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To Pick or Not To Pick?
- Thread starter organworthyplayer337
- Start date
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Hah, which just proves you've never played with my drummer... He has been known to throw sticks, with little or no provocation. I also have a scar on the bridge of my nose from the last time he changed the skin on his kick drum, decided he'd do some aerodynamic testing of a broken drum skin, across the rehearsal space.
You'll appreciate that even the appearance of escalation by showing up with a bow instead of a pick is liable to elicit a completely over the top reaction from this drummer, never mind actually applying the bloody thing to his person. I'd have to show up with a bow in right hand, and a .44 magnum in the left (it's ok, check the sig.)
And I don't want to be the innovator of .44 magnum slide bass, well of course I do, but from inspiration, not desparation...
+1No...... but it is down right laziness not to try a quick search first.
As I pointed out, there are at least two threads (one with an identical title) covering this very topic....on the first page of the forum.
Plus it wouldn't hurt to bring something NEW to the discussion instead of just asking the same question ad nauseum.
What would you suggest? Whats something new? I could edit it into the og post body. Thanks
The point of a thread is for the person posting to come up with a new take. Otherwise what is the point in bringing up the same subject over and over. Particularly when there are already ongoing threads on the same topic.
Of the devil AND abomination I say! So are distortion pedals and low B strings! All will burn in hell!
Oh ya, I'm also just trolling a little.
But ya in seriousness, I have only heard of like 3 of those bass players you listed. I understand it's another tool in the bag but it's a stupid tool.
Once played with an 80's cover band until the BL asked me to play everything with a pick, regardless if the original tune called for it or not, he just liked the sound better. I quit that night. His last bass player was a washed up guitar player and he must have got used to that thin, crappy, boring sound and assumed that's how all "rock" bass players play bass.
Haha!!, you can play with a bow, finger or your toes for that matter if that's what u are comfortable with
and just because you don't like picks makes it a stupid tool. I use both pick & fingers but I feel more comfortable playing with a pick
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Haha!!, you can play with a bow, finger or your toes for that matter if that's what u are comfortable with
and just because you don't like picks makes it a stupid tool. I use both pick & fingers but I feel more comfortable playing with a pick
Fair enough, I suppose I'm just jealous because I never "picked" the skill up though, I do see it as another tool in the bag for those that can. I'm always suspicious of a bass player playing exclusively with a pick though. Guitar players until proven innocent.
Ultimately, I've shied away picking because it felt like introducing a barrier between the player and the bass, though I realize it's pretty inconsequential. Safe bass playing is like safe driving, two hands on the wheel, two hands on the bass!
while I know there are some good basists and basslines played with a pick (Chris Squire for example).... For me, the Bass and picks are mutually incompatible terms.... I tend to see it like John Taylor put it best..
Just started playing with a pick after years of looking down at it. Now, I'm worried I won't ever go back to playing with my fingers 
For some reason I couldn't vote in the poll, but while I play with my fingers almost all the time, I do sometimes use a pick or my thumb.
Depends on the song and what kind of sound I want to get, as well as some rhythms are easier for me to play with a pick.
Depends on the song and what kind of sound I want to get, as well as some rhythms are easier for me to play with a pick.
Just my opinion, but I don't have a problem with people that don't like playing with a pick, I have a problem with people that don't want other people playing with a pick. Some people need to spend more time worrying about how they play and less time worrying about how other people play. YMMV
I still don't understand about that, SO CALLED, issue - "To-pick-or-not-to-pick.
To me, it's a STRANGELY - BIASED and full of cr...y inferiority complexes/mental blocks discussion ON BOTH SIDES of this discussion.
As I've repeated numerous times, I wish I could play the bass with my big nose.
At least, I would be known for SOMETHING.
Now.
Here are two beautiful bass-lines from Incognito's Colibri (studio version)
"...The bass comes from the Bob Clearmountain Percussion & Bass Library, (a 5 string Music Man bass) specifically, the D.I. samples but only 5 of the available set; F1, C2, F2, C3 & F3. They were sampled into an Akai S950, and at the time, I was using Steinberg's Cubase on an Atari Falcon computer. The bass was not 'performed' via Midi keyboard but programmed manually by mouse. Unlike today's bass libraries, trills weren't available, so they had to be mimicked using Pitch bend!
Richard Bull"
http://www.talkbass.com/threads/incognito-new-to-me.931286/page-2
Incognito "The Way You Love" - Album Surreal (studio version)
http://www.talkbass.com/threads/incognito-new-to-me.931286/page-2 (tracks: 13 -"The Way You Love" )
Incognito contributor Richard Bull, and as can be expected, his drum grooves and his (programmed -WUTP) bass lines dominate the proceedings, creating a muscular platform for the unison vocals to dance on."
MY QUESTIONS.
Were those bass-lines that, I LOVE, played with a pick or fingerstyle?
What is the moral of my story?
To me, it's a STRANGELY - BIASED and full of cr...y inferiority complexes/mental blocks discussion ON BOTH SIDES of this discussion.
As I've repeated numerous times, I wish I could play the bass with my big nose.
At least, I would be known for SOMETHING.
Now.
