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

[jamro217]

Pick player until I joined TB and found out what a low-life, d-bag, hack bass player I was.

Better late than never. Now get a rosewood/tort/burst P with flats on it and we'll talk.

 

[jeff62]

About 75/25 for me. Primarily pick!

 

[JimiLL]

Sir Paul uses a pick. Berry Oakley used a pick. Leon Wilkeson used a pick....

So I figure I'm in a good crowd.

I recognized one of those names

 

[jamro217]

Started out as a guitarist in '72. Decided to play bass in '74. Cannot play guitar without a pick. Chose to learn bass as a separate entity from guitar (not as a related instrument) by playing fingerstyle. Cannot play bass with a pick. Fortunately my technique allows for the imitation of a picked tone when needed.

 

[micguy]

I have callouses that are really hard. I have to go to great lengths at time to try and not sound like I'm playing with a pick, even tought I'm a fingerist. Yes, I carry picks in my cable bag, but they stay there. Not really sure why I have them. I did use a pick for a couple songs in a band I played in in 1980.

 

[Selios]

When I first started playing, I was using a pick exclusively. It was easier for me because my fingers didn't have the strength for playing full sets (I am left handed but can only play right handed instruments, so my non-dominant plucking hand was very weak in the beginning). Since then I've built up my technique to almost exclusively using fingers.

But, if there's a song where a pick just lets it come across better, I will definitely (gladly) use a pick for the job. That applies for both originals and covers.

 

[Fat Freddy]

I've been known to pick my nose on occasion....

 

[basses51]

I use a Pick about 40% of the time...Some stuff it just Feels and Sounds right !!!

 

[gln1955]

I've been known to pick my nose on occasion....

But, I assume you're using your fingers. This is all so confusing at times.

 

[Relsom]

I usually play finger style but always have a pick at the ready when I need to channel my inner Oakley or Goddard.

 

[Systolic]

For my current cover band I'm at about 60% fingerstyle, 35% pick, 5% slap.

 

[Fat Freddy]

For my current cover band I'm at about 60% fingers, 35% pick, 5% slap.

Do you slap with your feet?

 

[gazzatriumph]

I use both depending on the sound I need

 

[gln1955]

There are songs I'll start to learn that seem hard to master with fingers, so I'll try a pick and it works. Then I look at an old video of the original player and he's using a pick. DOH!!!

 

[KevInDaBassment]

Started with fingers, pop/slap, then decided I would start learning to use a pick so I could be more well-rounded. Finding the right pick was just as important as deciding to practice. I noticed the picks I was using were all wrong for the sound I wanted (was using way too thick). I like using them with flats for Indie music and on rounds for punk music.

 

[Member8675309]

I have found two picks that I love for bass, one is a leather pick that you can find in one of the cheap, touristy souvenir shops on Broadway. The other is the V-Picks “Mummy”. The leather is cool because you can harden them or soften them.

 

[Charlzm]

In my 35 or so years of playing I started as a pick player and stuck to that until @ 10 years ago, when I put the picks away and forced myself to develop a finger style. I have stuck with playing almost exclusively with my fingers ever since.... until @ 3 months ago.

I haven't really played in a cover band in @10 years, but now I'm playing some songs that simply don't work as well with fingers, they need that attack and precision of a pick. So now I'm at @50/50 fingers/pick during my bands sets.

Anyone else coming to this realization?

Started with pick, switched to fingers, eventually brought the pick back when it seemed appropriate.

 

[Systolic]

Do you slap with your feet?

Took me far longer than I'd care to admit to figure out your point. Perhaps I'll edit my post.

 

[drewphishesp]

phil lesh uses a pick, mike gordon does too, I find when playing dead or phish tunes they just sound better with a pick, and a big heavy one at that

 

[scuzzy]

My previous disdain for pick playing was a side effect of the fact I sucked at playing with a pick. I'm working on it. Rarely use, but i appreciate it.