I have the opposite problem. As a bassist who plays fingerstyle only, I recently bought a guitar and can't use a pick to save my life. I guess just practice whatever style until we're comfortable.
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Finger or pick?
- Thread starter drittal
- Start date
I use a grey Dunlop .73 pick, when using pick.
Personally I don't understand the appeal of thicker picks, but I do play with pretty slim strings too though, 95-40 gauge.
I started off exclusively as a picker, since I came from guitar, but nowadays I almost exclusively use finger style, both 2 finger, 3 finger, classical acoustic guitar picking technique as well as using the tip/nail of my index finger supported by my thumb as sort of a pick substitute, as it suits me and whatever I am playing.
Actually what got me started on using fingers more on bass was me having played a lot of classical acoustic guitar for an extended period of time, when I went back to bass I just applied the same technique, and though I always found it difficult to finger my bass before that, digging in too deep, controlling the attack, being too slow e.t.c, I suddenly found it much easier, and with time I came to prefer that over using pick.
Though every now and then I find parts that is simply much easier to play with pick, like fast up and down strokes, when there is not too many complicated string skips involved, as well as I sometimes just need the sound of a pick attack, though you can get pretty close emulating that by using the tip/nail of you index finger, as I described.
My advice to you is to learn both finger and pick technique, cause you'll probably find that both will be useful for you at some point, depending on what songs you play.
And as goes for choice of pick, use whichever pick feels more comfortable and natural for you to pick with.
Personally I don't understand the appeal of thicker picks, but I do play with pretty slim strings too though, 95-40 gauge.
I started off exclusively as a picker, since I came from guitar, but nowadays I almost exclusively use finger style, both 2 finger, 3 finger, classical acoustic guitar picking technique as well as using the tip/nail of my index finger supported by my thumb as sort of a pick substitute, as it suits me and whatever I am playing.
Actually what got me started on using fingers more on bass was me having played a lot of classical acoustic guitar for an extended period of time, when I went back to bass I just applied the same technique, and though I always found it difficult to finger my bass before that, digging in too deep, controlling the attack, being too slow e.t.c, I suddenly found it much easier, and with time I came to prefer that over using pick.
Though every now and then I find parts that is simply much easier to play with pick, like fast up and down strokes, when there is not too many complicated string skips involved, as well as I sometimes just need the sound of a pick attack, though you can get pretty close emulating that by using the tip/nail of you index finger, as I described.
My advice to you is to learn both finger and pick technique, cause you'll probably find that both will be useful for you at some point, depending on what songs you play.
And as goes for choice of pick, use whichever pick feels more comfortable and natural for you to pick with.
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Why not both? Some people prefer to mainly play with a pick, other mainly with their fingers. I'm primarily fingerstyle, but I learned to be proficient with a pick also because sometimes you just need that pick tone.
I use a 3.0 at the moment. The purple ones with the indentation in the middle...
I use a 3.0 at the moment. The purple ones with the indentation in the middle...
Just use and practice whatever you need to in order to play the thing. There's no right or wrong way. Just whatever works for you - and gets the job done. If something works, then use it. If something doesn't, stop doing it or switch what you're using. You're over-analyzing.
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I use both, pick and finger style, and like both equally.
It depends on the tune. I really like the tortex ones, either blue or green. Been buying them by color for so long, I don't even know what mm they are.
The purists may frown on pickin but, Paul McCartney,Carol Kay, Dee Dee Ramone, and Brian Wilson all call b.s.on that.
Learning to Palm the strings near the bridge leads to lots of cool tones. But in the meantime, learn the finger style.You'll be glad to have both styles to go to.
It depends on the tune. I really like the tortex ones, either blue or green. Been buying them by color for so long, I don't even know what mm they are.
The purists may frown on pickin but, Paul McCartney,Carol Kay, Dee Dee Ramone, and Brian Wilson all call b.s.on that.
Learning to Palm the strings near the bridge leads to lots of cool tones. But in the meantime, learn the finger style.You'll be glad to have both styles to go to.
Use what works best for you. Coming from guitar, you'll obviously feel more comfortable with a pick, nothing wrong with that. I moved from guitar to bass and, used a pick, but practiced finger style endlessly becuase I prefered the tone I got with my fingers. Now, I primarily play finger style, but use a pick when I want a different attack and tone. It's good to have both techniques at your disposal. Have fun with it !
^^This.^^
You're limiting yourself if you don't try mastering both techniques. I, too, had the opposite problem for a while. My first instrument was double bass where you learn bow and fingerstyle techniques. When I got my first electric bass, I didn't have much difficulty playing fingerstyle but couldn't play with a pick to save my life (well, I'd never really tried). It wasn't until I joined a rock band and the guys wanted to cover songs where the bass was picked that I had to confront my deficiency. They gave me 3 weeks to get up to speed. And believe it or not, I went from totally sucking to being relatively proficient in that short amount of time (I practiced literally hours per day).
With time I improved even more and now both techniques feel perfectly natural to me. And once I stopped fearing the plectrum, I actually started playing guitar and am a fairly decent guitarist as a result. So it was kind of a blessing. Like everything else it's just practice and repetition, but I'd think it'd be easier to learn fingerstyle as a picker than the other way around like I did it. Stick with it. You'll be glad you did.
