Pick or Fingers

[Steve!]

If it makes a good sound you do what you have to do.

 

[MaxOnBass]

95% fingers, but when the song asks for it, I am not ashamed to play with a pick.

 

[Baskesman]

I use a pick all the time unless I forgot to bring it, then it'll be a coin. Fingers when I'm broke. (got some spare change?)

 

[3rdBass]

Funk is in the fingers. I can use a pick for speed and use the nail of my index finger the same way, but I prefer the feeling of being directly connected to the strings.

 

[FronTowardEnemy]

I have excelled at finger style because I refused to play with a pick for the first 19 years of playing bass. Then I realized some of my favorite bass players only use a pick and to emulate their feel and tone I needed to cross over to the pick (i.e. Jesus Lizard\Tool). I started using a pick about 3 years ago for cover songs that my band plays to nail their recorded sound and feel. I still practice alone and at home almost exclusively with my fingers. Force of habit.

Every bassist should learn to use both profieciently, you will be a more valued and versitle player. Plus sometimes the pick sounds more toneful for rock and metal. IMO.

 

[AlembicPlayer]

I play with my hands

 

[LowendinFL]

I learned with only fingers. Then I joined a band this year that asked me to use a pick because it has a different sound that they were looking for. Also makes the band sound tighter with all the speed complexity of the songs. I tried to fight it but lost the battle. Now I use a pick with them because it produces the right sound. Except for one song because 1/2 of it is slap style and I still haven't figured out how to hold a pick and slap at the same time.

 

[Sakuraba]

I say about 60% fingers and 40% using my nail as a pick. I never used a pick.

 

[Nedmundo]

I used to play 90-95% fingers, but would use a pick when I thought it was appropriate, or the mood struck. Sometimes, nothing but palm muting with a pick will do. I love that sound.

But now, due to a finger injury, I need to use a pick almost all the time, and have played my last three gigs pickstyle. It's frustrating, because I prefer fingers for tone most of the time, and always prefer the more direct tactile connection with the instrument. But I am improving my pick technique, and developing approaches to make it more appealing. Moving to thick, large triangular picks was a big improvement.

 

[williamk]

I think of the electric bass as a modern double bass, not a low guitar. So in my opinion, both fingers and pick is ok BUT a bassist that CAN'T play with his fingers really sucks. I hate those bassist that play their bass like a wanabee guitarist. Apart from Chris Squire, I can't think of any REALLY GOOD bassist that uses a pick and who wasn't a guitarist before being a bassist (like Paul McC, M. Rutherford, Lemmy, etc...). You should be able to use both depending on the song, but you're not a real bassit if you're unable to play with your fingers. That makes you a bad guitarist.

 

[kcole4001]

If the song sounds better with a pick, then do it.
I learned how to play using a pick only, then went almost totally fingerstyle.
Now I prefer just fingers, but will use what I need when I need it.

I have also played using a broken drumstick at times.

 

[Aharon]

too often bass players play with their fingers in some attempt to distance themselves from guitar or some other selfish reason. do what sounds best in the given context. the music comes first and you come second.

 

[MEKer]

hey williamk---

you just made one of the most ignorant and immature statements I've ever read in TB.:scowl:
I will not waste my time rebutting you with facts--look them up yourself and then grow up.
It never fails when this tired question comes up that someone like you makes a statement like you did.
Yeah, I understand----your opinion---but does not change what I am saying.

 

[caeman]

I use my prehensile tail.

 

[Baskesman]

hey williamk---

you just made one of the most ignorant and immature statements I've ever read in TB.:scowl:
I will not waste my time rebutting you with facts--look them up yourself and then grow up.
It never fails when this tired question comes up that someone like you makes a statement like you did.
Yeah, I understand----your opinion---but does not change what I am saying.

+1
I am not a good bass player coz I can't play with my fingers well enough, who cares, I'm having fun playing bass and there's people that like my mediocre style too!

 

[Wyrm74]

I find that using a "double thump" style technique over the bridge p-up very closely resembles a pick sound. You need just a bit of thumbnail growth, but not much. I just can't abide holding a pick so that is what I do if a song needs "that" sound. It works quite well. If you don't like picks either then give it a go. You might be surprised!

 

[Pilgrim]

I learned to play bass in orchestra and always played finger-style until recently. But I'm in a surf band and many of the numbers require a pick. This is both for the appropriate sound and because the speed and repetitive nature of the music work best with a pick.

There is no virtue in USING a pick or NOT USING a pick. You need to learn and use the appropriate tool for the music you are playing. I must say that it's much easier on my hand to use a pick for some of the fast, repetitive patterns in surf music...and the sharp attack is perfect for the music.

Statements like "...I can't think of any REALLY GOOD bassist that uses a pick and who wasn't a guitarist before being a bassist..." are ignorant and silly. If that troll doesn't know of any, he doesn't know much about professional bass players.

 

[addylewis]

Statements like "...I can't think of any REALLY GOOD bassist that uses a pick and who wasn't a guitarist before being a bassist..." are ignorant and silly. If that troll doesn't know of any, he doesn't know much about professional bass players.

...or maybe he comes from an area where bassists have no idea of what slap is - I DO think sometimes its just lazyness, how they started in their school band (taught the basics by a guitarist mate)...but in my eyes they DO come across as a failed guitarist if they use a plec for EVERY song and don't show any ability of displaying other playing styles!

(that may come across as snobby but the first thing I was told by my first teacher whilst I still played 6-string guitar was "REAL bassists don't use a plectrum" - I've since discovered some do, but its still better practice not to if you can help it - HELL, IF IT STOPS PEOPLE CALLING IT "BASS GUITAR"...besides, if you're GOOD at bass do you WANT people to look at you and think "Hah! That guy's now on bass coz he sucks at guitar...guitars are way cooler!"? I know I'd rather surprise them by playing some guitar when they're least expecting it)

 

[BensonX]

...besides, if you're GOOD at bass do you WANT people to look at you and think "Hah! That guy's now on bass coz he sucks at guitar...guitars are way cooler!"? I know I'd rather surprise them by playing some guitar when they're least expecting it)

What people think of me is up to them, and if they come up with conclusions like that then I imagine that they wouldn't listen to reason anyway.

I'll keep using a pick since that's what I enjoy, and I like the sound. But I also like the sound of fingers.
Like others say, I think that every technique is valuable. The main focus is playing the instrument with whatever means necessary. Play it with your genital organ if you have to.

 

[StreetSurfer]

I voted fingers because:

1. I suck with a pick
2. I can't stand not feeling the strings
3. Hate the sound of pickstyle