Fingers or plectrum?

[Raman]

Curious.

I've been a finger picker ever since I 1st picked up a bass. Nobody had to tell me how to pluck with index and middle finger: It came completely spontaneously. It's only much later that I started playing with a plectrum, in order to emulate some of the bassists (mostly post-punk) that I like. It felt at first as if I played with gloves on: Didn't like that a piece of material was in the way between my skin and the strings. I got better at it, but to this day, playing with a plectrum still feels less natural to me.

One thing I'm wondering is, when you guys and girls cover a song or other, will you also switch between finger and plectrum to get as close as possible to the original, or do you just stick to your preferred picking method?

I tend to emulate the original technique. But these days, I'm covering Carole Kaye material and I keep going back to finger-picking. Not only does it make it easier for me, but I can't quite get her tone when plectrum picking, even though that's how she played it. I feel I'm much closer with fingers.

 

[viking power]

Interesting. I’m always back and forth between the two. Mainly because I am of two minds. I like the connected feeling of playing with my fingers. I like the attack of a pick. I’m a confused individual.

 

[RestlessBoom]

I started playing fingerstyle, and it wasn’t until I started using a pick that I was able to unlock my abilities. Now I play with a pick (Wedgie Nylon .73mm) 99% of the time and only use my fingers to get that very specific sound during very specific parts of songs

 

[Raman]

There are definitely songs that call for plectrum and will lose their character if you finger-pick them. Like @viking power mentioned, the attack is something else!

But there are cases where I'm less sure. Carole Kaye, as I mentioned already. Or another example is Roger Waters in Pink Floyd. He plays with plectrum, but I can get pretty damn close with finger-picking.

 

[bholder]

Mostly fingers, even on guitar.

 

[jamro217]

I started on violin (bowed), then guitar (picked) and took up the bass two years after guitar. In order to keep the instruments separate I planned to learn the bass fingerstyle only. That was back in the early '70's. I still have to use a pick for the guitar and can't use one for bass. If a successful plan means limiting your picking options, I guess it worked.

 

[Lobster11]

I also started out fingerstyle because it felt more natural, and played exclusively that way for about 15 years. When I finally decided to learn how to use a pick I found it very difficult and it's taken me years since then to be about equally comfortable with both. I play about half and half these days.

I understand the idea of feeling less connected to the instrument when using a pick, but for me that is more than made up for by the physical up-and-down motion of the wrist -- especially when using downstrokes for downbeats and upstrokes for upbeats (a la Carol Kaye). There are some kinds of grooves for which that motion just feels right. I only sometimes choose pick-versus-not based on how a song was originally recorded or to get a particular kind of tone: Instead, I usually just decide based on how I'm feeling about a song at that particular moment. Sometimes I want the feeling of connection; sometimes I want the feeling of the motion.

 

[corndog]

It depends on the song for me. Sometimes nothing sounds like a p-bass played w a pick.

The majority of my playing is w fingers though.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Curious.

I've been a finger picker ever since I 1st picked up a bass. Nobody had to tell me how to pluck with index and middle finger: It came completely spontaneously. It's only much later that I started playing with a plectrum, in order to emulate some of the bassists (mostly post-punk) that I like. It felt at first as if I played with gloves on: Didn't like that a piece of material was in the way between my skin and the strings. I got better at it, but to this day, playing with a plectrum still feels less natural to me.

One thing I'm wondering is, when you guys and girls cover a song or other, will you also switch between finger and plectrum to get as close as possible to the original, or do you just stick to your preferred picking method?

I tend to emulate the original technique. But these days, I'm covering Carole Kaye material and I keep going back to finger-picking. Not only does it make it easier for me, but I can't quite get her tone when plectrum picking, even though that's how she played it. I feel I'm much closer with fingers.

Depends on the song.

 

[lbbc]

I've only ever performed "finger style". I have tried using a pick....and need to continue to work at it.

