OMG, He's using a PICK!!!!

[Oleg BassPlayer]

I often hear people complain they can't switch from pick to fingers, I personally have the opposite problem: I started as a finger player, now I'm getting more into extreme metal and I found 3-finger technique easier than pick, I mean, while I've managed to develop 3 fingers to the point they're going to start to be useful soon, my pick playing still sucks. That's a pity.

 

[ChrisWright]

Does it matter with bassguitar? Playing upright with a pick would be meh tho...

I think it CAN depending on the material. I have very fast fingers - solid time and even pressure on 16ths, but without a pick can simply not achieve the tone needed to play early Joe Jackson stuff, for example.

 

[ChrisWright]

Just like the pick with flats on vintage thumpy kind of basses (Hofner McCartney, Ampeg bass, Eastwood, Gretsch).
It resembles the sound of all that classic rock era.

In any other situation i dont find any benefit versus fingers...

I think a lot of the 90’s alternative demands a pick to achieve a close-to sound.

 

[Sunset Shalom]

What kind of picks do fellow pick users here like?

I have used a lot of random picks over the years but I recently tried some more and found 2 kinds I really like. The Jazz 3 picks and Dava Grip Picks:

They are very thick especially these Dava ones which also have a harder plastic tip, and they have a nice grip that keeps them between your fingers with minimal effort. The jazz 3 are nice too but a bit short for my tastes.

 

[Bassbeater]

Dunlop Tortex. I use Dunlop Tortex exclusively for guitar playing. I really like the material quality and the surface grip in general, on the very rare occasions when I play bass with a pick I use the Green .88

 

[Craig4003]

I can move back and forth between fingers and pick. Just about anything I can play one way, I can play the other, though fast repeated plucks of the same string are easier with a pick. It's just a matter of what sound I want to hear.

My favorite pick for bass is a blue one that came free with a set of Zexcoil pickups I ordered for one of my Strats a couple of years ago (fantastic pickups, btw). It's got the Zexcoil logo on it and it's 1mm thick. There's also a .6mm orange one that I like for guitar. My guess is they ordered a bunch of Dunlop Tortex picks customized with their logo, but I don't know for sure.

 

[Up the dose]

Yes. Being able to play both pick and finger style is so useful. After years of practicing the two styles I am finally using both comfortably on gigs. I wish I spent as much time now learning to play with a pick as I did learning slap. The pick can be used in so many more songs.

 

[Waltsdog]

What kind of picks do fellow pick users here like?

I have used a lot of random picks over the years but I recently tried some more and found 2 kinds I really like. The Jazz 3 picks and Dava Grip Picks:
View attachment 2869617

They are very thick especially these Dava ones which also have a harder plastic tip, and they have a nice grip that keeps them between your fingers with minimal effort. The jazz 3 are nice too but a bit short for my tastes.

There is a jazz 3 xl that’s bigger, worth trying if you find the regular jazz 3 a bit small.

 

[B-Mac]

What kind of picks do fellow pick users here like?

I have used a lot of random picks over the years but I recently tried some more and found 2 kinds I really like. The Jazz 3 picks and Dava Grip Picks:
View attachment 2869617

They are very thick especially these Dava ones which also have a harder plastic tip, and they have a nice grip that keeps them between your fingers with minimal effort. The jazz 3 are nice too but a bit short for my tastes.

Gravity 3 MM Acrylic Classic Standard [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[Sunset Shalom]

Gravity 3 MM Acrylic Classic Standard [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Those look nice, they have some really thick ones too. Someone showed me these crazy picks recently too: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

It's 35$ and is 11.85mm thick

 

[B-Mac]

Those look nice, they have some really thick ones too. Someone showed me these crazy picks recently too: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
View attachment 2870607
It's 35$ and is 11.85mm thick

Looks like a piece of ice! Pretty 'cool'

 

[Sunset Shalom]

Looks like a piece of ice! Pretty 'cool'

Too bad that one is so expensive, I want to try some of their cheaper and not as insanely thick picks

 

[B-Mac]

Too bad that one is so expensive, I want to try some of their cheaper and not as insanely thick picks

Check out the Gravity picks. I use the 3 MM Classic Standard and love them. They used to be $5 each, now they're $7. A music shop near me (near Clair Bros.) sells them so I don't have to order them through their website.

 

[EricMordus]

I've been using these for years:
Dunlop 449P1.5 Nylon Max-Grip Standard 1.5mm Guitar Picks 12-Pack

 

[taylor16]

50/50. I’m always surprised how “differently” I play with a pick. Much more rhythmic, in a way. Really love it.

 

[B-Mac]

I've been using these for years:
Dunlop 449P1.5 Nylon Max-Grip Standard 1.5mm Guitar Picks 12-Pack

I used to use these before I changed to Gravity pix. I did like the texture on them, but I wanted something that didn't give. The gravity pix do not give. However, I do wish that had the textured surface.

 

[Stumbo]

I used to use these before I changed to Gravity pix. I did like the texture on them, but I wanted something that didn't give. The gravity pix do not give. However, I do wish that had the textured surface.

I scratch my smoothe picks with a nail or other sharp object.

 

[kkaarrll]

Bobby Vega
Pick, Fingers, Slap

An inspiration for me to do more

I would pay a lot of money if fender/squier came out with a bobby vega version of that jazz bass

 

[kkaarrll]

I find that I can get most any sound I want out of this

 

[Captain Comet]

Picks I have used were various brands and tended to be pretty stiff. I used a small file and cut a crosshatch pattern into the top on both sides to give my fingers some added grip.