Picks: yes or no poll

[AQUANOVA]

Touchy subject.
People use to rage quit over this.

 

[Rib 13]

This form of poll oversimplifies the whole question. BTW what is question? Should picks be used or not? Are they usefull or not? Picks on any, every instrument, bass guitar, double bass?

This is posted in the Electric Bass forum. If I wanted a reply for double bass, I would've chosen the appropriate forum to ask this question in

The question is for personal research for an upcoming YT video and I acknowledge it is a bit ambiguous.......despite the ambiguity, the replies so far have been immensely helpful

 

[Gorn]

If I wanted a reply for double bass, I would've chosen the appropriate forum to ask this question in

The question is for personal research for an upcoming YT video and I acknowledge it is a bit ambiguous.......despite the ambiguity, the replies so far have been immensely helpful

You've stated that pick playing has been an albatross (a burden) since 2014 and you want to know why? Is that the question you're asking?

 

[dustinymichaels]

Almost always no for me but there is a time and place. Some of the best bass lines are with the pick and only sound right with a pick. I'm so out of touch with using a pick that my skill with the pick and lack of endurance in my trigger hand make it less appealing. I constantly have reminders that I should work on my technique with a pick again. Maybe this will do it.

 

[MotorCityMinion]

I'm not sure what the question is.

This form of poll oversimplifies the whole question.

Yooze 2 need to get a room.

There's a tendency in communities to create barriers that separate the ins from the outs. Happens in any group over time, every community has its own shibboleths that mark "real" members from the outsiders (and those who want to join).

 

[Rib 13]

You've stated that pick playing has been an albatross (a burden) since 2014 and you want to know why? Is that the question you're asking?

Not with me....there's a general "real bass players don't use picks" false philosophy around...i only noticed it in the oast ten years. There's even memes about it - you may have seen those......Before I start this video, I wanted to ask the bass playing public their feelings on the subject so I have more accurate data than just my opinion

 

[mr80htz]

Fingers are fun. Picks are fun. Very different experiences and sounds. Really depends.on the song but fingers always makes me feel more connected to the instrument. It's just sonic differences

 

[Rib 13]

I think slapping has gained a more negative connotation than playing with a pick.

Yup....thats another video for another time

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I need to up my pick playing game. I can play Marcus Miller "style", but I can't play Bobby Vega "style". You know I haven't seen any pick playing instructional videos out there. Tons of slap, but never a pick technique video. Maybe we need a few to help advance the technique.

 

[fjbolebruch]

Some of my favorite bass players primarily use picks, and I still refuse to. I’ve tried, but it’s just not my thing. I do use the fingernail on my index finger to get that tone on a few songs, and that works well enough for me

 

[Gervais Cote]

Picks are for guitar players.

Signed : Old fart/p bass dinosaur

 

[Hawk256]

I have never used a pick but not for any reason other than I'm used to fingers and I fumble around and don't know where the pick is for fast movements. I always know where my finger is so it's feel more natual for me that way. With that being said, there a lot of proficent pick players that I have enjoyed over the years. Playing with a pick is not a bad thing, it's just not good for me.

 

[LowWay]

I started playing bass in 1985. I started using picks in 2020. I still play 90%+ with my fingers, but I’ve learned to appreciate plastic, rubber, leather and felt picks when appropriate.

 

[RodneyM]

I think picks got a bad rap from the punks using all down strokes, and bass players wanting to separate themselves from guitar players doubling on bass.
Use what's best.
But a proper 'down/up' with subdivision of beats is easily as complex a technique as fingers, if not more.

 

[Swerve]

I use a pick in one of my bands and fingers in the other. All about making different sounds and tones for what is appropriate. I saw Sigur Ros over 20 years ago and I recall the bassist using a drum stick to hit the strings on a song, so whatever works.

I was in a metal band once and the dodo drummer went on a rant at a recording session about how much he hates when bassists use picks and that it's cheating. I joked that real drummers only use their hands and that sticks are cheating.

 

[someguyfromNC]

I only use my fingers and I even said yes to a pick. If you like it and it works then it’s all good.

 

[Rib 13]

I think picks got a bad rap from the punks using all down strokes, and bass players wanting to separate themselves from guitar players doubling on bass.
Use what's best.
But a proper 'down/up' with subdivision of beats is easily as complex a technique as fingers, if not more.

This is an interesting observation and possibly the substance of why im asking. Thanks

 

[Lee Moses]

Not with me....there's a general "real bass players don't use picks" false philosophy around...i only noticed it in the oast ten years. There's even memes about it - you may have seen those......Before I start this video, I wanted to ask the bass playing public their feelings on the subject so I have more accurate data than just my opinion

Interesting. When I first started playing electric bass, I used a pick, because that's what my favorite bassists at the time used. But as soon as I started taking lessons, I was taught to use fingers, and there was a very common sentiment at the time that bass should be played with fingers only. This was in 1986. If anything, I think playing with a pick is much more acceptable now than it was then.

 

[Rib 13]

There's a tendency in communities to create barriers that separate the ins from the outs. Happens in any group over time, every community has its own shibboleths that mark "real" members from the outsiders (and those who want to join).

Fingers vs picks became an easy way for bassists to do this. We've created a story where anyone who primarily plays with a pick is a guitar player faking it on the four strings. We can tell ourselves that knowing how to play with fingers is the mark of a REAL electric bass player.

Of course this is silly, the pick is a tool just like any other. I prefer to use my fingers as that's how I learned and where I feel most nimble, but I can play with a pick if I want a sound with a sharper attack. Sometimes that's what the music calls for. Knowing a wider variety of techniques makes you a more well rounded musician, and more easily employable if you're in this to earn money.

Great observation....thank you

 

[gln1955]

The dipwads who make disparaging comments about using a pick are the same ones who'll make comments about what bass you're using before they even hear you play. Listening with their eyes and buying into some BS they heard somewhere.