
Then one day I decided I needed to at least learn how to play with a pick, just in case. Let me tell you, it's not easy.....I have tremendous respect for pick players now.
In my experience, the bassists who make silly statements about 'real' bass players not using picks, usually have no game with a pick, or are scared to try and work on their pick playing as it may prove challenging. I think it can only make you a better bassist, being able to play with your fingers and I pick.
I regularly use a pick on sessions with my P bass strung with flats, and always get complimented on my tone, and how the note sits against the kick drum. Plus its just kinda fun to be able switch between pick/fingers live to change it up and explore ways to control both. And yeah, you dont have to look very far to garner a pretty big list of famous/pro players who use plectrums as part of their tone
I too play with a pick on my P with flats. The pick just makes the notes jump right off the strings, very much in yer face man.
Mike Rutherford from Genesis, Greg Lake from King Crimson and ELP, Tony Levin used the funk fingers, which are similar in concept... I think John Wetton, Boz Burell and Gordon Haskell all used picks in their King Crimson days and I guess they were "famous" in those days. Stu Hamm and Billy Sheehan have used them previously, as did John Entwistle and John Deacon (Queen) for a few songs. I hope I haven't doubled up here (I've probably just made a list of guys who have been listed already... oh well 
)
Oh yeah, Oteil Burbidge sometimes used one too.
)Oh yeah, Oteil Burbidge sometimes used one too.
Lemmy Kilmister from Motorhead, Tom Araya from Slayer, Paul Gray from Slipknot, John Campbell from LambOfGod, Johnny Christ from AV7X, Mika Horiuchi from Cellador (he uses both fingers and pick), Robert Trujillo (occationally picks), Jason Newsted, Marc Mcknight from Atreyu, Brad Walst from Three Days Grace, Justin Chancellor from Tool, John Moyer from Disturbed
One of the best rock bassists, ever, and one of my heroes:
Bob Daisley.
Bob Daisley.
I don't think I saw it mentioned here yet, but Matt Freeman from Rancid/Op Ivy uses a pick sometimes as well.
Michael Anthony used to, at least. I got one of his picks that he threw into the audience on the Van Halen II tour in 1979.
John Deacon from Queen (already mentioned) is the only reason I ever tried playing w/ a pick. I've recently tried it again, just feels foreign to me. I'm working at it, though.
Also, Colin Edwin from Porcupine Tree goes back and forth on a few songs.
Also, Colin Edwin from Porcupine Tree goes back and forth on a few songs.
1.Bob Daisley
2.Rex Brown
3.Bobby Vega
4.Cordell Crockett and few others.
2.Rex Brown
3.Bobby Vega
4.Cordell Crockett and few others.
I know this is an old thread but I haven't seen anyone mention Roger Waters.
Edited: He's mentioned in the original post, oh well.
Edited: He's mentioned in the original post, oh well.
- Jun 3, 2009
- 3,330
- 399
- Disclosures
- Bassgearu, Music Industry Consulting and Sales. Tech 21, NBE Corp, Sonosphere.
This debate is is old. John Paul Jones uses a pic on Whole Lotta Love and a lot more.
I feel if you can use your fingers and a pic then that makes you an ever better bass player. I use both pick and fingers due to tone, also when I have to play the machine gun bass lines a pick works better for me.
Do what it takes, have fun, and dont listen to the narrow minded.
I feel if you can use your fingers and a pic then that makes you an ever better bass player. I use both pick and fingers due to tone, also when I have to play the machine gun bass lines a pick works better for me.
Do what it takes, have fun, and dont listen to the narrow minded.
Actually EntWISTLE used both his fingers and a pick throughout his career. There's all kinds of footage of him using a pick, even later on. He used whatever fit the song best.
