Half and Half all the way dude! Thanks Chris Squire for getting me into picking a little more, and thanks to Geddy Lee for getting me started 
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Poll: finger style vs pick style
- Thread starter NickInMesa
- Start date
The results are a bit surprising so far, I have to admit!
And yes, slapping is sort of finger style. I mean in the traditional, pizzicato, sense.
And yes, slapping is sort of finger style. I mean in the traditional, pizzicato, sense.
Fingerstyle no doubt makes you "one" with your bass. But the tone you can get with a pick sometimes is neccesary.
For rock, always a pick. Fingerstyle for everything else.
Generally, fingerstyle "feels better" to me, but I think the picked tone/attack is much better for rock than fingerstyle. Although playing eighths of the same note without a pick feels lousy, so fingerstyle doesn't *always* feel better.
Generally, fingerstyle "feels better" to me, but I think the picked tone/attack is much better for rock than fingerstyle. Although playing eighths of the same note without a pick feels lousy, so fingerstyle doesn't *always* feel better.
I don't use a pick for a few reasons. First of all I'm terrible with one. I can never find the ideal angle to put my wrist or the ideal way to hold it in my hands. I can't play with any sort of dexterity using a pick, I can't even play 8th notes.
Plus, I've heard great pick tone from a bass, but I can never reproduce it, every time I play with a pick it sounds too sharp and clicky.
So for now, I'm 100% fingerstyle, even on songs that are primarily played with picks, until I someday get good with them...
Plus, I've heard great pick tone from a bass, but I can never reproduce it, every time I play with a pick it sounds too sharp and clicky.
So for now, I'm 100% fingerstyle, even on songs that are primarily played with picks, until I someday get good with them...
Supposedly just lost out on an audition for classic rock band because "you play with a pick and the guitar player doesn't like the picked bass sound". I don't know how he could tell, everyone was turned up to 11. I think it was more than that honestly, like my age too, but what a lame excuse, or was it? Anyone else fall short because of picking?
Never lost an audition due to my technique. Due to them finding better than me, yes, but never due to my technique.
As you say, it may be age. If they were all at 11, forget it anyway. Quantity over quality. I stay away from these fools.
What about people who use thumb only for plucking and no fingers - I have seen a few of those and a lot of Jazz guitarists do this?
I seemed to have dropped my pick, along with guitar playing about fifteen years ago. I still use'em on the guitar, but not on the bass. I cant force myself to feel I can play as fast or defined with a pick. I guess I just cant get the technique of it all. Although there are some great sounding players that use a pic......
Oh Yea, a P bass or Stingray would be my bass of choice. I have a lot more P bass love going on these days though.
Oh Yea, a P bass or Stingray would be my bass of choice. I have a lot more P bass love going on these days though.
