I play with a pick maybe about 10% of the time, but I had custom picks made by Clayton. They look cool on the mic stand!
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Pick or Fingered?
- Thread starter GladToBeBack
- Start date
When necessary fingers
when necessary pick
when necessary thumb
and hopefully soon when necessary a bow
Dont limit yourself on a certain style
even players as from a broad scope of Flea to Marcus Miller will use a variety
of techniques for a song
when necessary pick
when necessary thumb
and hopefully soon when necessary a bow
Dont limit yourself on a certain style
even players as from a broad scope of Flea to Marcus Miller will use a variety
of techniques for a song
Fingerstyle almost exclusively, but that's only because my pick technique is horrible. I sometimes use a pick for punk covers and such, and I keep practicing.
I also think both techniques should be part of a bassists skill set.
I also think both techniques should be part of a bassists skill set.
I think it is certainly true that anyone playing bass for more than a few years in an active gigging fashion should be competent at both. Add slapping, popping and tapping to that. Heck add false harmonics as well.
I read a book about samurai a long time ago. The theme revolved around Buddhist samurai warriors. What I took away from the book was the idea that you should master your craft. You should not only be competent with your weapon (bass) but with your opponents weapons as well (guitar, drums). You should be familiar with every aspect of the construction of your weapon, such that you could build one yourself. You should be rigorous in the maintenance of your weapon (bass). And know every technique of it's employ, even if you are matchless in your own technique.
Sure not all of those maxims have direct analogs in musicianship, but I think knowing every technique available is important.
I HATE slap and pop 95% of the time. But I've taught myself those techniques to make myself a more well rounded musician.
I read a book about samurai a long time ago. The theme revolved around Buddhist samurai warriors. What I took away from the book was the idea that you should master your craft. You should not only be competent with your weapon (bass) but with your opponents weapons as well (guitar, drums). You should be familiar with every aspect of the construction of your weapon, such that you could build one yourself. You should be rigorous in the maintenance of your weapon (bass). And know every technique of it's employ, even if you are matchless in your own technique.
Sure not all of those maxims have direct analogs in musicianship, but I think knowing every technique available is important.
I HATE slap and pop 95% of the time. But I've taught myself those techniques to make myself a more well rounded musician.
When I started playing, I used the pick. I always liked the sound of the fingered bass though, so I started studying this way and now I only play like this.
I started out a Jazzer so I've always played with my fingers. Now I pluck, tap, and slap, so I really have all the tonal variation I need, at least for Jazz Fusion, anyway. 
I actually started playing fingerstyle because all the older R&B bassists I knew played like that. When I got in my first band (a punk band) I wasnt nearly loud enough. I found out that playing with a pick was tiny bit louder than fingerstyle. I suppose its more attacky and trebley. That was necessary as my amp was fender Musicmaster (lasted 2 practices) then a Kustom PA head (lasted 4 practices) and finally a TKO65.
Thanks for all the input. I'm learning to play fingered but I'm still mostly pick. I can appreciate the smooth fat tone when fingered, but the picked sound is actually what I'm aiming for in the music I've been writing. We're a 3 piece and I think it gives the bass more to stand up next to the guitar.
I know Pete Wentz is not a great player, or even that well respected by other musicians, but the sound I'm after can be heard in the first few bars of FOB's Dance Dance before everything else kicks in.
I know Pete Wentz is not a great player, or even that well respected by other musicians, but the sound I'm after can be heard in the first few bars of FOB's Dance Dance before everything else kicks in.
Both, but fingers are more natural.
I go for fingers first but if it's too fast or the tone is off, then out comes the pick.
I go for fingers first but if it's too fast or the tone is off, then out comes the pick.
Fingers here, just could never get used to the whole pick thing..
Although sometimes, I have found myself actually "picking" with my index finger fingernail on the downstroke. Thats after I have been playing for several hours though. Using this method is really not the way to go, as your kind of screwed on the upstrokes
I really should spend some time with a pick and get to the point where its more comfortable for me to use.
Theres probably a few in the hole of my old acoustic guitar, I remember the damn things used to go flying!
Thats probably why I took up the electric bass!
Although sometimes, I have found myself actually "picking" with my index finger fingernail on the downstroke. Thats after I have been playing for several hours though. Using this method is really not the way to go, as your kind of screwed on the upstrokes
I really should spend some time with a pick and get to the point where its more comfortable for me to use.
Theres probably a few in the hole of my old acoustic guitar, I remember the damn things used to go flying!
Thats probably why I took up the electric bass!
Never heard of Pete wets or the fob band ( dumb name ) but whatever it takes to sound the note in the best sounding way for the piece of music. Pick, thumb, finger, knee..... Do what the song calls for
Something like ~20% pick ~80% fingers.
I prefer using my fingers because of the control I have over my tone. When the song calls for a pick through all the song, I'll use it (punk, Tool basslines...). But with fingers I can play with my thumb if I want a round boomy note, "typewriter" style for a clanky sound in metal, as usual for funk basslines, slap and pop if I want to accent, or with my fingernails if I want something bright and clear. I don't need to change, throw or do anything with the pick, because I feel my fingers are more versatile referring to tone. For me, fingers have almost every tone, a pick sounds almost always the same, but if the song calls for it, I'll play with a pick.
I prefer using my fingers because of the control I have over my tone. When the song calls for a pick through all the song, I'll use it (punk, Tool basslines...). But with fingers I can play with my thumb if I want a round boomy note, "typewriter" style for a clanky sound in metal, as usual for funk basslines, slap and pop if I want to accent, or with my fingernails if I want something bright and clear. I don't need to change, throw or do anything with the pick, because I feel my fingers are more versatile referring to tone. For me, fingers have almost every tone, a pick sounds almost always the same, but if the song calls for it, I'll play with a pick.
I started a picker then I learn proper technique. I now play both, but only pick when needed. It does bring back the reckless punk days everytime I grab 1.14 purple dunlop and hit that E string. But I'm much better with my fingers. Its fun to play rock star though.
Mostly fingers+thumb, but I find a pick is good for, say, punk-style straight 8ths. You can pile on some real pressure with moderated staccato downstrokes.
I once saw a Mothers concert with Tom Fowler going great guns on his Alembic. That convinced me never to underestimate the power of pick playing.
I once saw a Mothers concert with Tom Fowler going great guns on his Alembic. That convinced me never to underestimate the power of pick playing.
