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Finger or pick?

#66
I'd recommend experimenting with both pick and fingers and not limiting yourself to one.

It doesn't make sense to give yourself rules like that IMO. Certain songs might sound better with the pick. Certain songs might sound better with fingers. Have fun and just play what feels good in the moment.

I'll usually play a show with an 80/20 split between fingers and pick. Some of the tunes just groove a bit better with the pick. I usually play with a 2mm pick.
 
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#67
rockinbilly said:
I should add, muting is paramount to a good clean sound.!
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huh? Define good. Muting is paramount to a muted dull lifeless sound with no resonance.

I learned to play fingerstyle first, I was a keyboardist. both styles and slap as well are useful to learn and use. I use a 2mm I think, you may want to explore that sound of the pick against the strings. You might not like it, but it has its uses. I go through a ton of pics, i like them really sharp at the tip, keeps a nice bright sound with lots of clank, grind and transients.
 
#68
Always been a weird question for me, or weird to see that it is a question. I started on bass fingers only. Then in college that was reinforced for two reasons: 1) I studied classical guitar and got my fingers going really good, and 2) I hung around with a lot of jazz guys (even though my interest was more rock). So it never even occurred to me, for decades to play bass with a pick. I always associated it with old classic country, like Buck Owens era, where they really wanted that loud CLICK on every bass note. I thought it was very un-musical.

Of course, I was wrong mainly because the styles of rock I listened to were USUALLY not guys playing bass with a pick -- with one notable exception. But mainly I didn't care, and fell into the purist "bass = fingers" camp. Until a few years ago when I got into a Beatles trib and my friend said, "Ya know, Macca..." and I, who ironically grew up worshipping those guys, was pulled kicking and screaming into the pick world in the name of "authenticity." So I learned to play with a pick for that, but only on 80% or so. (I do Penny Lane with fingers, cuz I sing it, and that intro, plus singing it, I deserve my comfort zone. Also Nowhere Man...and Something definitely...just better with fingers.)

So the moral of the story is bass is played with fingers only, and you ain't a real bass player if you need a pick. Well, sort of... ;)
 
#69
My vote is for BOTH.

There are songs when either can work and some that need one or the other.

I used only fingers for a long time until I learned that a pick is preferable sometimes.

The picks I use are made in Nashville by V-Picks. They have hand beveled edges that produce a different sound than normal picks. It has a nice quick attack with more low end. You won't be breaking any of these.
 
#71
I was in a band where the other members didn't even realise that I play exclusively with a pick. We did pop, funk and rock. I'm auditioning for a really serious dance band right now and I've got a call back for a second audition. Doesn't sound like they care either. I use a .66 Dunlop pick that is soft but still has some attack. I have muscular and nerve damage on my right arm and shoulder so fingers style is completely out for me. IMO? whatever's best for you.
 
#72
Another vote for both.

In the meantime, I suggest you try the purple Dunlop Tortex ones (they are 1.15mm or so). I usually stick to the green .88 or the blue 1mm ones, but like you .88s the purple ones have rounded edges that kill that "plastic picking" noise you noticed, and leaves a nice, clean aggressive attack tone.
 
#73
drittal said:
yeah. Just asking for helpful opinions from knowledgeable members who may or may not have similar experiences.

I'm not a professional musician. I don't claim to be nor do I have a serious desire to be. I have a family and a career that come first and foremost in my life and my few hours a week playing and practicing are an escape for my own enjoyment. I feel fortunate to have been asked to play with these guys as there are many others they could have found. We have clicked and enjoy playing with each other.

I have tried finger but find I don't have near the capacity for speed and most importantly rhythm that I do when picking and end up just falling back on it because it's what I know and comfortable.

long story short, thanks for contributing absolutely nothing meaningful with your response.
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As with everything, that will all come with practice. It would be good eventually that you would become proficient with both techniques. Try to avoid falling back on the familiar as much as you can stand. Just keep trying, don't give up on it just because it feels awkward now. I was just as awkward when I started using my fingers as picking did feel more natural" at the time, even though I wasn't a proper guitar player (I only knew all the basic chords and nothing else. and I couldn't even play those well). But, I persisted, and now it feels as natural as breathing, I don't even have to really think about it much, if at all, when I'm doing it.
 
#74
I can't mute effectively without a pick. It's too painful for me to mute finger style.

That said, I started using Dava picks the other day. They seem to be awesome. I really like the way they feel.
 
#78
Some songs requires picks, some fingers, it's just what's needed for the song, that guides you which you should choose. Choose neither, choose both. There's a sound you can't get with picks that you can get with fingers, and vice versa, no more no less to that.
 
#79
drittal said:
so I'm a converted guitar player and made the switch last summer when an established band asked me if I was interested in playing bass with them.

Sure, just let me actually buy a decent bass and learn a couple of your tunes first.

First and foremost, I'm not really all that good at either. My fingers are long and slow as heck, probably because I haven't trained them properly.

When I switched I tried doing finger picking, but being limited on time learning to play that way seemed like wasting time when I could already pick decently enough.

Then came my next issue. I go through .88 picks fairly quickly. I never played a heavy pick on guitar and actually moved up to .88's for bass. My guitar player seen this and handed me his pick to try, a 3mm!! I tried it and kind of like it. One issue I've always had with picks them shifting in my grip, not so much with these. They have an indent and some girth to hold on to. No more shredding picks but now I have a plain as day plastic picking noise plain as day. I went back to the .88 and the pick noise is minimal in comparison. I think it might be that the thick pick is a hard plastic vs nylon or tortex.

So, do I switch back to .88, keep the 3mm, learn how to play with my long dumb fingers, or something else?
Click to expand...
So an established band wants you to play bass with them, when you don't even know how to play it by your own admission. Ok. But there are a couple of things wrong with this equation.

As for pick or fingers- the answer is both. Depends on the tune and the tone you want.
 
#80
I learned to use both fingers and pick at the same time so have equal facility with both but usually prefer the tone I get with fingers. My suggestion is to play constantly with the fingers as much as you can and only temporarily switch back to pick if you get painful blisters from playing fingerstyle. That'll balance you out well until fingerstyle becomes more natural feeling.

For now at least that approach will give you the extra practice you need in playing fingerstyle.
 

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