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Pick or No pick "that is the question"
- Thread starter pLewis
- Start date
I vastly prefer finger style, and for most things it doesn't make a difference. Just straight 8ths, who cares. Some stuff, feel wise, just flows better with one or the other. "Semicharmed kind of life," for example, has a kind of chugging feel that lends itself to pick playing. You should be able to do either in a pinch, imho.
It's not one way or the other but whichever is more appropriate. I use a pick when I want the attack.
Well, consider for a moment:
Some of us migrated over to electric bass from the upright bass, and for us it is far more natural to use the fingers. I admire good pick playing but I was so ingrained with plucking the string with fingers by the time I picked up an electric that I never really caught on to pick playing.
I suppose that's more of a reason and less of a point. Perhaps the point is - for an upright player moving to electric, it is as natural to stay with using fingers as it is for a guitarist moving to bass to stay with using a pick.
It is wonderful though that we have both methods and they both sound great in different ways.
I use a pick when a song I'm covering was recorded with a pick and fingers when recorded with finger style. Original stuff I defaulted to fingers, but I would try a pick if the song was fast 16ths that needed a pick.
A pick creates an attack that sounds good in many situations. There's no reason not to know how to use one.
It is an unused set of hand muscles. I don't play with a pick much, but there's plenty of music in my party rock band where I could. Now and then I try to pull out a pick on a gig just to see how it goes and I can rarely get through two tunes of pounding 8th notes before the fatigue gets painful.
If you want to use a pick, it's a good idea to develop some endurance.
It is an unused set of hand muscles. I don't play with a pick much, but there's plenty of music in my party rock band where I could. Now and then I try to pull out a pick on a gig just to see how it goes and I can rarely get through two tunes of pounding 8th notes before the fatigue gets painful.
If you want to use a pick, it's a good idea to develop some endurance.
Gear Acquisition Syndrome (disease)
New Pick Day ... with pics!
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Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
I was playing in a SRV tribute band a while ago ... that was mostly fingers, I will be auditioning for a Cheap Trick tribute band and that will be a lot of pick playing and octave string basses.
learn many different playing styles and become versatile.
My biggest fail in bass playing is I got a pair of funk fingers ... I can't make any good use of them at all.
learn many different playing styles and become versatile.
My biggest fail in bass playing is I got a pair of funk fingers ... I can't make any good use of them at all.
When I started in late 70's, lots of guys who'd preceded me played pick-only, it seemed to be far more common back then. Between the session aces like Kaye or Osborne, or rockers like Glover or JP Jones, you saw lots of it.
Also, at first I could not get my hands to sync up: I could fret the strings faster than my right hand could keep up with when I was real green at this, so that up/down pick was a cheap way to buy speed and keep up with my neck hand.
Over time, I'd use fingers for slow, smoother-toned things, and reach for the pick to go faster and have a harder edge to the tone, though you can play smooth without a bunch of top end clickety-clack with a pick as well. As I grew into it, eventually I could play fingers all night on everything if I wanted to.
Guys use every shape and thickness of picks, it's all very personal and subjective, but I've always used these over all these years:
Fender 355 Heavy big triangles, or their easier to find D'Andrea equivalent in faux-tortoise or their Formula Delrex 1 mm in baby blue.
Also, at first I could not get my hands to sync up: I could fret the strings faster than my right hand could keep up with when I was real green at this, so that up/down pick was a cheap way to buy speed and keep up with my neck hand.
Over time, I'd use fingers for slow, smoother-toned things, and reach for the pick to go faster and have a harder edge to the tone, though you can play smooth without a bunch of top end clickety-clack with a pick as well. As I grew into it, eventually I could play fingers all night on everything if I wanted to.
Guys use every shape and thickness of picks, it's all very personal and subjective, but I've always used these over all these years:
Fender 355 Heavy big triangles, or their easier to find D'Andrea equivalent in faux-tortoise or their Formula Delrex 1 mm in baby blue.
Dunlap 8012 felt pick. Don't uses the 8011.
https://www.amazon.com/Dunlop-8012-...i=B000EELBQE&ref_=pd_bap_d_grid_rp_0_1_t&th=1
https://www.amazon.com/Dunlop-8012-...i=B000EELBQE&ref_=pd_bap_d_grid_rp_0_1_t&th=1
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I use both but when I use a pick my timing, speed and rhythm is a little better. So if I need to play something fast and repetitive I’ll use a pick as long as the tone and attack support the particular song .
There will be times when your hands/fingers become injured or just plain tired or sore for whatever reason. So, the ability to use a pick can save the day.
There will be times when your hands/fingers become injured or just plain tired or sore for whatever reason. So, the ability to use a pick can save the day.
I struggled to play with a pick for many years. One of the reasons I learned guitar was to force myself to get used to using a pick. I'm not a great pick player, still default to finger style, but I can use a pick if I need to to get a specific tone.
I have used both for 40 plus years. I feel slightly more comfortable using my fingers though.
I have played mostly in cover bands and if it sounds like the bass player on the original recording is using a pick I will as well.
I have never looked at as "pick" vs "finger" players. It has always been another tool in the toolbox for me.
I have played mostly in cover bands and if it sounds like the bass player on the original recording is using a pick I will as well.
I have never looked at as "pick" vs "finger" players. It has always been another tool in the toolbox for me.
No pick! No pick!
Just kidding. Play however you want. Learn and be proficient at both. Choose to play with fingers if that's what sounds right. Choose to play with a pick if that's what sounds right. Switch back and forth every 4 bars if that's what serves the song best.
The point is that it sounds very different, and in some instances you may be able to play faster and more consistently with a pick than with fingers. It's just another tool for getting the job done.
Just kidding. Play however you want. Learn and be proficient at both. Choose to play with fingers if that's what sounds right. Choose to play with a pick if that's what sounds right. Switch back and forth every 4 bars if that's what serves the song best.
The point is that it sounds very different, and in some instances you may be able to play faster and more consistently with a pick than with fingers. It's just another tool for getting the job done.
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There are amazing pick players and amazing finger players. The main reasons to choose one over the other are the sound each produces and your comfort level playing each style.
Personally, I think it's good to learn both. Being versatile is never a bad thing, especially in a recording situation. You often don't know what's going to sound best until you hear the playback.
As a personal anecdote, once I played a show out of state. I knew my friend would have a bass I could use. However, it turned out that the bass had insanely high action and very heavy strings. It sounded great but was the most difficult bass to play I've ever encountered. I ended up having to play with a pick to stop my fingers from cramping up and to get the speed I needed. If I hadn't been able to play with a pick, I would have been screwed.
Personally, I think it's good to learn both. Being versatile is never a bad thing, especially in a recording situation. You often don't know what's going to sound best until you hear the playback.
As a personal anecdote, once I played a show out of state. I knew my friend would have a bass I could use. However, it turned out that the bass had insanely high action and very heavy strings. It sounded great but was the most difficult bass to play I've ever encountered. I ended up having to play with a pick to stop my fingers from cramping up and to get the speed I needed. If I hadn't been able to play with a pick, I would have been screwed.
