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Fingers vs Pick

#42
I was anti pick for way too long. These days I use both equally well.

I enjoy the sound of both.

OP, I have found that wider string spacing makes it easier to avoid those little mistakes caused by the pick striking the wrong string.

When I play my 19mm basses I have no problems at all. When I play others' narrow basses I can't really use a pick.
 
#43
I like a pick for sharp, consistent attacks, or for quick notes on one string. I used to play with a pick more, but I started developing pain in my palm below my thumb. If I'm not careful, I can barely get through a 5 minute song before my hand cramps up.
I find that I can play fills or more complex lines better with my fingers, and can put more nuance into my playing. A long run of 8th or 16th notes is hard for me to make sound even with my fingers. Not every OD\Distortion pedal sounds as good as they can when I play finger.
I definitely feel that a good bass player should be able to do both. They are just more tools in your tool box.
 
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#47
My first time on stage we played metallica's for whom the bell tolls. I did the first easy bit from anesthesia as an intro, and being as I picked the bass up 2 months prior, I used a pick since we were stupid kids who cranked our gear to 11 and ran distortion on everything. I wanted the most extreme grinding tone I could have and had no knowledge of how to achieve a tone that sounds good. The YouTube comments however never mentioned my tone once. I was cussed out for disgracing Cliff Burton, told bass players don't use picks, and was even accused of playing the bass parts on a guitar! I used a short scale flying V bass so if you don't know how to count tuners I guess this could be confusing. That being said, if playing metallicas tunes with a pick was good enough for Newstead, it was good enough for me.
Screenshot_20171031-155838.png
 
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#48
I use both (being able to slap well has always eluded me). I find muting easier fingerstyle, and I think I'm generally "looser" and more articulate that way. But pickstyle is better for a certain consistency, especially for rapid eighth- or sixteenth-notes, and there are songs where tonally it's more what I want. Currently I have an originals project and a cover band, and in the originals I'm playing pretty much all fingers, the cover band is majority pick.
 
#49
i grew up playing classical and folk guitar using fingernails, so when i moved to bass, i simply continued playing with fingernails. i get my nails strengthened with acrylic so they don't wear down, and so i get a much warmer sound as my nails are thicker than most nails and the acrylic seems to add to the warmth, as well. there is some contact with fingertips sometimes.
 
#50
I can't play with a pick for the life of me. I have a hard time muting. Playing fingerstyle is much easier for me. I play much better, without thinking too much, mute automatically. I've developed my own Geddy Lee-esque aggressive technique. I sometimes play with only my middle finger, sometimes three fingers. Basically, I don't think about my right hand. It can do anything, I just do it.
 
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#53
Shoot, I even play guitar with my fingertips 95% of the time. Much easier for me, both for bass and guitar. I started out fingerpicking, but spent a number of years concentrating on using a pick. So I can do it, and there are times it's called for, and I like the sound of it with many players I hear ... but fingers (and thumb) is easier for me, and usually better sounding. For me. :bassist:
 
#54
I play about 70% fingers & 30% pick. When I use a pick it's usually about attack and tone, but sometimes when the rhythm line is pick hand dominate. Not just any pick mind you, only 1.0 polycardonite material give me what I need. I'm Burning For You by BOC would be a good example of a song that just works and sounds better with a pick imo. Just doesn't sound right with fingers to me.
 
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#56
Fingers only. I played a buch of shows back to back one time, and got some bad blisters on my plucking fingers. I figuered I could play my last show with a pick.... Ha! I couldnt hold on to the damn thing! I tried bandaids, tape, pick..... ended up playing with my blistered fingers.
 
#58
Mudloop said:
This is not a "which is best" thread, just couldn't find a better name for it. I use both, and have some observations, and just wanted to check if others agree with this.

When playing with a pick, I find it more easy to play tight rhythmically, but it's easier for me to play a mistake. Especially when skipping a string, I occasionally miss (though I'm usually quick enough to still hit it with an opposite stroke when it happens).

With my fingers, it's more direct so I don't miss as easily, but it's harder for me to keep it tight, and it's also harder to keep the volume even. I wouldn't call it sloppy playing, but it's leaning more towards sloppy than when I use a pick.

I started out with just my fingers, but soundwise, for most of my songs, a pick is a better fit, so I've been using that more the last year or two, which could explain why my fingerplaying isn't as tight... But maybe it's something other bass players experience too?

Just curious about this :)
Click to expand...

I think this post could've been by me, about my playing.
 
#60
Fingers for me. I can get a pick sound from my fingernails, but I've never really cared for the picking sound. Nevertheless, there are songs that just do not sound right UNLESS played with a pick.
 

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