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Picks: yes or no poll
- Thread starter Rib 13
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I am not seeing any 'real bass players don't play with a pick' here.
But I have seen some 'real bass players can play finger-style AND with a pick' sentiments. Perhaps a 'real' bass player must then also master slap, tap, shred, bow, play upright,...?
I disagree and I am sure plenty 'professional' touring bass players can only play finger style or use a pick. Maybe they could not play in a cover-band or be session-musician, but do you need to do that to be a 'real'
bass player? I am not sure why someone would even try to define something like 'real bass-player'.
But I have seen some 'real bass players can play finger-style AND with a pick' sentiments. Perhaps a 'real' bass player must then also master slap, tap, shred, bow, play upright,...?
I disagree and I am sure plenty 'professional' touring bass players can only play finger style or use a pick. Maybe they could not play in a cover-band or be session-musician, but do you need to do that to be a 'real'
bass player? I am not sure why someone would even try to define something like 'real bass-player'.
Picks? I always pick my nose while playing- it lubes the strings and prevents rust. I love letting other players use my bass at the weekly blues jams and they always remark how it plays like buttah.
Started out using picks for a short time to make up for my lousy right hand technique. Quickly moved to just fingers to get the tone I desired and managed to retain my lousy right hand technique.
"Real bass players" this . . . "Real bass players" that 
Real bass players watch other bass players thinking they might learn something
Real bass players watch other bass players thinking they might learn something
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Started with a pick but never liked the tones they produced. Even tried those old laminated thick felt picks until I started watching live bass players using fingers and that became an achievable tone.
The challenge with fingers is lifelong, meaning maintaining speed and technique to run over the octaves which is where you develop playing skills to separate yourself from the average player.
The challenge with fingers is lifelong, meaning maintaining speed and technique to run over the octaves which is where you develop playing skills to separate yourself from the average player.
I'm pretty sure Jamerson played primarily just using his first finger, like a lot of the jazz upright bassists of that day.
If I recall, on his earliest stuff he's using his thumb and on later songs using his one finger like he did on that Marvin Gaye video. In any case, back in 1965 folks playing bass with their thumb were pretty common and those who weren't were playing with picks. But in the course of three years (1965 to 1968) I went from thumb to pick, to finger style.
...and then there are various other bass instruments like the contrabass balalaika that are traditionally played with picks. The aforementioned balalaika is traditionally played with a hard leather pick.
As for me, I use fingers most of the time but will use a pick if that's what the song calls for. I want to have a versatile skill set and a toolbox full of techniques. Better to have and not need than need and not have.
As for me, I use fingers most of the time but will use a pick if that's what the song calls for. I want to have a versatile skill set and a toolbox full of techniques. Better to have and not need than need and not have.
When I first started playing went to local shop for lessons[only took a few to slow for me]
At first lesson brought Bass and Pick with me; Teacher said to me "is that a pick" can I see it?
I gave it to him and he proceeded to throw it on the floor and stomp on it loudly saying "Bass Players don't use Picks"
Not knowing better I believed him; that was back in '75 being mostly in Club/Bars with Cover Bands since [thousand+ Gig's] never felt need or desire to use pick and made it up to now.
I have over last 10 years or so tried learning to play with pick a few times but was never comfortable or good at it and again didn't have enough 'Want To' to do the work needed; may try again someday
At first lesson brought Bass and Pick with me; Teacher said to me "is that a pick" can I see it?
I gave it to him and he proceeded to throw it on the floor and stomp on it loudly saying "Bass Players don't use Picks"
Not knowing better I believed him; that was back in '75 being mostly in Club/Bars with Cover Bands since [thousand+ Gig's] never felt need or desire to use pick and made it up to now.
I have over last 10 years or so tried learning to play with pick a few times but was never comfortable or good at it and again didn't have enough 'Want To' to do the work needed; may try again someday
Reluctant occasional pick user. Far prefer basic tone and range of nuance off of finger work. I hardly slap, but good to be able to. On pick, I played some guitar 45 years ago, and now wield it in a cover band, but only when absolutely necessary - for example, RHCP's "Snow." Probably should be more open to it, but horses for courses...
Ive been experimenting with picks more often... just to get different tones and such. Usually I'm a finger plucker...
But for a pick, Ive been using a dunlop tortex.sharp tipped 1.0mm... but it never felt quite right to me... always felt too thick and clunky...
So the other day I finally picked up a dunlop variety pack, and after spending some time trying them all out, realized that i was liking the .60 to .70 range...with the .65 ultex feeling best....
But it still didnt feel right using a pick, until I realized that, when Im using one I tend to hold my neck up higher with my bass slung further my side...cause I guess I have short arms and just cant get ths right attack on the strings atbthe right angle with a pick, compared to finger plucking.
But for a pick, Ive been using a dunlop tortex.sharp tipped 1.0mm... but it never felt quite right to me... always felt too thick and clunky...
So the other day I finally picked up a dunlop variety pack, and after spending some time trying them all out, realized that i was liking the .60 to .70 range...with the .65 ultex feeling best....
But it still didnt feel right using a pick, until I realized that, when Im using one I tend to hold my neck up higher with my bass slung further my side...cause I guess I have short arms and just cant get ths right attack on the strings atbthe right angle with a pick, compared to finger plucking.
Back when I first picked up a bass in 2001-2002ish there was a lot of looking down on pick players, particularly in web forums and such.
It got so ingrained in my deep lizard brain that even though I prefer playing with a pick I still sometimes feel...inferior? about it.
So if it helps Ye Olde Video, as a mainly pick player, I'd say my experience is that the anti-pick sentiment still exists, but it's not as bad as it was. There's the memes of course, but generally speaking it gets shot down in discussions more often than not.
It got so ingrained in my deep lizard brain that even though I prefer playing with a pick I still sometimes feel...inferior? about it.
So if it helps Ye Olde Video, as a mainly pick player, I'd say my experience is that the anti-pick sentiment still exists, but it's not as bad as it was. There's the memes of course, but generally speaking it gets shot down in discussions more often than not.
