The prejudice against pick-playing

[glocke1]

I know, I like him a lot.

It's a possibility. Which pick do you use?

Adamas Graphite...2.0 mm

 

[Vinny_G]

Adamas Graphite...2.0 mm

Yes it's possible that you tighten it too much. One of the advantages of thick picks is to be able to hold them loose, provided that they have a good grip. In general I find graphite picks slippery but I've not tried this one.

Maybe you could try to go down a notch with this one instead : GATOR GRIP GUITAR PICK  

 

[Luke_94]

Over the years, I've always seen comments looking down on playing bass with a pick. I never thought too much about it, as I also play guitar and know pick-playing has its own technique that needs to be mastered and it's not any lesser than finger or slap or tap.

HOWEVER, I've noticed that whenever I'm searching for YouTube videos for sound samples of specific basses, if the video starts off with someone playing the bass with a pick, I'm immediately annoyed, because I much rather hear how it sounds with finger, and then slap. If pick is included, it's fine, but if it's only pick-playing, I can't help but feel disappointed.

I guess the main reason is I almost never play bass with the pick, so I don't really care how a bass sounds with a pick. But I have nothing against it--I do plan on playing some prog metal in the future, and a lot of that is played with picks.

Anyway, how do y'all feel about the obvious prejudice many bassists have against pick-playing?

It's good to have all techniques down. Even the great Anthony Jackson uses a pick sometimes. There's nothing wrong with it if you accept that you use it to get a specific sound.
But when it comes to video reviews, I'm also annoyed when they use a pick since the vast majority of bass playing is fingerstyle. When reviewing, you should be using as many techniques at your disposal as possible

 

[bpmben]

My personal theory is that it's because bass guitar is in some ways (some of those substantial, some superficial) a closer relative to guitar than it is to upright bass, but bass guitarists don't want to be perceived as "lesser guitarists" and want to be distinguished as serving their own function. So since playing with a pick is so closely associated with playing guitar, avoiding/looking down on it makes you more of a "real" bass player

I think your theory makes a lot of sense as to why it seems to be important to some.

 

[Mr_Moo]

Paul McCartney plays almost exclusively with a pick and nobody criticizes him. I used to play with a pick on every song. About 20 years ago, I switched to playing primarily with fingers but still use a pick on some songs.

Other than that Quincy fellow.

 

[WI Short Scaler]

I don't play with one but sometimes wish I could.

Either way, for every technique there are those who will say it's the wrong way to do things.

Whatever works!

 

[Teijo K.]

I wish that there was a prejudice against slap. Listen to Bobby Vega playing with a pick and tell me that it is the poor cousin of fingerstyle.

There absolutely is prejudice against skap, and I think it's just as stupid as all the other prejudices.

 

[Gothic]

There absolutely is prejudice against skap, and I think it's just as stupid as all the other prejudices.

Nah, it's okay, slap sucks.

 

[Teijo K.]

Nah, it's okay, slap sucks.

Ok boomer.

 

[Axstar]

There absolutely is prejudice against skap, and I think it's just as stupid as all the other prejudices.

Isn't that a prejudice?

 

[Mike JV]

It's good to have all techniques down. Even the great Anthony Jackson uses a pick sometimes. There's nothing wrong with it if you accept that you use it to get a specific sound.
But when it comes to video reviews, I'm also annoyed when they use a pick since the vast majority of bass playing is fingerstyle. When reviewing, you should be using as many techniques at your disposal as possible

Yes sir! Its another flavor to add to your playing. Back in my full time, 4 sets a night bar days I used a pick for about half of what we played.

I agree what you said about reviews. Seen a few "reviews" for a bass or a bass amp and it's slap style all the way through. Doesn't tell me anything I wanted to know.