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Famous bassists who use picks

#66
The 'not real bass player thing is pure snobbery'. I love the sound of some pick players but I hate playing with one. I had a band leader who demanded that I use a pic on certain songs but he only ever complained when he could see that I wasn't. Once he was facing the crowd he didn't notice. Wether that was because my p bass was far more appropriate for those tunes than the fancy active Yamaha that the previous player used, pick or no pick, or wether I can get a similiar attack from my bony fingers I dont know.
I now use a combination of mostly fingers and occasional notes with a guitarists thumb pick. Sounds great with flats and it's always there to hand lol. I'm not famous though:)
 
#67
I enjoy using a pick, I find it easier and more rhythmically defined while playing fast or trem picking. I also like to use my fingers in slower more 'groove' orientated sections of songs. there's no such thing as a 'real bassist', everyone has their own style of playing, if it works for you keep doing it. if not then change it up until it does.
 
#68
Jeremy Davis of Paramore. He's my idol and influenced me into playing bass.

I also think using a pick doesn't mean you're not a real bass player. Even Davis prefers to use his fingers, as he feels it's more natural, but doesn't capture the sound he wants to use.
 
#72
I think all my favorite bassists are pick players...

For me i never even questioned it. Later on i tried to see what i could do with my fingers but i just hate the tone and i couldn't be bothered to practice to get good at it considering i was probably never gonna want to play with fingers anyway. I do use my middle finger for pops sometimes. Thats it.
 
#75
Milk said:
I think all my favorite bassists are pick players...
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Same here. I would like to use pick exclusively because it cuts through the mix nicely ... BUT I play in church bands that require sensitivity in parts, which is why I also use fingers when I don't want the sound to be too aggressive. Handy to be well versed in many different playing techniques for different situations
 
#76
I think of a plectrum/pick as just another sound available to me and I would be a fool not to learn every available technique. I prefer my finger tips and my thumb, but some songs call for a pick.

For you "anti-pick" snobs..... tell Bobby Vega he isn't a "real" bassist... better yet, post a video of you doing something THIS cool.. notice the masterful finger technique (both hands) in the intro.


 
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#79
Freez said:
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.
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Entwistle is one of the rare cases of a player that sounds fantastic with pick or fingers and his rhythmic approach and note choices were very different depending on which he was using. Just brilliant... Wish he was still around
 
#80
I always felt really self conscious about playing with a pick and never learning to play with my fingers.
i also thought for some reason that to be a real bass player you couldn't use a pick. but now that was over 25 years ago.
and i'm a great great bass guitar player who plays with a pick.
oh well. work with what you got.
 

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