 

[TyBo]

I pick almost exclusively with fingers on guitar and bass, both. I can play with a pick, I just don't like to.

 

[john_g]

yes

 

[Element Zero]

Depends on the song or vibe for me. Nearly every worship tune ive played at my and various other churches over the last decade (we’re talkin a few hundred songs here) I played with my fingers. There were a few notable exceptions that I busted out a pick (.73 Dunlop Tortex) to achieve a more specific sound or style with.

On the flip side, most of the 50 or so songs my fledgling 90s alt band plays just feel and sound better with a Stingray and a pick. Go figure. I was very anti-pick in my youth but about 15 years ago (and lots of metal riffage with my then roommate) I realized that a pick is just as useful if not more, depending of course.

 

[micahwc]

I voted depends on the song but the more I play electric guitar and the older I get, the more I want to use a pick on faster music.

 

[Rib 13]

With the exception of recording when required or asked, I've been a fingers/slap/tap anti-pick guy for almost my entire bass life........until last year when I self discovered the pick, that awesome attack and the string resonance from a plectrum strike....and I totally love it now.......I choose picks via the drop test: drop picks on a table or solid surface - the brightest and loudest 'plink' wins

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Curious.

I've been a finger picker ever since I 1st picked up a bass. Nobody had to tell me how to pluck with index and middle finger: It came completely spontaneously. It's only much later that I started playing with a plectrum, in order to emulate some of the bassists (mostly post-punk) that I like. It felt at first as if I played with gloves on: Didn't like that a piece of material was in the way between my skin and the strings. I got better at it, but to this day, playing with a plectrum still feels less natural to me.

One thing I'm wondering is, when you guys and girls cover a song or other, will you also switch between finger and plectrum to get as close as possible to the original, or do you just stick to your preferred picking method?

I tend to emulate the original technique. But these days, I'm covering Carole Kaye material and I keep going back to finger-picking. Not only does it make it easier for me, but I can't quite get her tone when plectrum picking, even though that's how she played it. I feel I'm much closer with fingers.

i’m of the use what you need to use to serve the song camp. Most of the music I’ve played over the past decades don’t require the use of the pick, so consequently, I’m better using my fingers to pick. That said I’m fairly proficient using a pick, but it does effect my playing style a bit.

 

[Dan_reeves]

I play in a wide variety of settings and styles so I use both about equally. Most of the time I just do what I feel like doing - as with a good preamp you can achieve good tone with either. It is somewhat dependent on the other instruments though too - if I am playing with a pianist with a heavy left hand, then I go for a more midrange tone with a pick. If it’s a small group of musicians like a small folk deal, then maybe I’ll use fingers more. I think in general fingers give a fuller sound, pick more defined. So what does the band need from me at that moment?

I can sort of slap but rarely do - it rarely is the right sound in the bands I play in.

 

[Element Zero]

I've only ever performed "finger style". I have tried using a pick....and need to continue to work at it.

Try some more riff based stuff. IMO, Metallica’s black album and Megadeth’s Countdown to Extinction are EXCELLENT albums to focus on pick playing. Most of the songs aren’t too difficult. Lots of great work out there by 90s metal bands. You could also try Tragic Comic by Extreme. Really cool and fun bass line that’s really pronounced with Pat’s pick playing. (Btw, Pat Badger is an absolutely amazing player)

 

[JRA]

i've only used picks for recording sessions --- and so my 'pick endurance' is about 3-4 minutes at a stretch. even at that, i've always rigged my picks to allow me to hold onto them better because of such poor pick technique. i have it in my mind that i should become fluent/fluid with a pick before i....you know --- . i may need some lessons. i watch bobby vega and i start thinking that he's having way more fun than me.

 

[scott sinner]

Largely my fingers but I wouldnt rule out hitting the strings with any object if the song needed it.

I long ago would switch to picks a lot more but I took some classical guitar lessons from a flamenco player and I can play tons of stuff with my fingernails now.