Loser..... YES I SAID LOSER! SCREW THE MODS! SCREW THE MODS!!! DOWN WITH THE POWER! ok...im sorry....just...a little foolin......
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finger vs. pick
- Thread starter jcwillcanada
- Start date
- Status
- Apr 1, 2000
- 17,398
- 9,828
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Roscoe Guitars, DR Strings, Aguilar Amplification
hAHA! lots of people saying really funny stuff on here, and some good points too.
I use both, probably play 75% with fingers when i'm noodling around, and 90% with a pick when i'm playing a gig.
JT - not doubting your judgement but I'd be quite interested to hear a clip of fingerstyle-emulating-pick if you have one on hand.
If youre planning to use a pick I'd say palm-muting (RH) is a MUST learn - in combination with good LH muting of course. I started with a pick but I'm getting pretty good with the ole fingers now, and have increasingly been finding a place for it in our songs - especially in slower, more melodic bits .. don't use them for many whole songs yet though .. I like the taste of picks anyway.
If you're scared of dropping them, you can modify the surface (read the post about superglue and rice paper earlier in this thread) or buy big triangley ones.
I don't find it any harder to do crazy-fast string skipping / arpeggiation / etc with a pick. For a long time i found it a great deal easier.
I started out with a pick and it's taken me years for my fingers to catch up ... it's almost even now. I'd say you definitely want to learn both unless you don't like the sound of one or the other; how far you want to go with each is up to you.
I use both, probably play 75% with fingers when i'm noodling around, and 90% with a pick when i'm playing a gig.
JT - not doubting your judgement but I'd be quite interested to hear a clip of fingerstyle-emulating-pick if you have one on hand.
If youre planning to use a pick I'd say palm-muting (RH) is a MUST learn - in combination with good LH muting of course. I started with a pick but I'm getting pretty good with the ole fingers now, and have increasingly been finding a place for it in our songs - especially in slower, more melodic bits .. don't use them for many whole songs yet though .. I like the taste of picks anyway.
If you're scared of dropping them, you can modify the surface (read the post about superglue and rice paper earlier in this thread) or buy big triangley ones.
I don't find it any harder to do crazy-fast string skipping / arpeggiation / etc with a pick. For a long time i found it a great deal easier.
I started out with a pick and it's taken me years for my fingers to catch up ... it's almost even now. I'd say you definitely want to learn both unless you don't like the sound of one or the other; how far you want to go with each is up to you.
I'm a mostly-fingers guy who's trying to improve his pick chops.
Not much sounds cooler on bass than using a pick on muted strings. John Entwistle does it very well. It's nearly impossible to imitate with fingers (I sure as heck can't).
Not much sounds cooler on bass than using a pick on muted strings. John Entwistle does it very well. It's nearly impossible to imitate with fingers (I sure as heck can't).
I'm going to have to go with the masses on this one. Learn both, you won't regret it, escpecially because you won't end up like me, playing for four years, all finger style, and then fall in love with incredibly fast thrash punk...not fun at all. It's easier to put an ounce of effort at the beggining, than 40 pounds later in life. Goodluck
-Dave
-Dave
Originally posted by Orco87
Pick and finger is the way to go!
I started out using finger. I've been using finger for a while. Lately, I actually picked up those triangular things you guys call 'picks' and I used that. I too regret not learning both when I started bass. So, hopefully the younger players learn from the older players mistakes. So go for both!
After reading this, I tried a pick. Since I've only been playing for a few months I thought, what the heck etc. I'm definitely going to follow this advice and practice both - although I do feel more comfortable using fingers.
When I was playing guitar, I always found using a pick murderously hard - so I just didn't (use it, that is). I'm chuffed to discover that using a pick on a bass is a whole lot easier! So, I'm sticking with it.
Thanks for the advice everyone. I am now in complete agreement - use both. You never know when you might need 'em!
Cheers,
Ive only been playing bass for a few months, I started out using fingers only and picked up a pick for the first time on a bass a few weeks back. For me its easier to do fast stuff with a pick, especially if your changing from string to string all the time, but im definatly glad i started to use one because i feel more comfortable playing faster with a pick.
Just my opinion!
Just my opinion!
Hey JC,
Although I am primarily a finger player, I have also used a pick for certain things and have done so from the beginning (24 yrs. ago). There is nothing wrong with broadening your horizons (and your toolbox can never be to full).
