finger vs. pick

[Lovebown]

I think that the real benefit of the plectrum is to be able to play several notes at once (i.e double-stop , chord) and thats why most guitarists choose pick over fingers.

On bass, I don't see much use of a pick though and still firmly believe and know that I will always be able to play faster with my fingers than with a pick on BASS (note: not guitar). Using 3 fingers to pluck with will probably be faster and more practical and tapping is hands down faster than using a pick.

The exception might be a bass with lotsa strings(6+) since the strings are closer together and might be easier to strum with a pick, but I don't care much about those basses so I wouldn't know really.

I still believe, that on bass, the only benefit of playing with a pick is the specific tone that you get using it.

/lovebown

 

[Pacman]

Awwwright, Lovebown, what are we going to do about this? we actually agree....... very strange indeed.

 

[tallguybcs]

My reason for using a pick is that it is cleaner and cuts throuhg in the mix (all opinion) better then fingerstyle, especially with distorted guitars. Although I do feel fingerstyle is more versitile, and on some days sounds much better, picking in the end is just easier for me to play faster punk stuff and be able to hear it. Try playing a lot of rancid and op ivy stuff with your fingers, and see if you can get the punch and balls that Matt Freeman gets.

 

[purple_haze]

hats why most guitarists choose pick over fingers.

Hmm, guitarists use picks because;

a) They're much louder than fingers. And we're talking a huge difference.

b) The strings on a guitar are closer together, so it's easier to fit a pick in between them than one's fingers

c) Because of the above, a pick is faster than fingers, be it rest-stroke or "claw".

It's not to do with hitting chords, indeed, hitting shords is EASIER with the "claw" method, as you ensure that all notes are hit simultaneously, with a pick, notes on higher strings are hit just after. Okay, maybe that last point was clutching at straws.

 

[Richard Lindsey]

Originally posted by purple_haze


Hmm, guitarists use picks because;

a) They're much louder than fingers. And we're talking a huge difference.

b) The strings on a guitar are closer together, so it's easier to fit a pick in between them than one's fingers

c) Because of the above, a pick is faster than fingers, be it rest-stroke or "claw".

It's not to do with hitting chords, indeed, hitting shords is EASIER with the "claw" method, as you ensure that all notes are hit simultaneously, with a pick, notes on higher strings are hit just after. Okay, maybe that last point was clutching at straws.

As a bassist who's also played guitar for years (or a guitarist who's played bass for years), I have to register some disagreement here.

Re (a), this is kinda right in *some* settings, but the difference is not as big as you think. And a properly executed rest stroke can IMO be as loud as any pick stroke, perhaps louder.

Re (b), this isn't true at all IMO. Millions of fingerstyle players haven't found a problem fitting their fingers between the strings.

Re (c), listen to Paco de Lucia and then get back to me.

Re the chords thing, I agree with you there. If anything, chords are easier fingerstyle (except for those involving all 6 strings) because you can hit all the notes more or elss at once. Strumming, however, is easier with a pick.

 

[purple_haze]

OK, I should have mentioned that the previous post was a summation of [/i]my[/i] guitar playing, and others whom I've heard.

Re (a), this is kinda right in *some* settings, but the difference is not as big as you think. And a properly executed rest stroke can IMO be as loud as any pick stroke, perhaps louder.

OK, I'm much quieter with my fingers. I'm pretty sure I'm doing the rest-stroke right because I just transfer what I do on bass over to guitar. Again maybe because of the string spacing I give a less hard "pull" on the string.

Re (b), this isn't true at all IMO. Millions of fingerstyle players haven't found a problem fitting their fingers between the strings.

Well, I personally never found it that comfortable, but that may be because I was used to playing with the extra 5mm that the gap between bass strings provides.

Re (c), listen to Paco de Lucia and then get back to me.

Will do. Like I said I'm much faster with a pick because of the comfort, and several guitarists I know are too. Also, I've mainly seen fingerstyle guitar being used on slower songs, ballads in particular, but almost never fast songs, so I guessed it was a universal thing.

 

[Richard Lindsey]

Originally posted by purple_haze
OK, I should have mentioned that the previous post was a summation of [/i]my[/i] guitar playing, and others whom I've heard.

OK, I'm much quieter with my fingers. I'm pretty sure I'm doing the rest-stroke right because I just transfer what I do on bass over to guitar. Again maybe because of the string spacing I give a less hard "pull" on the string.

Well, I personally never found it that comfortable, but that may be because I was used to playing with the extra 5mm that the gap between bass strings provides.

Will do. Like I said I'm much faster with a pick because of the comfort, and several guitarists I know are too. Also, I've mainly seen fingerstyle guitar being used on slower songs, ballads in particular, but almost never fast songs, so I guessed it was a universal thing.

I in turn should have mentioned that I was assuming--presumptuously--that the player has classical-style nails on the right hand, as I do. This makes an enormous difference to volume.