Here are two beautiful bass-lines from Incognito's Colibri (studio version)
"...The bass comes from the Bob Clearmountain Percussion & Bass Library, (a 5 string Music Man bass) specifically, the D.I. samples but only 5 of the available set; F1, C2, F2, C3 & F3. They were sampled into an Akai S950, and at the time, I was using Steinberg's Cubase on an Atari Falcon computer. The bass was not 'performed' via Midi keyboard but programmed manually by mouse. Unlike today's bass libraries, trills weren't available, so they had to be mimicked using Pitch bend!
Richard Bull"
http://www.talkbass.com/threads/incognito-new-to-me.931286/page-2
Incognito "The Way You Love" - Album Surreal (studio version)
http://www.talkbass.com/threads/incognito-new-to-me.931286/page-2 (tracks: 13 -"The Way You Love" )
Incognito contributor Richard Bull, and as can be expected, his drum grooves and his (programmed -WUTP) bass lines dominate the proceedings, creating a muscular platform for the unison vocals to dance on."
MY QUESTIONS.
Were those bass-lines that, I LOVE, played with a pick or fingerstyle?
What is the moral of my story?
Fair enough, I suppose I'm just jealous because I never "picked" the skill up though, I do see it as another tool in the bag for those that can. I'm always suspicious of a bass player playing exclusively with a pick though. Guitar players until proven innocent.
Ultimately, I've shied away picking because it felt like introducing a barrier between the player and the bass, though I realize it's pretty inconsequential. Safe bass playing is like safe driving, two hands on the wheel, two hands on the bass!
You're right!,and I have to be honest when I use my fingers I feel like I have more control of the bass but I'm very comfortable with picking it gives me more presence (sound wise) I play with 3 loud guitars players
and Not I'm not a guitar player, I wish I knew how to play guitar thou
If you use a pick on the bass guitar you run the risk of looking like an ex guitar player that got bored/thought bass would be easier.
Basses should be played with a bow, first and foremost and then maybe fingers if the music says 'pizz.'
The pick sound on bass guitar just sounds artificial and thin. It is however a fairly iconic sound for some music. Ultimately it's of the devil and an abomination of muscianship.
Sorry man but I couldn't help but respond ....I am dumbfounded ....
...do you honestly believe such ultimate crap...or are you having us on ...???
By all means use your bow but if you think about it ...
Bass 'guitar' .... Does it not sound or look like the term has some reference to a guitar ???
Oh but forgive me, I am the delusional lunatic in the crowd and heaven forbid me for casting Ill dispersion on a person who apparently plays 'bass' ...
To the many rest of us who are condemned to the God forsaken hell of 'guitars' ...
Sinful suckers that jeopardise the legitimacy of society through daring to strike a string with a pick...
I mean fair dinkum... !!!
Rossa
Ps 'unhappy new year to you' ...lol
The bow bit was a bad joke I thought, was just trolling a little. I've also generally said 'do what you want, whatever motives you to play.' If you like the sound of the pick, then go for it, make it 'your sound.'
As much as I love the double bass sound, I avoid playing it on shows because I'm lazy. I also love the bass guitar so much that I live 30 minutes froom Seattle, the birth place of our instrument!
I said this in another thead but it sums up my feelings on the pick nicely...
What your hearing with the pick is the full harmonic range of the string all at once, because you're effectively plucking the string like a harpsichord. You don't have the subtly or nuance of the felt tip piano hammers that are more like our fingers.
You can illicit the full range of harmonics on a piano or with fingers on bass too. Plus we can play with a fatter warm or softer sound when the time is right.
The only nuance you have available to you with a pick is plucking soft or hard, but your tone will essentially remain the same, full harmonic range note blast in your face. Palm muting not withstanding, exclusively picking is basically limiting your tone.
I'll stick by the idea that if you like the pick sound, go for it, whatever encourages you to play. I'd recommend to all student players to learn fingers first though.
I'm a pickin' and a grinnin'. I use Dunlop Triangle Stubbies 2mm. All of my favorite bass players use a pick:
Lemmy
Dee Dee
Mark Sandman
David Wm Sims
Kevin Rutmanis
Two of my other favs alternated between pick and fingers, JPJ and Deacon.
On a side note, aren't many bass players former guitarists? I've read countless interviews with players that started out on guitar then switched to bass later out of necessity. I count myself among that number as I'm sure a lot of folks on this forum do, too.
Lemmy
Dee Dee
Mark Sandman
David Wm Sims
Kevin Rutmanis
Two of my other favs alternated between pick and fingers, JPJ and Deacon.
On a side note, aren't many bass players former guitarists? I've read countless interviews with players that started out on guitar then switched to bass later out of necessity. I count myself among that number as I'm sure a lot of folks on this forum do, too.
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Name names! Who are these guitarists masquerading as a bass player?! CONFESS YOUR SINS!!!!!
There have been more than a few times when I've heard a song with amazing bass, then later learned that the player used a pick. The point being -- if you can't tell, what difference does it make. I play both--fingers (3-finger, thumb, index, middle) and pick (Fender 346 Heavy). When I use a pick, I adjust the amp and effects settings to get the tone I want. That's why I am surprised when I hear people say they don't like the tone of a pick. That is just a small part of the tone. The bigger part is from amps, effects, picking style, muting, string position or a combination of any of these and other methods.
