The prejudice against pick-playing

[Koshchei]

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?

I prefer the tactile feedback and touch control of plucking, but there are a lot of pieces that just sound better with the sharp attack and greater articulation that a pick provides. Bassists are a pretty opinionated bunch, so I find myself not really giving a tinker’s damn about what they think.

 

[JimmyM]

Picking definitely has it's place. I really cant see how you could not use one especially if you play in cover bands. You would be doing the song injustice, IMHO, playing with your fingers. I would think the exact same thing as the OP if I saw a youtube Roundabout cover and the person was using their fingers.

BTW my plectrum of choice is a Dunlop USA 1.14 mm.

Geddy Lee played Roundabout with Yes using fingers on a Jazz and sounded terrific.

 

[Riff Ranger]

Geddy Lee played Roundabout with Yes using fingers on a Jazz and sounded terrific.

Beat you to it, haha.

 

[JimmyM]

Beat you to it, haha.

Showoff!

 

[Riff Ranger]

Showoff!

Shall I blow the smoke off my fingers, or my pick?

 

[john_g]

I didnt read all the posts here I admit, so if it was said previously, I apologize. I play mostly with my fingers these days, but spent the first two decades of my playing with only a pick. The only criticisms Ive ever heard have been online.

 

[GBBSbassist]

I don't often see prejudice either for or against pick or finger playing that comes from a credible source because Youtube comment sections are not credible sources of bass knowledge.

 

[ole Jason]

Hot take: If you're serious about playing bass you should be able to play with pick, fingers, any genre, etc.

 

[basslifter]

That there Bobby Vega is some mad genious

 

[Bringindafunk]

When I see a bass player rocking a pick, I typically assume it's because they are primarily a guitarist unless it's proven to me otherwise by their playing. This is not to say that playing with a pick makes you a lesser player - Bobby Vega and Chris Squire prove that. I have just seen a lot of people in my local scene who clearly view the bass as their second instrument and basically are playing guitar parts rather than viewing it as a distinct instrument that requires a different approach. I try not to be biased against pick players, but I've seen enough through the years that I pretty much need to hear musical awesome-ness in order to bring my right eyebrow back to it's normal position.

 

[Herrick]

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

I think it's really dumb and I don't use a pick.

 

[GBBSbassist]

Hot take: If you're serious about playing bass you should be able to play with pick, fingers, any genre, etc.

What if I'm serious about playing bass but I can barely play bass regardless of what I'm using or genre I'm playing?

 

[Scott Loveless]

What if I'm serious about playing bass but I can barely play bass regardless of what I'm using or genre I'm playing?

I think there's a club here for that...

 

[David Jayne]

I can't remember the last time I watched a demo that was just pick. Frankly I get annoyed when it's mostly slap. Because yeah, slap happens but not nearly as much as fingers.

 

[EMoneySC2]

I play with fingers, exclusively. I spend a lot of time experimenting with and practicing finger style playing, and I'm very satisfied with the range of sounds I can get.

No hate to anyone who plays differently.

 

[two fingers]

It's actually not NEARLY as bad as it used to be. These days it's accepted more. I'm about 60/40 fingers and pick these days. I put off learning with a pick for WAY too long. When you need that sound, there is NO finger technique that will get you there.

 

[Vinny_G]

This prejudice comes from a certain type of players, who look at the pick with contempt because it comes from the world of guitar. They are mainly found in Jazz and R & B styles. They are the same ones who looked upon the electric bass with disdain when it first appeared. It's a profile of narrow-minded and insecure people.

It's easy to spot them in the videos because pick playing is the only thing they can't do. They are virtuosos in slap, tapping, etc. but as soon as they play with a pick it's just awful to hear.

They sometimes say that it's a good thing to master as many techniques as possible to be versatile, but it's total hypocrisy because they have no intention of doing it themselves. When they have a pick between their fingers, one can read the disgust and fear on their faces, as if they had just committed sacrilege.

I feel sorry for them, actually.

 

[dramatwist]

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.

...no disrespect, but Paul McCartney has played with a plectrum, his thumb and with his fingers... spend some time checking out the videos...

 

[mobeme23]

i love playing with a pick! and i have a whole bunch of different picks for a wider variety of sounds.

 

[GBBSbassist]

It's actually not NEARLY as bad as it used to be. These days it's accepted more. I'm about 60/40 fingers and pick these days. I out off learning with a pick for WAY too long. When you need that sound, there is NO finger technique that will get you there.

I like when folks will tell you to use your fingernail. Yeah, it may sound close and it's alright for a note or two, but try playing an hour worth of Motorhead with your fingernail and tell me how your fingers feel about it.