Pick or Fingers for Live Playing.

[ezstep]

95% fingers. 5% pick, orange .60mm Star (with star-shaped hole punched out of the center), oversized. I have two left. Local mom-and-pop music store just got a new shipment, and the new picks are smaller - guitar sized. I am down to only two left (which, seriously, should last two years or more - lol).

 

[Wasnex]

There is always the pick vs fingers battle in the world of bassists, and I tend to use them interchangeably depending on the song at hand. I wanted to know which you prefer and if you prefer picks, what pics do you use. I use 3 pick types
1: Fender Large Thumb Pick (I won't drop them)
2: Dunlop Jazz III Pick
3: Dunlop Tortex Standard 1.114 Milimiter.
I like really heavy picks because I hit the strings with a lot of force, and am in general play heavy music that require forceful picking, so heavy picks dont bend (like fender mediums or lights touch my thumb when I use them) and require less force to hold.

I am primarily a finger-style player, but I use pick or slap if the tune really calls for it. The action on my basses is pretty low so I like a relatively light pick with a bit of give. Some guitar players shed picks like dandruff, so I pick them up for future use. I have bought a few Dunlops Standard Nylon .73 over the years.

 

[tb4sbp]

I have gotten slack from other bass players about using a pick. I use picks, fingers and slap. But if for rock I mainly use a pick as the attack is there most of the time. I do not have a specific brand but I do like the pick to be medium to heavy.

And if you ever do come across a bass player that is against picks point them to Bobby Vega he does amazing stuff with a pick!

Thanks for the post OP

 

[ChrisBowsman]

I really like those fat felt picks, and 2mm Dunlop Gator Grips. Most of the time I use fingers, but if I'm playing something with a ton of distortion, like a Tool song, or "The Dope Show" by Marilyn Manson, I dig a pick.

 

[Jebberz]

Pick, fingers, slap, depends on the song, the bass I use, and how I feel it. I try different techniques for each song before deciding which I like more. Ans I change sometimes just to challenge myself or to see if it could be better with a different technique.

 

[Bassdirty]

Pick or fingers depending on song. Prefer fingers, but Some songs just need a pick for the feel/sound of the song.

Dunlop Tortex
EB Everlast
Cool
EBE

Relatively thin feels best, probably coming from guitar years ago.
.060-.063 Depending on what size the particular maker has closest to .060"

T$

 

[nilorius]

If you are not an alien, pick fingers.

 

[PeaveyPlayer]

Ultex for me

it's brighter compared to standard tortex

 

[Kmonk]

It depends on the song. For most, I use fingers but use a pick on a couple. I prefer Dunlop Tortex, usually .60 or .73.

 

[BurtMacklinFBI]

Pick nearly all the time, Dunlop Big Stubby 3mm. Unlike a lot of TBers though I don't do studio work or play in a cover band, so have the luxury to pretty much do as I please. If I were doing this professionally I'd be using my fingers more often.

 

[SunByrne]

I don't really play out (yet), but even at home I mix it up depending on the song. Some songs just really seem to demand a pick, some seem wrong with a pick, and some could go either way. (On the either way ones I usually don't use a pick.)

When I do use a pick, Dunlop 1.14mm Gators.

 

[Ric5]

Pick or Fingers for Live Playing.


I do both

 

[Kro]

Yeah u have a point, but I have seen like in stores bassist get very snobby about "fingers is the only way"

In-stores bassists... yes I think that's the right label.

Any type of bass snobbery usually says more about the musical maturity (or lack thereof) of the snob than anything else.

 

[rickwrench]

No method is "better". Whatever the music needs - pick, finger(s), thumb, beer bottle, mic stand, teeth, etc.

Thumb picks let you switch mid-song without holding the pick in your mouth or jamming it under the pickguard someplace. If I need picks for a gig, I usually use heavy Herco thumb picks. It stays on my thumb when playing fingers and hardly ever drop them. I used to use Dunlop .88s at gigs, but about half the old shots of me at gigs show one held in my teeth. The other half show me looking for the dropped pick.

At home, I have a bowl of random picks. Old, new, thick, thin, tort, plastic, copper, felt. I use anything sorta close to what I need.

Rick

 

[Bass Man Dan]

We play a wide enough variety of songs that I have to do both. When I use a pick it is a thick felt pick. Anything else I use sounds like a DJ scratching a record due to my technique or lack thereof.

 

[Burek]

My fingers are usually too dry or too sweaty so pick either drops out or slips out... therefore, fingers. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[sirdude23]

I switched over to pick about 10yrs ago due to starting with a new group. The pick just stood out better in the mix. Now, when trying go back to my fingers for a couple particular songs where they are a better fit, I have issues. I haven't any callouses and my fingers somewhat get hung up on a string. I suppose I need to try a block between the pickups. Didn't use to be a problem - use it or lose it!

 

[alaskaleftybass]

Always been fingers for me. Some really great bass players from Across The Pond have used picks exclusively. Bass player for Judas Priest comes to mind. Oh, and also, in 1985 we played a backup show for a concert by Nazereth in Juneau Alaska. That bass player had an incredible tone with his pick. Almost percussive yet melodic.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Finger style is my preference. Some songs sound better with a pic. Injuries are great for practice with playing EVERYTHING with a pic. And that can be very challenging when you play lots of different material .

I use Dunlop .88s.

Me too, but most of what I play is better played with the fingers.

 

[mark roberts]

I use Dunlop Primetone 96's and 88's. Mainly the 96's. I also occasionally the Dunlop Nylon (100; 88). I also use A-laska finger picks on my ring finger and little finger. Slight variations in "tone" for each. Mostly a pick player, but sometimes I will use fingers.