Pick or No pick "that is the question"

[pLewis]

I apologize if this has been brought up before, however when I search for like conversations I didn't see anything. Currently I play with my fingers, on both hands. I have a lot of bassist I look up to that use a pick to play the string.

What is the point of using a pick?
Does anyone have insight, I am thinking about moving into a pick myself

 

[E Buzz]

Well, one reason I use a pick is that there are two songs in our set list that I think require a snappier attack.

 

[bobyoung53]

I apologize if this has been brought up before, however when I search for like conversations I didn't see anything. Currently I play with my fingers, on both hands. I have a lot of bassist I look up to that use a pick to play the string.

What is the point of using a pick?
Does anyone have insight, I am thinking about moving into a pick myself

Different sound, I do both. A pick will make a bass cut through a lot better especially with flatwounds. I think it's also easier to sing playing with a pick. I like both though and am actually better with my fingers.

 

[Pilgrim]

For long repetitive bass lines, it's easy for the muscles in your hand to surrender when playing fingerstyle. A pick can give you the repetitive quick notes without your hand muscles locking up.

Example: Tom Petty's Running Down A Dream.

Of course it can be played fingerstyle as in this teaching video, but you gotta be good.

 

[pLewis]

So a few reasons would be; tighter tone, and a harder attack?

Does it help with definition?

 

[bobyoung53]

For long repetitive bass lines, it's easy for the muscles in your hand to surrender when playing fingerstyle. A pick can give you the repetitive quick notes without your hand muscles locking up.

Example: Tom Petty's Running Down A Dream.

Of course it can be played fingerstyle as in this teaching video, but you gotta be good.

Dee Dee Ramone could play all downstrokes playing fast all night, it was amazing. Running Down a Dream is also fast, I used to play it with fingers too.

 

[bobyoung53]

So a few reasons would be; tighter tone, and a harder attack?

Does it help with definition?

Definitely.

 

[juancaminos]

I've used Dunlap felt picks exclusively since around 1971. I started using my fingers during the last few years...since my introduction to EUB actually. Now I do both throughout the night.

 

[Riff Ranger]

I would strongly encourage any rock or metal bassist to learn both pick and fingerstyle. You might find yourself favoring one or the other, but each style can do a few things the other can only approximate. I favor a pick when I need notes to ring out or drone, or if I need to play chords, or if I need to play super fast chugs; if I need a little extra control, I favor fingers. The attack will sound different depending on what you use, and both have their applications. This may not apply generally, but I find I get more midrange with a pick and more highs and lows with fingers; again, both have applications. I play metal and I use a pick maybe two times out of three, but it used to be the other way around. Some find they can do everything to their satisfaction one way or the other, but I’ve never been one of them.

I will say that at the very least you should give picks an honest try.

 

[underwhelmist]

I mostly play finger style but as noted above there are some songs where a pick is more appropriate - this is one we're working on:

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I apologize if this has been brought up before, however when I search for like conversations I didn't see anything. Currently I play with my fingers, on both hands. I have a lot of bassist I look up to that use a pick to play the string.

What is the point of using a pick?
Does anyone have insight, I am thinking about moving into a pick myself

You can do both your know.

But to your question, there is a certain timbre you get with a pick that you can’t get from your fingers would be the main reason. There are certain figures that are easier with a pick would be another.

 

[chris_b]

[QUOTE="pLewis, post: 27112743, member: 394716"Does anyone have insight, I am thinking about moving into a pick myself[/QUOTE]

It's always good to be flexible and have multiple techniques.

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

I apologize if this has been brought up before, however when I search for like conversations I didn't see anything. Currently I play with my fingers, on both hands. I have a lot of bassist I look up to that use a pick to play the string.

What is the point of using a pick?
Does anyone have insight, I am thinking about moving into a pick myself

For me the point is it sounds really cool.
I don't play with one now, but used to.

 

[CletusMarley]

I do prob 10% pick, 90% finger. Sometimes I'm going for a different tone.

 

[Kipp Harrington]

For long repetitive bass lines, it's easy for the muscles in your hand to surrender when playing fingerstyle. A pick can give you the repetitive quick notes without your hand muscles locking up.

Example: Tom Petty's Running Down A Dream.

Of course it can be played fingerstyle as in this teaching video, but you gotta be good.

I have experienced this, first hand.

 

[Kipp Harrington]

The band I'm in now, I use a pick probably 60-70% of the time. I started playing bass fingerstyle because a pick was supposedly sacrilege... I eventually discovered that certain songs just sound better when using a pick. It took me a while to get used to using a pick... sometimes I prefer it now.

 

[B-Mac]

I apologize if this has been brought up before, however when I search for like conversations I didn't see anything. Currently I play with my fingers, on both hands. I have a lot of bassist I look up to that use a pick to play the string.

What is the point of using a pick?
Does anyone have insight, I am thinking about moving into a pick myself

I only play with a pick

 

[Killing Floor]

You should know how to use all 10 fingers and a pick. Then you have the diversity in skill to choose which technique fits each song.
I play guitar too and mostly knuckle drag and finger style there too. But I can use a pick and sometimes it sounds better.
Do it.

 

[jd56hawk]

I use this and nothing else.

 

[FunkHead]

This song is the bomb for going back and forth from Pick to Fingers. It's a workout either way and extremely fun to play.
Trust me!