Finger or pick

[FronTowardEnemy]

Ive played fingers 90% of the time for my entire bass playing career.

My favorite bassists all use picks.

I can play both but just accelerated at finger style.

 

[Skullheadrac]

most of the time depends on the style. Generally, faster music is easier with a pick. Of course there are exceptions to the rule (Robert Trujillo comes to mind)

 

[ThudThudThud]

In my last band I think I was 80%-90% pick.
Band before that about 50%.
One before that 10%.
One before that 30%.
One before that 50%.

There's about 20 years worth of bands in there (with some long gaps). All originals.
I can play faster with a pick than I can with fingers. You have to play what the song needs.

As for your hand falling asleep (and I did read about your medical woes), it may be worth revisiting your playing position. You seem stubborn enough to keep playing, so I'm guessing your stubborn enough to keep playing with what could be poor positioning leading to poor circulation.
Also, practice will make you more proficient with a pick. Find some songs you like and play along.

 

[jeff62]

Depends on the attack needed for the song on what sounds better (fingers or pick), OTOH, you can roll off the tone knob and get a decent finger sound while still using a pick.

I'm way faster with a pick than fingers. Having a background with one of them guitar thingy's probably helped there.

 

[SmokinJoe992]

Being able to do both is great, however, there are plenty of great players that only use fingers and plenty of great players that only used picks. I have seen guys that use their thumb most of the time. If you are making music, however you did it is right.

 

[Greyvagabond]

How many bass player use a pick?
How many bass player use their finger!
I finger pick always have but I tried to use pick but didn't like it. I also play guitar and I finger pick it.
But how do you get the speed on bass with a pick. With my finger I have speed and more controll. I just don't like using a pick. One thing is my hand go's to sleep if I use a pick and then I drop it. My first gets just know what strings to pluck its something I had from the start. I have natural rhythm and that helps.

WhyNotBoth.gif

Seriously though, using your fingers will be just about A-OK for 95% of music out there; if you had to pick just one style, learn fingerstyle. Picking has its place, though, and any bassist worth their salt knows how to play with one at least passably.

Throw on some Ramones records and slowly work up your speed, you got this.

 

[rashrader]

Definitely.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

How many bass player use a pick?
How many bass player use their finger!
I finger pick always have but I tried to use pick but didn't like it. I also play guitar and I finger pick it.
But how do you get the speed on bass with a pick. With my finger I have speed and more controll. I just don't like using a pick. One thing is my hand go's to sleep if I use a pick and then I drop it. My first gets just know what strings to pluck its something I had from the start. I have natural rhythm and that helps.

I do both

 

[gln1955]

Yeal I have carpal tunnel both hands

Well then you might have a legit reason why your hand goes to sleep. Have you been treated for your CTS?

 

[BluesWalker]

Both

 

[BioDriver]

Not slap

 

[G On Bass]

Use a thumbpick. I started using one a while ago and have never looked back. It allows me to switch between fingers and pick mid-song if needed and I can't drop it.

 

[saabfender]

OP, you said "finger", singular, twice. Are you plucking with just one finger?

 

[Chad Michael]

If you are hoping to be successful playing originals, do whatever suits you and your band.

If you are hoping to be successful in playing covers or in the studio, learn to play with fingers, pick, and slap. Play what is appropriate, no 'one technique' is wrong in the right application.

 

[Artman]

both, depends on the song

What this person said.

 

[bherman]

This is an extremely tired topic that has been asked 10,000 times on TB. If you want lots of answers do a search. Otherwise the Ten Commandments answer is "do what works for you".

 

[Sumaru]

Inhale or Exhale?

If you've been fingerpicking for years, you probably aren't going to be able to grab a pick and be proficient in 5 minutes. Depending on your dexterity, it could take months of daily practice to get really good at it.

If your hands go to sleep when you pick, you need to analyze what you are doing. Try the Carol Kaye Method. You might be squeezing the hell out of the pick without even realizing it.

I was a guitarist that transitioned to bass. In the beginning, I played mainly with a pick. At practice, no issues. But I found that at shows, the muscle between my thumb and forefinger would get horribly cramped and I also dropped the pick a few times. Talk about panic! This was definitely the catalyst for learning fingerstyle, which I'm very glad I did. But yes, I would have to agree, likely gripping the pick too hard. That, or having to dig in too hard because the amp may not be loud enough. If that's the case, let the watts do the work...turn it up and piss off the guitarist!

 

[sing-modulator]

How many bass player use a pick?
How many bass player use their finger!
I finger pick always have but I tried to use pick but didn't like it. I also play guitar and I finger pick it.
But how do you get the speed on bass with a pick. With my finger I have speed and more controll. I just don't like using a pick. One thing is my hand go's to sleep if I use a pick and then I drop it. My first gets just know what strings to pluck its something I had from the start. I have natural rhythm and that helps.

no offense but this question has been asked a billion times. the search bar is a very useful tool for finding previous threads that say the same thing as this one will; do whatever, or dont

 

[Kerem Koseoglu]

I mostly use finger style; however, in urgent cases, fingernails can emulate the pick sound to a certain degree.

 

[stefancaunter]

Pick is often better in hard rock. It punches out a defined P bass sound and works great with the kick in a mix. The nice big fender heavy pick and a P bass is the industry standard.
That said I use fingers 95% of the time, it's my sound and it's less effort.
Ignore people who complain something has been posted. They probably come from Wikipedia. Forums are for discussion.