Dunlop nylon 1 MM , choke up on the pick so very little is sticking out of your fingers and thumb, well at least it works for me, I've been using a pick solely for over 50 yrs !! I do admire the players that are proficient at finger picking tho !!!!!
first I believe no guitar player can be bass player .
it's really different instrument.
my teacher made me forget all guitar playing and then we start learn bass and now I can't play guitar .
the way you should move and play .
first pick or finger
what tone you need,it's not one instead of other or you will be horrible bass player .
you should know two finger style and pick ,but that doesn't mean one is do other job.
the tone is different .
you should learn finger or you will be a guitar player that just pick a bass .
that doesn't mean we don't have great bass player that play with pick ,no .a lot of great bass player use pick but because the tune and speed they need .
use pick on guitar and bass is different ,one bass your pick should touch like kiss the string but on guitar it should bite it
it's easiest way I cab explain it
in the end you need all basics to be best player and can be a real bass player ,for sure if you want .
if it's not your instrument I think it's better go back to guitar and find a band .
because for sure you wanna enjoy the music .
it's really different instrument.
my teacher made me forget all guitar playing and then we start learn bass and now I can't play guitar .
the way you should move and play .
first pick or finger
what tone you need,it's not one instead of other or you will be horrible bass player .
you should know two finger style and pick ,but that doesn't mean one is do other job.
the tone is different .
you should learn finger or you will be a guitar player that just pick a bass .
that doesn't mean we don't have great bass player that play with pick ,no .a lot of great bass player use pick but because the tune and speed they need .
use pick on guitar and bass is different ,one bass your pick should touch like kiss the string but on guitar it should bite it
it's easiest way I cab explain it
in the end you need all basics to be best player and can be a real bass player ,for sure if you want .
if it's not your instrument I think it's better go back to guitar and find a band .
because for sure you wanna enjoy the music .
Glad to hear of a comrade turning away from the darkness into the light. We will not judge you here for your wayward past. It's not your fault. It's not your fault. It's not ...
Welcome to Bass Guitar and congrats on your new band.
Fingerstyle is great and you can practice that until you become proficient. Til then, stick with the plectrum, there's no harm in using that 100% of the time if that is what you are more comfortable with.
As you can see, different strokes for different folks, in this case literally. Everyone here has a preferred color, thickness, flexibility, and hardness that they find works best for them. Remember, nylon is softer than tortex so if you want equivalent stiffness, you need a thicker nylon pick for the same feel as a thinner tortex.
Example: I use two types. Nylon 1mm (Dunlop black). Stiff enough for strong strokes on bass strings, but with enough play (flexibility) that if I get carried away the pick bends before the string breaks. Attack is brighter than my fingers but doesn't "click."
Depending on song or mood requirements, I also use .75mm Tortex (orange). These are almost exactly as stiff as the nylon 1mm, but because tortex is a harder material, the pick is thinner and there is an audible "click" to the attack. Much brighter.
Good luck with your search.
Fingerstyle is great and you can practice that until you become proficient. Til then, stick with the plectrum, there's no harm in using that 100% of the time if that is what you are more comfortable with.
As you can see, different strokes for different folks, in this case literally. Everyone here has a preferred color, thickness, flexibility, and hardness that they find works best for them. Remember, nylon is softer than tortex so if you want equivalent stiffness, you need a thicker nylon pick for the same feel as a thinner tortex.
Example: I use two types. Nylon 1mm (Dunlop black). Stiff enough for strong strokes on bass strings, but with enough play (flexibility) that if I get carried away the pick bends before the string breaks. Attack is brighter than my fingers but doesn't "click."
Depending on song or mood requirements, I also use .75mm Tortex (orange). These are almost exactly as stiff as the nylon 1mm, but because tortex is a harder material, the pick is thinner and there is an audible "click" to the attack. Much brighter.
Good luck with your search.
Can't go with most of what wishbass said. Having said that i'm a lousy musician but i have learned many ways to make a bass guitar make a noise. I play primarily with fingers but sometimes when the tune calls for a different sound i use my index finger as a pick, supported by the thumb. I find this gives me lots of versatility being able to play with various parts of my hand and not worry about dropping a pick or looking too cool by sticking it in my gob! Works for me anyway. Good luck to the OP and i hope he finds his own way to play.
Consider the floating thumb technique. There are a bunch of threads in the technique forum. It may take some time, but it's worth it to develop the technique.
Plenty of great bassists used picks... but I believe for the sake of nuance you may find it useful to develop at least
a passable finger pluck for softer passages. I have the reverse issue...I play guitar without a pick to my guitarists
literal astonishment! I do finger picking and sort of a flamenco style that blows his mind...either way I get lots of
nuance using my fingers....but I am admittedly poor at pick playing (though truth be told I believe I achieve
a pretty sharp attack using my nails, and therefore have never felt a need to develop that skill).
a passable finger pluck for softer passages. I have the reverse issue...I play guitar without a pick to my guitarists
literal astonishment! I do finger picking and sort of a flamenco style that blows his mind...either way I get lots of
nuance using my fingers....but I am admittedly poor at pick playing (though truth be told I believe I achieve
a pretty sharp attack using my nails, and therefore have never felt a need to develop that skill).
Guitar and bass are two completely different instruments, I also play a 6 string acoustic for my own enjoyment and the picking styles are completely different. If you don't strike the bass strings with a strong picking action your tone will be wimpy. I think a thin pick, and or leaving too much pick sticking out from your fingers achieves too light of a stroke. Players that use finger style usually have no problem getting a nice low tone, but have to work with the eq. to get the definition, it's the opposite with us pick players, we need to pick with authority to get a ballsy tone !