Listen to "Pacman". He speaks the truth.
Practice,Practice,Practice,
Rick
Although I am primarily a finger player, I have also used a pick for certain things and have done so from the beginning (24 yrs. ago). There is nothing wrong with broadening your horizons (and your toolbox can never be to full).
Listen to "Pacman". He speaks the truth.
Practice,Practice,Practice,
Rick
I started playing years ago with a pIc. Lately, when I picked up the ole slab again I didn't have a pIc handy and have been playing exclusively with fingers. The other day I pulled out some tapes from way back when and found out that I could recreate that sound with much less effort by using my fingers.
Just me....
But I play an Alvarez
Maybe I should change my sig to Alvarez and proud of it, it only has 4 strings and so what?
But I bet the house I can't play what JT does!!
Maybe if I duct tape a Squier strat to my Alvarez and get some bass pedals?
Just me....
But I play an Alvarez
Maybe I should change my sig to Alvarez and proud of it, it only has 4 strings and so what?
But I bet the house I can't play what JT does!!
Maybe if I duct tape a Squier strat to my Alvarez and get some bass pedals?
Just to say something to all of the anti-pick crowd:
Why do you think leo fender put a pickgard on his bass. after all, this instrument is called bass GUITAR, I wouldn't play an upright with a pick but a bass GUITAR...
Why do you all say that pick players are a bunch of newbie that can't play right when the 3/4th of you can't even play right with a pick. learn to play some fast and complicated lines with a pick and we'll see what is harder fingers or pick. to me it's was easier to play complicated with my fingers but I like the sound of a pick better.
P.S. This message was intended to all the anti-pickers out there
Woah that was good to tell everything that was rumbling inide me.
Why do you think leo fender put a pickgard on his bass. after all, this instrument is called bass GUITAR, I wouldn't play an upright with a pick but a bass GUITAR...
Why do you all say that pick players are a bunch of newbie that can't play right when the 3/4th of you can't even play right with a pick. learn to play some fast and complicated lines with a pick and we'll see what is harder fingers or pick. to me it's was easier to play complicated with my fingers but I like the sound of a pick better.
P.S. This message was intended to all the anti-pickers out there
Woah that was good to tell everything that was rumbling inide me.
I am really jaded here. I like pick playing when it is done well, but very few people seem to pull it off. I am not a huge fan of punk or metal, but it seems to me that those genres are the only appropriate place for pick playing. There just seems to be no flavor when a bass line is picked, it lacks the tone and qualitys of the instrument. I am not saying that there is a right or wrong way to do things but when I hear a ska or reggae or even a jazz band that the bass player uses a pick I feel cheated. There are only certain times when a bass player should step out of the pocket, and when it is done with a pick it seems wrong.
I guess what I am getting at is that you should choose the right tools for the job, picks sound fine in heavy music but when it comes down to tone and backbone, I would go for fingerstyle all the way.
Craig
I guess what I am getting at is that you should choose the right tools for the job, picks sound fine in heavy music but when it comes down to tone and backbone, I would go for fingerstyle all the way.
Craig
Actually Leo Fender thought that players would be using their thumb to pluck the strings hence the finger rest below the strings on the original P-basses. The pickguard will have been there so that players wouldn't damage the wood with fingernails.
Originally the upright players who turned to Electric bass used their fingers. It was the guitarists who turned to bass because they couldn't get a gig that used plectrums on basses.
And it was called a Fender Bass not a bass guitar. The term bass guitar was coined because the instrument was based upon the shape of the guitar.
Originally the upright players who turned to Electric bass used their fingers. It was the guitarists who turned to bass because they couldn't get a gig that used plectrums on basses.
And it was called a Fender Bass not a bass guitar. The term bass guitar was coined because the instrument was based upon the shape of the guitar.
You should learn both ways,I like using a pick better because i like the sound and it just feels more comfortable. But experiment with both.
After Boring my self silly reading all this nonscence about what is better to use. 
Well, Here is my experiance that I offer; I started playing using a pick. Because it seemed easier for me to play with as I learned. But, as I progressed, I learned how to use my fingers. I really like using fingers. Pick are great for many reason, and Fingers are great for many reasons too. Learn both. See what your most confortable using.
