Fingers or plectrum?

[Ostie]

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.

Same here. I was a guitar player first, so when I started on bass I started with a pick. I gradually migrated to fingers, but for guitar I still use a pick. Sadly, I’ve never been able to get the hang of finger picking guitar. Plus, I also play mandolin, which is all plectrum for me.

 

[MustangWally]

I have only ever used a pick, fingers never got the attack that I like. I only use the rounded part of the pick, not the pointy bit, the rounded part gets a fatter sound.

 

[Gluvhand]

yes

This

 

[Michael Milner]

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.

 

[JW56789]

For a long time, I'd default to playing fast, aggressive stuff with the pick and use my fingers for ballads and smoother tunes. Still not a bad strategy today.

 

[weird_hermiston]

I just play with fingers but that’s just because I haven’t spent time learning to use a pick! Maybe someday I will, but right now I enjoy using my fingers.

 

[Zooberwerx]

I tend to drop picks...my fingers have yet to fall off my hands. That being said, there's something super-special about a pick on flatwounds.

Riis

 

[Muttleybass]

I started off playing fingers, then around the mid 80's I actually lost an audition because I didn't play with a pick. Then, just before tour, I took a vacation and my callouses healed. First gig, Friday night, my fingers were bleeding down the front of my bass. I spent the next day practicing with a pick. I had too to get through the next night.

I spent most of the 80's playing all that hair metal with a pick and switching back and forth. Now, I rarely play with a pick, probably just a couple of songs a night.

 

[Killing Floor]

Pick and fingers. I’m with @bholder ob this, I mostly play fingers on guitar. But both is the best answer because picks add a different dynamic.

 

[FrenchBassQC]

I am mainly a finger player but I voted for "Depends on the song" because to me it makes more sense. Now I must confess that playing in two bands creating and playing original material mainly (maybe 1 or 2 covers depending on the venue) I am not using a pick that much since I favor finger playing over using a pick...

 

[viking power]

For those using picks I’m surprised at the light gauges you’re using…even for guitar I’ve moved to heavier gauge above 1.0. For bass I really like a 2.0 or even a 3.0 Big Stubbies.

 

[And I]

I voted depends on the song but I've not played bass in a band where the song called for a pick.

 

[glocke1]

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.

My favorite bassist plays with a pick, that would be Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead but I just can't do it. For one thing, I lose that connection with my bass that fingers give you, secondly, I just can't get the same level of dexterity, my playing becomes "blocky and choppy". It's mind blowing to me to listen to Phils lines from the early 70s to the mid 70s, here the horn like fluidness in them, and than stop to think he is playing that stuff using a pick.

I guess if I put more time into it I could make it happen, but im also not that interested developing that skill. I got enough problems trying to play as it is lol

 

[rashrader]

Both work, albeit a little differently…. I find it much more difficult to cross strings with a pick, whereas I can hit a root and a major 10th with no issue playing with my fingers. Does this matter?

 

[Roxbororob]

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.

Carol Kaye and Paul McCartney too (sometimes hard to replicate with a pick). Nothing wrong with fingers but some songs really need a pick, unless you build up your fingernails ( which I cant brIng myself to do).

 

[pingvuiini]

I've pretty much played fingerstyle for the past 30+ years. I was slightly inspired to play with a pick when I saw a vid of Jonesy playing 'Black Dog' with a pick, but nothing ever came of it.

I was greatly inspired just this year to play with a pick when I rediscovered one of my guilty pleasure bands which I forgot about for 40 years. I always loved the rhythm section of Bow Wow Wow back in the 80's, and I always thought Leigh Gorman played fingerstyle because of the monstrous slapping he does. But after checking out olde poor quality VHS transfer vids on YT I was shocked to see that he plays with a pick 96% of the time! On some songs he does some parts fingerstyle and others with a pick and I can't figure out where he keeps the pick when he slaps.

I ended up buying my first fretted bass in decades and borrowing a guitar player friends pick to give it a go and I was TERRIBLE. I think the thing that frustrated me the most was the muting while holding the pick. Granted I just tried it for a half hour or so and gave up, so maybe I need to give it another chance.

 

[lark_z]

Both feel pretty natural to me, pick seems a tad easier, fingers sound better on most songs. Years and years of guitar playing pick only. Fast, repetitive eighth note passages = easy-peasy with pick, not so with fingers. But I'm working on it.

LOL - I played a song for me wife both ways. Her response "they sound the same to me".

 

[Groove Doctor]

60% Fingerstyle (2, 3, & 4 finger)
20% Plectrum
20% Slap, Thumb-plucking, and two-hand Tapping.

 

[Basslice]

I have recently embraced playing with a THUMB pick after years of not liking picks. When I play guitar I find picks uncomfortable and usually play with my finger and thumb (not that I am any kind of guitar player other than an occasional open mic).

Over the summer I bought a few thumb picks on a whim and voila, I love it. Not that I am giving up regular finger-style at any point, but I am pretty comfortable with a thumb pick.

 

[Jefenator]

As with most other technical considerations, it really depends on the project.
Picks never stuck with me until I started working a lot with a rockabilly/oldies guy - then suddenly that extra clicking attack became almost indispensable.
Fingerstyle has made a comeback, though - maybe since I don't work with that guy nearly as often as I used to. (And now I have gut strings on a double bass and can play all night with him on that!)