I came to electric bass from upright bass, so I feel more confident playing with my fingers. I do use a pick when it makes sense for the tune, just wish I was a better pick player. I especially like the sound of palm muting using a pick.
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The prejudice against pick-playing
- Thread starter Lunatique
- Start date
When I was doing session work with some pretty heavy-hitters here in LA over the last decade, man, if I couldn't play as well pickstyle as I could with my fingers, I would have been shown the door. That's because it was about the desired sound for the song, not trying to shoehorn the player's preferred approach into it.
I started out playing with a pick, never took up guitar until way later--just started on bass that way. This was in the 70's and I used to get grief from ignorant guitarists at times, until I'd point out that much of the music they loved had pickstyle bass on it!
Can't believe this is still even a thing.
I started out playing with a pick, never took up guitar until way later--just started on bass that way. This was in the 70's and I used to get grief from ignorant guitarists at times, until I'd point out that much of the music they loved had pickstyle bass on it!
Can't believe this is still even a thing.
I really don't care. If a pick player's attack is light, the difference compared to fingers in a live setting, with a full mix, is not that much. I run sound and get to hear all kinds of players. I will say that I don't care for most aggressive pick playing. But it depends on the music. And as long as the player is in time, in tune, and making the music sound better overall.....again, I don't care.
Yep. That's a pet peeve of mine, the fingernail argument--it's simply a different sound. It definitely won't cut it in the studio if the producer wants a pick sound.
Bobby Vega, Carol Kaye, Steve Swallow, Paul McCartney, Chris Squier, Anthony Jackson, Allen Woody, Roger Waters, Michael Anthony and others have made a bit of money playing bass with a pick.
Teijo K.
Commercial User
As a doubler, I've kind a thought that pick is a similar thing that the bow is for double bass.
I like that analogy. It's just different sounds, used to get the desired result depending on what the music calls for. Could you imagine on an upright gig that called for bowing how it would go over if you'd say, "no man, I ONLY play pizz, bows are for losers....".
I've been trying to learn to play with a pick. There were some songs where I used to play with my fingernail sort of like with a pick. A real pick works better I guess. Or not. I'm just not very good at it. But I'm getting there.
There's this one song that we cover. Moves Like Jackass by Moron 5. I play the verse with the pick and the chorus with fingers. I have to keep the pick between my teeth during choruses. Kinda icky. I'm lucky I don't have to sing any backing vocals at the same time. Hate the song anyway. At least the pay is good. And free beer on most gigs.
There's this one song that we cover. Moves Like Jackass by Moron 5. I play the verse with the pick and the chorus with fingers. I have to keep the pick between my teeth during choruses. Kinda icky. I'm lucky I don't have to sing any backing vocals at the same time. Hate the song anyway. At least the pay is good. And free beer on most gigs.
Man, what a unique player Swallow is. The vibe is like upright meets jazz guitar. Special cat.
I’m mainly a pick player. I play with my fingers just fine on guitar and bass, but with most of the music I play it just makes more sense. Realistically I hybrid pick most of the time regardless of instrument. Adding fingers into your pick playing adds a lot of versatility without sacrificing the attack on the driving parts.
What annoys me the most is that 99% of these videos contain slap, which is a technique that does not tell us much about the timbre of an instrument because the notes are very short. And since I don't hear a lot of slap in today's music, why is there so many in these videos? At least, in a demo made with a pick, we have a better idea of the sound of the bass or the strings.
There was a pick in the urinal at work last night. I kinda wanted it, but I just left it there. Sad, really.
The OP sounds like prejudice towards pick players while saying it is not.
I am tired of this subject. I think it is a much less prevalent attitude these days.
I just can't bring myself to care what anyone thinks about my technique, unless that person is paying me. I play with pics and fingers and have had no problems ever.
I am tired of this subject. I think it is a much less prevalent attitude these days.
I just can't bring myself to care what anyone thinks about my technique, unless that person is paying me. I play with pics and fingers and have had no problems ever.
For all those who say that a pick is sometimes necessary for certain styles of music.. I don't disagree with you, but you must realize that it is first and foremost a question of sound. Some of us particularly like this sound, whatever our favorite music style.
There was a thumb in mine.There was a pick in the urinal at work last night. I kinda wanted it, but I just left it there. Sad, really.
I do not believe there is an "obvious prejudice many bassists have against pick-playing". I have not experienced it. I see players who prefer each approach playing in many styles of music. My friends and I were all very interested in the potential differences between each as we learned about music, but I am sure I have never met a single person who exhibited prejudice based on a person using or not using a pick.
