like others have said, all three. whatever the song calls for. punk/pop-punk band: mostly pick for the attack and some grit, ska/reggae beats: thumb gives some nice woody thumpy tones, jazz/blues: fingers all the way. learn to use everything and make the choice based on what will sound best, not what looks good/acceptable...
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Pick, Fingers, Thumb what is your choice
- Thread starter boabski2k
- Start date
To put my opinion quite simply...anyone who isn't willing to learn to apply any technique (including the use of a pick on an electric bass guitar) is limiting thier own long term potential and knowledge of the instrument.
To have a preference is one thing but to limit yourself based on silly idol worship conforming to the letter of their style not yours is short sighted (and by the way last I heard there are dozens of well qualified bassists out there in a broad range of genres that have or continue to use a pick...and if you are listening only to the Wooten/Pastorious type player list of bassists you are also greatly limiting your own potential).
Learn it all, use what works when it works, never limit your exploration of the instrument.
Spin
To have a preference is one thing but to limit yourself based on silly idol worship conforming to the letter of their style not yours is short sighted (and by the way last I heard there are dozens of well qualified bassists out there in a broad range of genres that have or continue to use a pick...and if you are listening only to the Wooten/Pastorious type player list of bassists you are also greatly limiting your own potential).
Learn it all, use what works when it works, never limit your exploration of the instrument.
Spin
spindizzy is totally right, "pick haters" are no more than bassists afraid of being compared to guitarists, but who cares!!!!!! it sounds great, and looks good IMO xD
I use fingers to practice scales and when playing a bassline I know the original player fingerpicks.
I use a pick more often, though.
I use a pick more often, though.
everything. same as others. Depends on what I am playing and what style and technique fits into the song.
I use Fingers because they are good for going quickly between strings. I use picks for hard rock, and my thumb for slaping. 
All three.But,here lately I've been getting into playing with my thumb.Not slapping w/my thumb.Sting uses this technique a lot.
I use all three, but mostly fingers/Thumb in a few different techniques: Flamenco playing, double thumbing (for chuggy metal 
), standard finger style, Slap/Pop, tapping etc. etc.
), standard finger style, Slap/Pop, tapping etc. etc.made a post last night about`pick playing and felt i needed to come back on it since all day long i have been listening to music and thinking about=playing it with a pick,,honkey tonk rock blues and,,,bluegrass?,,so i have been thinking about finding some foam,shoving that under my strings and,,,,gotta roll the harp man is on the phone,,picks!=heck yeah!
ok i'm done please let me find that BASS and pick it!9think Green Day baby!
ok i'm done please let me find that BASS and pick it!
9think Green Day baby!made a post last night about`pick playing and felt i needed to come back on it since all day long i have been listening to music and thinking about=playing it with a pick,,honkey tonk rock blues and,,,bluegrass?,,so i have been thinking about finding some foam,shoving that under my strings and,,,,gotta roll the harp man is on the phone,,picks!=heck yeah!
ok i'm done please let me find that BASS and pick it!
huh?
I generally use my fingers with the occasional slapping (bit kinky)... i tried to use a pick once but i'm not co-ordinated enough 
~Cuphandle
~Cuphandle
Fingers... thumb... plucking and slapping.. I never got that plectrum thing down... I have been trying to use my thumb the same way as a pick lately.. Just trying different things... I am trying to get more economy in my playing as my hands are much stiffer than they used to be..
I greatly prefer playing fingerstyle, and normally use fingers over 90% of the time. I've regularly used a pick for tonal reasons, especially in recording where sometimes nothing but palm-muting with a pick will do.
Recently, however, I've developed arthritis-like symptoms in the tip joint of my right index finger, so I've switched over to 90% pick. Because of my regular pick use (including guitar playing), the adjustment hasn't been that bad, but I still occasionally miss a note because I'm used to a finger being right there, ready to go.
Because of this, I've focused more on pick technique, different sounds from different picks, etc. I've found for constant pick use I like bigger, heavier picks than I tended to use before. I'm going for the large triangle picks, 1.0mm thick, which seem to help my technique and tone.
Recently, however, I've developed arthritis-like symptoms in the tip joint of my right index finger, so I've switched over to 90% pick. Because of my regular pick use (including guitar playing), the adjustment hasn't been that bad, but I still occasionally miss a note because I'm used to a finger being right there, ready to go.
Because of this, I've focused more on pick technique, different sounds from different picks, etc. I've found for constant pick use I like bigger, heavier picks than I tended to use before. I'm going for the large triangle picks, 1.0mm thick, which seem to help my technique and tone.
I too converted from guitar, so I used a pick at first. Now I'm 99% fingers, occasionally using a pick. I can't slap to save my life, so I just avoid it altogether.
In my older age I say all of the above. Boy your sound can make or break a song. The more sounds you have-well you know.
