Picks: yes or no poll

[Smallmouth_Bass]

The right tool for the job.

I play fingerstyle and only very occasionally with a pick. I am not that good at it, but it is a good sound and his its place.

 

[LowendG]

..... but they seem to have become a bit of an albatross over the past decade....

Man, I don't see that at all. Quite the opposite, actually.

 

[allen_m]

The reasoning is that pick useage was a very accepted practice for decades, especially in the 80s and 90s, but they seem to have become a bit of an albatross over the past decade and Im trying to find out why.

Seems to me the early results don’t support your hypothesis.

 

[charliethomas]

Do I ever use a pick? No.

Do I have a problem with anyone else using a pick? No.

 

[JenderBazzFass]

I feel like nearly all gear is like this: Very specific situations may have very specific requirements, but for most of us these are all just personal preferences.

 

[bucephylus]

This thread is either sad or hilarious. Perhaps, both.

Taking the position that picks should not be used on bass guitars is pretty similar to saying that upright bass players should not use the bow.

Yeah; that’s just funny.

 

[Jazzdogg]

I started on double bass back in the sixties, and when I startied playing electric bass, I naturally used my fingers; because I'd never played a guitar, I didn't know about picks. Because of that, I had a hard time achieving the Carol Kaye sound I heard on the radio.

All these years later, I never learned to play with a pick, and because I've sustained a number of hand injuries over the ensuing decades, I've experienced hand pain whenever I've tried. I like the sound, but lack the facility to achieve it.

 

[5StringBlues]

Say Cosi Cosa
Does it mean 'Yes?" "No"
Does it mean "No"
Well yes and no!
Cosi Cosa!

 

[And I]

no for me because i don't play music where the sound of a pick on roundwounds would work. yes for anyone who wants to use one. some matters of personal freedom apparently are political. this isn't one of them. picks for everyone who wants them. fingers for everyone who wants them. everyone is correct about how they want to play.

 

[Odinbass]

No quicker way to peg a bush league amateur than hearing them take a hard stance in pick v fingers

 

[FRoss6788]

Carol Kaye used a pick. Jamerson used one finger. Larry Graham used his thumb. You can use your nose if you can keep it in the pocket. Go ahead, innovate.

Anyone who tells you "you're not a real" fill-in-the-blank because of an artistic choice you've made is nursing some serious insecurities. Making music isn't a competition and despite what all the conservatories in the world will tell you, there are no rules. If someone tells you you're wrong, you're probably on to something.

The most liberating day of your life will be the day you stop caring what other people think.

This needed to be posted again...

Truth.

 

[maxschrek]

Pick usage with bass is great. I don't do it much but I dig it and I dig a lot of players who do.

 

[okabass]

If talented guitarist plays guitar with a pick, everybody admire.
If talented bassguitarist plays bassguitar with a pick… that’s cheating, not real bassplaying...

 

[KidAmnesia]

I love a good picked bass line, but hate how I sound with a pick. I tried several times, but ended up accepting my thing is just fingers.

 

[basslayer]

I didn't use pick on bass until I started playing guitar and had to jump on bass at various moments; it was easier to play with a pick than put it down and lose it. Pick produces a sound that's difficult to replicate at high speeds.

 

[DrBnz]

Not only do I use picks I use different ones for different songs. I love the sound of a big ole heavy wooden pick on a P-bass with flats.

 

[digmeout]

Picks are a technique and tone option for me, depending on the song of course, and yes, I consider Carol Kay, Bobby Vega, Paul McCartney, et cetera to be real bassists.

 

[LowendG]

I know people always mention the greats like Carol Kaye, Sir Paul, Joe Osborn, Squire, etc. but it's not some "retro" thing.
Ask current top session cats like JMJ, Tim Lefebvre, Chris Chaney, et al how often they play with a pick. How about alt/"indie" rock bands? Heck, it's quite possible there's more current "popular" music out there right now with pickstyle bass than there is with fingerstyle.

 

[bassburner]

I have no problem with people using picks and I do when I play the bass vi. Now that being said, I rarely hear someone playing with a pick where I don't think it would sound better with fingers but too each it's own. There's people who purposely what poorer sounding recordings so it sounds more punk/diy.

 

[CircleOf5ths]

If the song calls for a pick (like Yes song by Chris Squire who always played with a pick) then use it. If it doesn't then fingerstyle it is.