Pickstyle stereotype

[cowsgomoo]

I'm sure I'll get flamed but it takes more work to develop a good pizzicato technique.

is that from your experience?

 

[Memitim]

I'm still new so I'm still getting a handle on fingers, but I'll sure as hell be working on picking at some point just because I like that sound as well. Anything I can do to get cool sounds out of my bass. Hell, I'll pull off the strings and bang my thick skull against the pickups if it's melodic enough.

 

[ClaytonH]

Here's why bassists say things like that to other bassists:

Bassists are by and large fascist a-holes who think everyone should do as they do 100% of the time. It's as if they don't get enough validation by merely playing the bass, so they constantly have to look to others for validation. They goof on your equipment, they goof on your stylistic choices, they even goof on your stage presentation. I used to think it was isolated a-holes, but through coming on here and other internet sites, I've discovered that there are a buttload of a-holes playing bass. People always think the bass player is the cool guy in any band...wrong. They're just as narcissistic as anyone else in the band. They just don't talk as much.

Leave, now.

 

[cowsgomoo]

Leave, now.

you've been here 5 weeks and you're ordering people to leave?

this should be fun

 

[PICK]

Newsted, IMO, is a very, very good pick player. His tone on The Black Album is in the list of my top bass tones. Despite my TB handle i use fingers 99% of the time now, but i'm not gonna go hating on someone or judging them differently because they use a different technique.
Variety is a spice of life.

 

[JimmyM]

Leave, now.

Truth hurts, Junior.

BTW, I got kicked off for a week for saying that to someone else.

 

[JimmyM]

you've been here 5 weeks and you're ordering people to leave?

this should be fun

I'm enjoying it.

 

[Matt Dean]

How come more bass players don't play with their teeth?

 

[Tenma4]

Send them to Bobby Vega school if they have an issue with picks.

Bobby Vega FTW!

 

[Memitim]

How come more bass players don't play with their teeth?

And risk getting that thick-***** E string caught between my teeth? Screw that. With a guitar or violin, sure, although it'd probably flay my gums to ribbons.

 

[mrbass02]

I was watching a bass battle between Jason Newsted and Robert Trujillo. Alot of the comments stated "Roberts better because he plays with his fingers and not a pick". Would sombody PA-LEASE explain to me what is the big deal with this? Why do alot of people resent bassists who play with a pick over there fingers?

Because there are some big ass ****ers in this world.

 

[NoobOnRoad]

i tried something 2 month ago.

1. Tape a pick on your thumb(or buy a thumb pick.)
2. Try to slap.
3. Wow slap works.
4. Try basic fingerstyle.
5. Wow it works.
6. Try classical fingerstyle.
7. Wow it works.
8. Try tapping.
9. Wow it works.
10. Try picking.
11. Wow it works.

Optional

12. Put a whammy bar on your bass.
13. put a lot of distortion or whatever cool effects.
14. PLAY THE HELLUVOUTIT!!!!

What you've got here!!! ME

Btw i dont have effects pedal or a Kahler trem....

Seriously, I like all styles of playing (except over used double thumping).

 

[chaunceytoben]

I think that the reason for this 'stereotype' is because of the players being represented by pick players. Typically, in genres where the bassists generally use picks are genres which the bass player [usually] just pumps out root notes. Im not saying this is bad, or a lack of talent, but it is simple. People hate on these guys because they play simply even though it is what is necessary for the music as a whole. If a random music enthusiast is browsing youtube, and he comes across a video of a punk band where the bassist is pumping straight eighth notes with a pick, and then turns to the next video and sees Vic Wooten play crazy melodic basslines with his fingers, then that person will have the assumption that pick players are worse than fingerstylers.

Not saying it the truth or that I agree with it, but this is why most people who are uneducated in our instrument assume pick players are untalented/bad/[insert insult] players.

Hope this makes sense...

 

[bassflyer19]

I have to play with my fingers b/c I know where I am when I use my fingers. I don't have enough experience with a pick, so I get lost.

I think that most people just find one bass player that played with finger and it's all they know. They don't know the sounds and tones that you can get with a pick.

I prefer finger, but some of the greats have used pick. 2 of my favorites did at least at somepoint: JPJ and Phil Lynott. I say play what suits you.

 

[DreadyDiggs]

Bassists I watched usually play finger. I play reggae so yea, it's usually finger-style. I've tried pick, no where near good at it, but I like the sound of fingers more anyway. That's just me. Do what you do, enjoy what you enjoy, fvck all the haters.

 

[ELOOSECANNON]

I'm pretty new to this forum and pretty new to bass playing, still alot to learn. I find it easier and more comfortable to use my fingers but I would love to be able to use a pick. I like both styles, it just depends on the song. As far as Metallica is concerned, Trujillo is good but, in my opinion doesn't fit Metallica, Newsted is better, Burton was damn good but, just cause he's dead doesn't make him the best.

 

[Krause]

I'm going to assume I misunderstood this, but it seems like you said that bass players who play with their fingers do it simply to distance themselves from guitar players. Doesn't really make sense. I can assume the original idea to play with fingers came from where the instrument originated, and that was the double bass (which I don't think was ever played with a pick). However, the idea to play with a pick could have come from the similarities to the electric guitar.

So really, each technique is equal in it's origins, neither being better than the other (perhaps in opinions, but that's a different story) and so should not be used as a judgment factor.

But it was played with a bow as well. So maybe we should use a bow and fingers instead of a pick and fingers.

I use both pick and fingerstyle. Fingers 80% and pick 20%. Certain times I need the sound that a pick gives me. Depends on the feel of the song. I have seen some amazing bass players play with a pick, and they don't just ride the root note.

Here in Winnipeg 60% of musicians are guitar players 20% are vocalists, 10% drummers and 10% bass players. A band looking for a drummer or a bassist has trouble finding one. I was in 6 bands 2 years ago. Some of these bands get a friend who plays guitar to play bass, those are the guys that you can tell are guitar players playing a bass not because they are using a pick, but by the way they approch the bass.

When it comes to Metallica I think Newstead was the better player,for the time he was in the band. Trujillo is doing what is required for Metallica now. Weither he played with apick or not should not be the issue.

 

[Toastfuzz]

ive been picking more and more lately. i used to feel that way until i realized that its all about the result. heck if you can slap out a beatles song and it still FITS THE MUSIC, why not?

Funny you should mention this...slap out the bassline to Lady Madonna, adding some fat slides from the 12th fret before or after...I think it sounds badass. I wanna turn it into a funk song.

 

[Mikio]

Man, the only reason most bassist don't like picks is because guitarrists use them always, and they don't wanna be compared to them


THAT'S ALL, not even as an opinion XD it's the complete and absolute truth.

 

[sickest beast]

Here's why bassists say things like that to other bassists:

Bassists are by and large fascist a-holes who think everyone should do as they do 100% of the time. It's as if they don't get enough validation by merely playing the bass, so they constantly have to look to others for validation. They goof on your equipment, they goof on your stylistic choices, they even goof on your stage presentation. I used to think it was isolated a-holes, but through coming on here and other internet sites, I've discovered that there are a buttload of a-holes playing bass. People always think the bass player is the cool guy in any band...wrong. They're just as narcissistic as anyone else in the band. They just don't talk as much.

Hahahahaha... this is one of the funniest posts I've ever read here. But I do agree.

To be a decent musician I think you have to have an overblown Ego.