Getting comfortable again with pick

[Nedmundo]

About 15 years ago I developed something like arthritis in the tip joint of my right index finger, which forced me to switch from about 90% fingers to using a pick. Even though I had played guitar before bass, and had used picks on bass for some tracks, it took me awhile to adjust to using picks almost all the time. So, a few points from my experience.

1. I prefer large, rigid, triangular picks. My favorites are Dunlop Ultex 1.14mm, which are as rigid as some thicker picks due to the material. (I also like Clayton 1.26mm.) The larger picks provide better grip and more control, so I never drop them, and the rigidity also provides more control over your attack. More flexible picks "give out" at a certain level of attack, which is limiting, at least for the material I play.

2. Picks are not as limiting as I thought initially. By adjusting touch and position and using different picks, you can produce a large tonal range. In fact, I now prefer picks most of the time, which I did not expect.

3. Palm muting with a pick is enormously useful. On fives, it can help "tighten" the B string.

4. I still "think" differently with a pick than with fingers, so I often create parts with fingers, and then play them with a pick.

 

[Whaleform]

I mostly use fingers too but come from a guitar background .. I strongly recommend this pick though , When I did use the pick I used the


Jim Dunlop 431P1.0 Tortex Triangle, Blue, 1.0mm

 

[Old gold]

I started playing bass late in life and soon realized that the arthritis in my right hand fingers meant that I would be a pick player. I even have to use two fingers and my thumb to hold a pick. For certain tunes, I can get by using my thumb, but most of the time it’s a pick. I also find it useful to switch between types of picks depending on the tune (if you can keep track of where you have stashed a particular pick). For me, a thick pick works best for most tunes (Fender heavy), but I also switch to a felt pick (for a more mutedtone), a thick rubber pick (for a softer tone with less click on attack), and even a wood pick (for a unique click sound on attack). One type of pick can be limiting. I also agree with Nedmundo that Palm muting is essential when using a pick.

 

[JRT64]

I've played with a pick for quite a while, as it allows me to play and sing with much more precision. I usually prefer Dunlop Big Stubby heavy picks, or nylon picks which are heavy and small. It has worked well for me for many years. Didn't take long at all to get used to it. I'll oftentimes still use my fingers for a slow tune though. Hope you heal up quickly.

 

[Luckydog]

Sorry to read that. I think as long as your middle finger can provide minimal support function under your index (retracted probably), you'll be fine handling a pick. I recommend you use a soft pick. It adds compression and overall fatness. Work on a firm picking stance with your hand, but don't overthink it, IME proper bass picking is not really that far from how you'd pick on a guitar, except for being more vigilant to your left hand muting (practice as much of it as you can, left hand muting definitely eases the work on your right hand).

For my first 20 years playing bass, using a pick was a rare and traumatic event, it (I) felt clumsy a/f, even tho' I've always been proficient at it on guitar. Then around 2008 I started my own melodic HC band and I basically learned to pick on bass from scratch, mostly mimicking my guitarist's motion and overall groove/feel. Totally changed my bass playing, made me way more rhythmic, also my fingerstyle (I like myself more as a bass player now more than ever).

The glass half full for you is this might be a great chance to experience the songs you play often from a new perspective. I'm sure you'll find pieces you like more played with a pick. IME fingers/pick choice depends entirely on groove. Some bass lines do groove better/more naturally with your fingers, some will feel/sound better with a pick (most riff based rock music). You can find value in that, despite the tragic contingency.

Hope you both heal soon and come out a better bass player

Thanks for your advice and kind words