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Fingers v.s Pick is it a crime?.....Resolved!!

#61
Got a call today from some cats that want only finger players. We all know we can get fingerish tone with EQ and nylon picks but rather than try to convince them I just said "I'm not your guy." No fun fighting the uphill battle against some folks' prejudices. I do play some fingerstyle but I don't want to be locked into it and lose my pick chops. It's easy to play simple stuff with a pick but staying tight on more complex stuff with strings jumps takes some real work.
 
#62
I used to be completely opposed to using a pick, but eventually I grew to appreciate that playing with a pick allows your bass to cut through the music better. I almost always play with my fingers, but I appreciate that many of the best bass lines ever recorded were played with a pick.

A few great bass players that use a pick
Paul Mcartney
Phil Lesh (Grateful Dead)
Rick Danko (The Band)
Berry Oakley (The Allman Brothers)
Oteil Burbridge even uses one sometimes
Roger Waters (Pink Floyd)
Mike Dirnt (Green Day)
Justin Meldal Johnson
Flea also uses a pick for a few songs.
 
#64
Rockin Mike said:
Got a call today from some cats that want only finger players. We all know we can get fingerish tone with EQ and nylon picks but rather than try to convince them I just said "I'm not your guy." No fun fighting the uphill battle against some folks' prejudices. I do play some fingerstyle but I don't want to be locked into it and lose my pick chops. It's easy to play simple stuff with a pick but staying tight on more complex stuff with strings jumps takes some real work.
Click to expand...

Yeah you're better off. Too many people listening with their eyes out there.
 
#65
Warning Hipster content:

I remember reading the fingers vs. pick debate when I joined talkbass like in 2002. People were like "did you use the search function? There's already a dozen threads on this" Now 10-11 years later, lol. I guess my point is I read all this and I feel the community has evolved and matured. People used to rage over this but now I see a lot of "do what you like" and "Too many people listening with their eyes". I think it is very cool.

As for myself I can't stand playing with a pick and I prefer my fingers and that doesn't make me right OR wrong.
 

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