I know what you mean about comfort vis-a-vis bass spacing. I went the other way--guitar to bass--so it was less of an issue for me.

For some hot fingerstyle, check out flamenco. Also, Paco de Lucia, whom I mentioned, did a couple of records with John McLaughlin and Al Di Meola that you'll probably find in the jazz bins at Tower or wherever. In terms of speed, Paco hangs right with those guys.

 

[Pacman]

Guys, I don't want to interrupt, but this is Talkbass, so let's do that. Talk bass






a little bit tired from a day of driving with the family - stopped in Baton Rouge for the eve. Gonna eat cajun

 

[onebassplayer]

I will echo everyone else - Get comfortable with both. I mostly use fingers, but the pick gives me a unique sound when I need it.

 

[bassboy_jordan]

I started learning bass using a pick, but I now find that I much prefer fingering. It's got a cooler funky kinda tone. But it depends what you play.
If I'm playing something like Faith No More I'll use a pick, becuase it has a really sharp and bright attacking kind of tone, but I prefer using more of a RHCP or Incubus natural finger tone.
But everyone here is right, learn both so when the situation calls for either you'll be ready to impress.

 

[downward spiral]

well my crazy dope smoking bass teacher won't allow me to use a pic. I tried it recently, and I really just don't get the pic. It sounds better for some styles, but I find it much harder to use and after around an hour of struggling with it just give up and use my fingers again.

 

[ColonelZulu]

I started out with my fingers. One day I was jamming in a park with some freinds when some headbanger guy that knew my sister told me I could play much faster with a pick. He taught me Lights Out London by UFO and after that he told me "Now your a monster, I've created a monster, your an F'ing bass Frankenstein."

That was the summer of 1983 and I remember the day and the spot.

Anyway, I used a pick whenever playing Yes or anything else where the bassist was using one. I figured to learn the style played in the song was the best way to get skills. I don't use a pick toooo much now. On originals I don't do any...yet. I may find the urge. At least I know that I am able to handle that way of playing. I'm glad I never had a teacher to make me feel bad about trying anything.

 

[Church-Bass]

Depending on the song, I use a pick or fingers. I prefer fingers anyway, and I can get a pick effect by using my fingernails if its long enough.

 

[pkr2]

When you guys talk about speed( which is not always everything that needs to be conidered) I relate to a good typist. How many one fingered typists can work with the same speed as a typist using all of thier fingers?

A lot of the bassists that are involved in this thread are perfectly at home with a pick or thier fingers. How many of the accomplished bassists use a pick as thier primary technique?

And that muting thing keeps popping up too. If you can mute with a pick without palm muting, you aren't the average bassist! With a pick you are limited to palm muting. Not the best method if blinding speed is your goal.

Pick playing alone will serve one well as long as the different genres are not a consideration. There is a lot more to music than pumping out notes as fast as they can be played.

Finally, you can't get a tone with a pick that can't be duplicated with the fingers. You cant duplicate with a pick the tones that can be made with the fingers. Versatility has to be worth something.

A banjo player usuaLLY plays with three fingers. I defy anyone to play note for note with a banjo player with a pick. It's pretty easy using the fingers. In fact it's the same technique.

Pkr2

 

[basskiddanny]

I have used a pick ever since i started playing bass, i use the same technique as mark Hoppus (not the greatest bass player to ever grace the earth, but still..). It involves muting the other strings that you are not playing and struming.

This lets you play very fast and is useful for punk songs. I do know bass players that can get this same speed, and sometimes an even faster speed, by using their fingers.

i want to learn how to use my fingers to play bass so that nobody can put me down for using a pick. Does anybody here know of a website that has video clips or pictures of the proper finger technique???

(I will probly always use a pic even after i learn 2 use my fingers, but it would be useul if i ever forgot a pick, or needed a softer sound)

 

[Hexanity]

i started learning bass wid the fingers but i nicked a m8s pic and i learnt on that to

i tend to lean more towards the fingers but it really depends on the sound i want to achive wether i use the pick or not

 

[XavierG]

I challenge anyone who says you can play faster with a pick to a speed test.

Maybe not. But I believe you can play faster without one.

 

[Hexanity]

yeah you can but it takes alot more work to get really fast with the fingers

 

[Ezekial]

ok well personaly i use fingers for everything but punk and this clasical/goth sound i use ocasionaly. but i would go with fingers. how ever its all with what you are comfortable.

 

[Sheep Man]

Originally posted by Hexanity
yeah you can but it takes alot more work to get really fast with the fingers

For someone who didn't start off using their fingers.
I can go faster with my fingers than I can with a pick, mostly because I began using my fingers.

Also, I find it a lot easier to relax when I'm using my fingers compared to using a pick. And it's a pretty well known fact that when you're relaxed, it's a lot easier to go a lot faster.