For the speed part, I play Heavy Metal. And I USE my fingers to play heavy metal. It takes time to learn how to be fast with your fingers. And It also takes time to learn how to be fast with a Pick. There really isn't much diference between pick and bass. I say this beacuse I learned how to play with both. Sure I sometimes use a pick to get a sertain tone on the bass, but I can also do the same using my fingers. For me, it's what you use to make a sound.
P.s. I don't only play Heavy Metal, I also play Funk, R&B, Salsa, Blues, Old School Rock, and more. Not to glorafy my self or anything, But I really think that a good bass player wont argue about what's better to use if they are a well rounded player.
I Apologise for my spelling mistakes, and for the long massage.
We are NOT perfect, so stop thinking so.
Well, Here is my experiance that I offer; I started playing using a pick. Because it seemed easier for me to play with as I learned. But, as I progressed, I learned how to use my fingers. I really like using fingers. Pick are great for many reason, and Fingers are great for many reasons too. Learn both. See what your most confortable using.
For the speed part, I play Heavy Metal. And I USE my fingers to play heavy metal. It takes time to learn how to be fast with your fingers. And It also takes time to learn how to be fast with a Pick. There really isn't much diference between pick and bass. I say this beacuse I learned how to play with both. Sure I sometimes use a pick to get a sertain tone on the bass, but I can also do the same using my fingers. For me, it's what you use to make a sound.
P.s. I don't only play Heavy Metal, I also play Funk, R&B, Salsa, Blues, Old School Rock, and more. Not to glorafy my self or anything, But I really think that a good bass player wont argue about what's better to use if they are a well rounded player.
I Apologise for my spelling mistakes, and for the long massage.
We are NOT perfect, so stop thinking so.
...if you go fingering or picking.
I started practicing fingering, picking, and some slap-pop. I figured I needed to explore all three possibilities.
Immediately slap-pop was discarded... until I have dough for SERIOUS BASS CLASSES WITH A GOOD TEACHER. Books don't help much here.
Down to picking or fingering. I actually love the vibration the pick produces on the strings... it's agressive and very defined. Fingering is so cool too.
So what happened? I started to realize that my hand never got accustomed to long periods of picking and it would hurt. I also discovered the finger style made me faster and more agile on the bass. Add to that the fact that strapping the bass high also helped my dexterity, and you have a fingering, histrapped bassa'.
I found out for myself what style worked for me. For the newbies I'd say find that style which is more comfortable and conducive to better playing.
Food for thought though: If I'm not mistaken almost all of the best players use fingerstyle... and a rather high strapping.
I started practicing fingering, picking, and some slap-pop. I figured I needed to explore all three possibilities.
Immediately slap-pop was discarded... until I have dough for SERIOUS BASS CLASSES WITH A GOOD TEACHER. Books don't help much here.
Down to picking or fingering. I actually love the vibration the pick produces on the strings... it's agressive and very defined. Fingering is so cool too.
So what happened? I started to realize that my hand never got accustomed to long periods of picking and it would hurt. I also discovered the finger style made me faster and more agile on the bass. Add to that the fact that strapping the bass high also helped my dexterity, and you have a fingering, histrapped bassa'.
I found out for myself what style worked for me. For the newbies I'd say find that style which is more comfortable and conducive to better playing.
Food for thought though: If I'm not mistaken almost all of the best players use fingerstyle... and a rather high strapping.
learn to use both....i want my own style not someone elses in wich i have now...i can use both but i go with my fingers.....play the way it feels best to u and dont worry about the next person or what they think..everyone must have there own thing................
When using fingers you can feel the movement of the strings - using a pick really detracts from that.
IMO, picks are a rift between the player and the bass.
A pick is great for that certain sound, but for expression, feeling, sensitivity and the whole concept of being at one with the bass I think it's a no-no.
This is my opinion of course, but I think of it as a fact.
I can play with a pick and do on occaision - but not as well as I can with my fingers. I dont practice with a pick and to be honest I wont use one unless it's really needed for the song.
Sorry if this offends anyone, but the better bassist plays with their fingers, and can use a pick if neccessary.
IMO, picks are a rift between the player and the bass.
A pick is great for that certain sound, but for expression, feeling, sensitivity and the whole concept of being at one with the bass I think it's a no-no.
This is my opinion of course, but I think of it as a fact.
I can play with a pick and do on occaision - but not as well as I can with my fingers. I dont practice with a pick and to be honest I wont use one unless it's really needed for the song.
Sorry if this offends anyone, but the better bassist plays with their fingers, and can use a pick if neccessary.
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