No more pick jokes

[Ritter667]

I mainly play finger style because I prefer the tone I get from it.
Playing fairly light, just stroking the strings, with the outmost tip of my fingers/nails, in a slight inward light slapping motion, rather than really plucking, pulling or striking the strings. Which gives me an almost piano like tone, with a somewhat bell like attack,
Occasionally combined with flamenco guitar style finger flicking technique.

But I did used to exclusively use a pick, for like the first 15 years or so of playing bass, and I still do occasionally, when I need that specific snappy emphasis on the attack, that only a pick will give you.

In that case I will use either a .060mm Dunlop Max Grip Nylon, tip or round corner, or a .60mm Dunlop Tortex, for an even more aggressive snap.

I occasionally use a 3.1mm Wedgie Soft rubber pick too, which actually gives me a softer and warmer tone than using my fingers.

 

[Pyrrho Epoche]

I played fingerstyle for years and taught myself how to use a pick, playing Gypsy jazz and punk. It really adds to the dynamics and tone--especially thrashing hardcore, down by the bridge or pick sweeping on my fretless/ flats, like a baritone guitar. It was 8-12 months, to get really fast and proficient, but I love using 1.5 and 2 mm shields and jazz picks. If I drop the pick, mid song, fingers work too.

 

[MasterMonkeyMan]

I played fingerstyle for years and taught myself how to use a pick, playing Gypsy jazz and punk. It really adds to the dynamics and tone--especially thrashing down by the bridge, hardcore. It was 8-12 months to get really fast and proficient, but I love using 1.5 and 2mm shields and jazz picks. If I drop the pick, mid song, fingers work too.

If you drop your fingers, then what?

 

[Pyrrho Epoche]

Occasionally combined with flamenco guitar style finger flicking technique.

I stumbled onto this technique a few weeks ago, while playing manouche jazz--very interesting, I had no idea. I was like ok, this works!

 

[SharpCat]

I was thinking about this (no, I dunno why either) and I had the thought: "Why do most basses have pickguards if you're not supposed to use a pick?" You could even argue that picks are disallowed on basses without a guard.

But then I realized it was so we could have Tort.

 

[Deleted member 394181]

You can pick you friends picks, but you can't pick your freinds noses.

 

[JIO]

I wish I could play with a pick better than I do - there are so many delicious sounds with that approach, and plenty of good examples.

Holding a pick firmly with a loose wrist is as difficult as holding a bow.

That's a good analogy for dexterous pick-playing. Dunlop Max-Grip picks help as they have a bit of texture. After many years of pick-playing I never drop a pick and play just as you describe. I can also cup the pick and play finger-style during the same song. It just takes becoming comfortable holding it and that only happens by incorporating it regularly woodshedding.

 

[J Wilson]

I meant to include this with my original response earlier in this thread. Here's D'Andrea's website. They will do custom printing on any of their picks, offer bass and uke picks (!), and a range of replacement pickguards. Wouldn't at all be surprised if these guys aren't OEM for many brands. I've used the Fender Heavy 355 triangles forever, but often they're hard to find, and I have a can full of the D'Andrea equivalents, both in faux celluloid and their Delrex nylon-esque material. Very reasonable on Amazon or the usual suspects.

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