Struggling with considering moving back to a pick

[SAlcott]

Play however you want to make the sound you want to hear.

 

[fretlessman71]

There are those who will post things like "I use fingers, the way that you're supposed to do it"; this notion is total horsehockey. Go get the tone you like, and remember that the opinion of others is usually worth exactly what you paid for it.

 

[Groove Doctor]

Learn to EQ better, esp when playing fingerstyle.

Boost 1.6kHz for more fingerstyle ‘attack’.
Tame Low Mids (125-400Hz) if boomy.
Use a HPF to get rid of muddiness.

When you switch to pick style, roll your bass’ tone knob back a bit to tame the extra zing.

 

[equalizin]

I try to play with fingers as much as I can. Just what I'm more comfortable with. When things get too technical and involve a lot of fast string skipping I find it easier with a pick. You do you man. If you want to play with a pick all the time and it makes you happy... That's all that really matters

 

[klejst]

Do what you want, who cares what others say.

 

[nabilhuakbar]

To dogpile on this topic:

Play what you like best and what sounds best for the song. A good bassist can do both. You might prefer one over the other (I definitely prefer picks for most things), but you'll want to keep your skills up in the other enough to where you can transition without too much difficulty. Some songs sound best with fingers. Others sound best with a pick.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

But for as many thousands of hours I've spent practicing with fingers and work on my tone I can't seem to overcome
1) the inherent dark and round tone of my very short, thick fingers and 2) to get the tone I want I need to really play with my fingertips and make my attack a lot harder and it kills my speed and I can't play stuff I should be able to play.

I play with finger tips and fairly long nails (I need to trim them today) and the issue I have is getting a darker tone, but I can angle my fingers to use more flesh. Speed isn't an issue for me so I am confused on that point.

 

[EatS1stBassist]

Sorry - a little long background first.

I learned bass as a high schooler (25 years ago) and played for 4-6 years all with a pick and gave it up due to life/no band. I picked up acoustic and electric guitar in the years since because they were more enjoyable playing alone. But in the past 3-4 years my love for bass has come back full force and I've been full out playing and practicing a bunch (live also). All with fingers this time.

But for as many thousands of hours I've spent practicing with fingers and work on my tone I can't seem to overcome
1) the inherent dark and round tone of my very short, thick fingers and 2) to get the tone I want I need to really play with my fingertips and make my attack a lot harder and it kills my speed and I can't play stuff I should be able to play.

This is a long way of saying I know I can get great tone and be proficient with a pick but it just feels wrong for some reason. Has anyone transitioned to a pick and been glad they did? Should I just say screw it and play more proficiently with a pick?

Playing with a pick is a blast! You can also add your muting technique to it and come up with fun patterns. Add to that a little pulling and popping and you can surely have a great sound.

 

[Dreig]

I know I can get great tone and be proficient with a pick but it just feels wrong for some reason.

Here, watch Matt Freeman play:



Still think playing bass with a pick ain't right?

 

[Matthew_84]

Lol - I'm usually a low drama guy. I guess I've been a bit frustrated lately with the time I've put in and maybe should've checked the "traditional bass with fingers" at the door ego myself a while back and now I'm kicking myself for it. I just wondered if others had ever gone through a similar progression.

I refused to play with a pick when I started and even for about 10 years afterwards, out of some stupid, misguided sense of being a hack - but there were some songs I just could not get the right tone for so I decided to try a pick and instantly achieved what I had been struggling with for a while. I felt truly stupid... Now I use both depending on what I play

 

[hasbeen]

IMHO, I wouldn't "move back to a pick", I would start using it as additional technique again.

There is no "correct" way to play the electric bass. I think being proficient in several techniques is a good skill set and adds to your versatility.

 

[maxschrek]

I use a thumbpick, allowing me to switch between fingers and pick when I want, sometimes mid-song. As sacrilegious as it may be - and I care zero about what other people may think - I also have fingernails on e index and middle finger just are just barely long than the pad of my finger and that helps.

Sometimes a pick is best, sometimes fingers. There are no absolutes.

I use a thumbpick as well, about half the time. Works out great for me.

 

[gelinas666]

Go back.. I prefer my fingers but a pick can be used..Whatever you need to get where you want to achieve!

 

[Frndmoretti]

Sorry - a little long background first.

I learned bass as a high schooler (25 years ago) and played for 4-6 years all with a pick and gave it up due to life/no band. I picked up acoustic and electric guitar in the years since because they were more enjoyable playing alone. But in the past 3-4 years my love for bass has come back full force and I've been full out playing and practicing a bunch (live also). All with fingers this time.

But for as many thousands of hours I've spent practicing with fingers and work on my tone I can't seem to overcome
1) the inherent dark and round tone of my very short, thick fingers and 2) to get the tone I want I need to really play with my fingertips and make my attack a lot harder and it kills my speed and I can't play stuff I should be able to play.

This is a long way of saying I know I can get great tone and be proficient with a pick but it just feels wrong for some reason. Has anyone transitioned to a pick and been glad they did? Should I just say screw it and play more proficiently with a pick?

I played almost exclusively with a pick. I've played like that for years. Seven years after I started, I started playing in a David Bowie tribute band and wanted to play some songs with my fingers. It turns out my fingers are so skinny it's actually treblier with fingers than with a 1mm pick.

Nowadays I just play with fingers if I play right over the fingerboard for a Geezer Butler tone.

Now I sing 80% of the songs we play, so a pick also feels and looks more natural to me.

 

[basslayer]

I started using a pick a few years back. It used to be anathema for me, but I realized that I could make more interesting music if I embrace things I thought I disliked, but actually didn't understand. I still mostly play fingers because my tonal needs, but I'm glad I put time with the pick. Fingerstyle is my go to, but the needs of the music decided that more than me.

 

[G On Bass]

I really liked the sound of the thumbpick on bass but my fat thumbs just didn't fit in the ones i've found!

Have you tried Pro Pik?

I use the 'Metal-Plastic' as my thumbpick when I play banjo, but they have different models. The metal loop makes it adjustable and they are very comfortable.

Thumbpicks

 

[ole Jason]

Why not both? Everyone should put time into being proficient with both IMO

 

[groooooove]

op,

it sounds like you are conflicted with which team to play for. it can feel that way, as there are countless threads here with folks arguing their case for one side or another.

but in reality, every good player I know uses both. I can't remember the last time i used a pick on a gig, but i do when i feel i should.

use whatever you prefer! a blend of both is the way to go.

 

[NKBassman]

I haven't read the thread, just in response to the OP:

Fingers, Pick, Slap, Tap, whatever, who cares. All just tools for getting the job done. To deny yourself a technique because someone somewhere made you think it's wrong to play bass with a pick is silly. Get good at any technique that suits you, and always always just play what sounds best to serve the song.

 

[jbhaugh]

Use whatever plucking technique makes you happy. If the sound of fingerstyle doesn't do it for you and pick does, just use a pick!