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

[tubedude]

How else would you hold it?

 

[bass71]

I started out back in the midsts of time using a pick but very soon realised its limitations, but learning to use fingers was real difficult, must've taken me two years to get good enough to gig...still, best decision I ever made by far and Ive never used a pick since...

 

[Howlin' Hanson]

With the grip of death. Index plus middle and thumb, ring and pinkie curled up to make the hand look like a fist.

 

[ajkula66]

Dropped the pick sometime around '83 and never looked back. I play my guitars without one 90% of the time as well...

With that being said, many of the bassists that I grew up listening to were pick players, and I'd never dissuade anyone from using one if they feel that's the proper way to get the sound that they were looking for.

Use whatever works for *you*.

 

[PJMustangFreak]

About 95% pick and 5% fingers. I started as a finger style guitarist, so I wonder why I almost exclusively use a pick on bass. Probably my love of McCartney and Jethro Tull

 

[Smooth_bass88]

I'm 90% fingerstyle, but I practice a lot with a pick- just so I'm ready when the situation calls for it.

 

[Droopy_TX]

I think it really depends on the sound you are looking to achieve. For me, a lot has to do with muting.

I agree that country music sounds better with fingers not just for the tone, but also because, if you're playing some sort of Root-5th pattern, it just seems the natural string muting of finger style suits the genre.

A lot of rock songs benefit from playing riffs over open droning notes that, (again) to me, are easier to really have ringing out using a pick.

I think it's important to learn palm muting when playing with a pick. Muting just seems to come easier with finger style, whether anchored or floating thumb.

That said, I use whatever sounds and plays best for the song. That includes using my thumb on really soft pieces.

Always serve the song.

 

[stratovani]

Oh, I won't stand for that nonsense...
NO RULES, It's MUSIC, and if we had to follow rules for music we'd still be smacking tree trunks with rocks and be satisfied.

Maple or rosewood? ;-)

 

[roccobass]

Picks are a PIA to keep up with. If I'm ever asked to play a song that requires a pick like maybe "Would?", I just borrow one from the guitar player. Or I just play it with fingers, no one really cares either way lol.

Borrow one? Used to be in bar bands. Naw.... Heck, when I needed one, I usually found at least one or two strewn about on the club stage because most of the time, management never used to vacuum the stage.

 

[Craig4003]

I wouldn't borrow a pick from a guitarist. It would probably be too light. At least, I use lighter picks on guitar (.6 mm) than I would want to use on bass (1 mm).

I play bass with two fingers or a pick according to what sound I want to hear, usually plucking near the neck pickup or between the neck and the neck pickup. I find that when playing hard rock live, a pick usually is beneficial as it helps to push the aggression in the music. But for the mellower songs or styles, fingers often are better.

 

[trailer]

Borrow one? Used to be in bar bands. Naw.... Heck, when I needed one, I usually found at least one or two strewn about on the club stage because most of the time, management never used to vacuum the stage.

Oh yeah I sometimes see those nasty little critters lurking on the floor. But I'm not gonna bend over and pick one up when I can just snag a fresh, unused one off the guitar players mic stand.

 

[roccobass]

Oh yeah I sometimes see those nasty little critters lurking on the floor. But I'm not gonna bend over and pick one up when I can just snag a fresh, unused one off the guitar players mic stand.

Ah! But sometimes there were some quality nasty critters on the stage. Sometimes monogramed and such also. Little collector items. LOL. I did use alcohol wipes too just in case.

 

[maturanesa]

Never played a gig with a pick, just use it when i got to record guitars.
Dont have nothing against it, but i feel like when played fingerstyle the bass sits better in the mix.
I like the pick just for hollow body basses with flats, unfortunately doesnt have one like this

 

[dante360]

I think every bass player should play with a pick or with fingers, this would give you some diversity and expand your musicality

 

[Ramonesfan59]

100% pick. 100% downstrokes. That's how I learned...and really, that's all I need.

 

[Bassbeater]

I only play with a pick if I want a specific sound during a recording session or if my fingers are injured. When you play with a pick you can't finger mute the other strings by resting your thumb or ring finger between strings, you can only palm-mute. On stage picking sounds really muddy on 5 string because of string ring. Picking seriously limits the amount of techniques you can switch between on the fly. You can't throw in a slap or pop for accent or double pluck when you hold a pick. The dynamics just aren't there with a pick. ...All in all, picks are a pretty weak option for bass. Pony league.

 

[Humberto Silva]

About 70 fingers /30 pick.

Allways been a finger player but i realized that some songs just dont deliver using fingers, even if you play the same notes. Using a pick in bass is essential if you want do get that specific tone that no finger can't offer...

Just try to play offspring or green day with fingers.

And also, there's no other sound like a picked p-bass

 

[oldmetalhead]

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?

I have always played fingers since way back. Even the hair metal days. I think it is a personal choice and what works for you thing. If you are trying to exactly duplicate a sound the switching would work. But I've always felt that we are individuals and our style and playing are a part of us. Even huge established band have had different stly bass players. Metallica went from Cliff to Jason to Robert. Three totally different styles even when doing the previous artists work. My vote is to create "you". Especially in this new age of creating on a computer with no ability to actually play the instrument. Just my old two cents.

 

[Bill Waltz]

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?

I started out as a finger player but now I have also developed a pick style especially when I want a wiry treble or a harder attack on certain passages, or in some passages requiring 16th notes or triplets on a single string especially, that I find find easier to play with a pick. I sometimes like my felt pick because it gives a good thump without sounding wiry.

 

[Bill Waltz]

I started out as a finger player but have also developed a pick style especially when I want a wirey treble sound or a hard attack. Also some passages are easier with a pick especially 16th notes or fast triplets on a single string. I also sometimes like my felt pick as it gives a hard attack but with more of a thump sound and not a wiry sound.