Pick or No pick "that is the question"

[Tim Skaggs]

My biggest influence (Mel Schacher, Grand Funk, avatar pic) plays with a pick and I didn’t know it for years. His tone doesn’t sound like he’s using a pick, but he does.

I’m no good with a pick, but I still use one on a few songs. I’ve made several attempts at wearing a thumb pick so I could get a pick tone on specific passages in a song and go back to fingerstyle. It works, but I’m still below average with a pick.

I’ve also been down the rubber pick and felt pick path. That didn’t make me any better, and I lost some of the attack / brightness I was after by using a pick to begin with.

My advice is to get good with a pick, fingers, thumb, pop/pluck, tapping, and anything else. You’ll use it if you have it and wish you had it if you need it but don’t have it….

 

[steve_ss]

I've tried to use a pick... I'm too fumble fingered to make it work.

 

[themickster]

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 can play faster with a pick. My band plays the slowest songs at 180bpm and I play eights throughout.

 

[DrBnz]

I do both .... for a few reasons
- I wanna have that "tool" available to me
- Sure is useful when you have a sore finger/s
- Snappy attack, adds clarity / definition to the note
- Makes it easier to go "really" fast (once you get the hang of it)
- Different picks give different tones .... the heavy wood ones are fun
- Sure is easy when you have those long boring bass lines - conserves energy
- Monday is my "pick only" practice day
-

 

[brianrost]

What is the point of using a pick?

When Fender introduced the P bass in 1951, the intended market included guitarists who needed to double on bass and disliked using an upright. Plenty of guitarists who double on bass use picks. After all, bass guitar playing technique is much closer to a guitar than an upright bass.

Exhibit A: Carol Kaye, who was a jazz guitarist for years and only picked up the bass when at a session where the bass player was a no-show.

 

[Jack Butler]

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 didn't read every post, but it's just another sound in your arsenal. It's not better or worse overall, but definitely could be better or worse for a particular song or situation.

 

[Deleted member 365158]

I just prefer to play with a pick.

 

[bassGtar]

My dear friend Lisa is John's widow, and she will be thrilled people are discussing him with such vigor in here. He is certainly not under-rated, IYKYK, but most definitely under-appreciated.

What’s the difference between underrated and under appreciated? I’ve yet to find this rating statistic that TB’s keep referring to, and now I’m concerned I might be contributing to someone’s under-appreciatedness. Help, I’m in a pick-le!

 

[Reedt2000]

Pick or no pick, that is the question

Depends on the situation and the sound you want, that is the answer

 

[lunarpollen]

Different types of music call for different sounds and techniques. In my current main band, I use a pick for some songs, fingerstyle for some songs, and even both in a couple of tunes depending on the part of the song.

 

[bassGtar]

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

It’s another thing to GAS over. I’m looking forward to your NPD posts!

 

[Steve Dallman]

I started playing guitar in 67. Two years later, I switched to bass, and being used to playing with a pick, that's what I continued with. In the 80's I tried fingers but found the pick to provide a more consistent tone that sat better with the band.

I played in church for 17 years next. My picks kept disappearing off my amp, so I started using my fingers...usually either my index finger, or hitting the strings with my thumb. Using picks became a very seldom thing, and usually because I wanted a different punch.

Now at 70, I use two fingers usually. Due to a thumb joint fusion, I don't use my thumb much. Picks are still a tonal/punch alternative. Until the fusion of the base of my thumb (destroyed by arthritis) using my thumb produced a brighter attack that sounded like a pick, but with bigger lows. I can't get that attack now, so it's fingers and very occasionally picks.

I'm also getting more comfortable using only fingers on guitar lately.

 

[rashrader]

Using a pick gives a different tonal character. I don’t use one. Never have. I have nothing against them, but I can’t drop or forget my fingers.

 

[G On Bass]

Doing more originals now, I find that some songs or parts of songs need fingers, others a pick. I use this. It allows me to switch between fingers and pick mid-song, mid-riff, whenever. And I've yet to drop one.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[pLewis]

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.

EBU?

 

[DrBnz]

Ya need yourself a Frog Butler who provides the pick selection for the day.

 

[Plain Old Barry]

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

Does it help with definition?

Try it... Picks are cheap, like $0.30 USD apiece. Try a medium and heavy out of your local music shop's fishbowl and see...

 

[pLewis]

What’s the point of not using one?

I feel like I have more control when not playing with a pick. I also play a lot of electronic music so a fingers help with a warm tone. However, there are times my tone gets lost, I'm looking for ways to add more attack.

 

[Koshchei]

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

A pick sounds different and is a really useful skill to have on bass. Ultimately, how you pluck the strings isn't an either/or, but rather a bag of tricks to suit the song. I tend to vary between classical guitar technique, three finger, and pick. I don't slap all that much, as I really hate how it sounds.

 

[micahwc]

Reasons for picks.

1: Picks give a more aggressive sound that is more well suited for some types of music than the sound you get with fingers.

2: Some fast and/or technical passages are easier with a pick than they are with fingers. Example, Iron Maiden's gallop technique is relatively difficult with fingers on faster songs, but galloping with a pick is much easier.

Bottom line: Learn both fingers and pick. Make yourself a more versatile bassist.