I'm a guitar player and I just bought by first bass a few days ago. I have a question about technique on bass. Do bass players alternate between using their fingers and picking mainly for the sound or is it a technique preference? I play mainly hard rock and metal and I notice some bassists only use a pick and others only use their fingers.
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Using fingers and picking
- Thread starter METAL
- Start date
It's personal preference and how you want to play really. Some bassists use their fingers, some use picks and some use both techniques. You do generally get different tones between the two styles and some traditional bassists may criticize bassists who use picks and not their fingers but like I said it's whatever technique works the best and sounds best to you at the end of the day. What I have found is many bassists will use fingers on recordings but use a pick for more attack when playing live.
Some bassists who use both use a pick to make up for their lack of skill in the area of speed finger-picking. Personally, I think a bassist who plays with fingers should just buckle down and practise more instead of taking the easy way out. How I know? I play death metal and some black metal all with fingers and can keep in time with the guitars. It's just a matter of practice. I willy always prefer the more natural tones of finger picking to using an actual pick.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
Two musical reasons for using picking over fingers:
1. For fast repetitive simple lines, it can be easier (ie straight eighth root notes).
2. Can be a brighter tone.
Whatever works for you is fine.
1. For fast repetitive simple lines, it can be easier (ie straight eighth root notes).
2. Can be a brighter tone.
Whatever works for you is fine.
+1 if you like the way a pick sounds, use it. Same goes for fingers. This works in private. However, public situations are different. You can get by in every situation using your fingers, even in a metal band. John Myung did it (YouTube him, fantastic bassist). On the other hand, picks are not welcome in nearly as many places, like a jazz or funk band/gig/scene.
Moral of the story? Learn both, use your fingers more.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
Exactly, like I originally said don't worry what others say you should or need to do, do what you want. What works for one may not for the next.
The bassist for Shinedown switches from pick to fingers back to pick Thur their set. Do whatever sounds the best to you
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
Two alternate finger (index middle), one finger only (index), thumb (appoyando) and pick here. Depend on the needs.
Some of both
I also played guitar first so my picking was already speedy enouugh, although those wide string spacings make skipping a bit harder. I learned finger style when i started playing bass in the knowledge I could switch if I needed more speed, and now both are at a good level it's purely a sound decision so I will use a pick if I want more "twanginess".
I'd advise you to try learning the standard alternating 2 finger techniques so you can make the choice for yourself on the basis of sound
I also played guitar first so my picking was already speedy enouugh, although those wide string spacings make skipping a bit harder. I learned finger style when i started playing bass in the knowledge I could switch if I needed more speed, and now both are at a good level it's purely a sound decision so I will use a pick if I want more "twanginess".
I'd advise you to try learning the standard alternating 2 finger techniques so you can make the choice for yourself on the basis of sound
Go the whole hog. Each different technique, all of them real assets for a bass player, will give you versatility and another distinct voice. The more the merrier.
The sound is the key. Your various techniques will provide you with the best means for producing the sound you're after. Enjoy!
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- Oct 18, 2012
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Some people play with a pick because they either haven't developed the technique of using their fingers or just prefer a pick. I started playing bass in 1978 and used a pick until 2002 when I joined an original blues band and had to play a lot of walking bass lines. I found that the walking lines sounded better when I used my fingers. Now I alternate between fingers and pick depending on the sound I am trying achieve.
I started on pick, and years ago, I ended up stopping their use, since I always alternated practicing with my fingers anyways. Eventually, I got pretty good and started being able to emulate Steve Harris' galloping technique. I still keep picks around to use from time to time, but anymore, when I need a pick's attack, I'll generally use finger picks, like a lot of bluegrass banjo and guitar players use.
I think a lot of it has to do with how you start, your personality, the music you play, and if you're copying someone.
That doesn't mean you can't change later on.
I started learning by playing with my fingers
I've added pick and thumb here & there.
But I'd say I probably play with my fingers at least 95% of the time.
When I sue my thumb it's for playing arpeggios or chords.
When I play with a pick it's either because I want a rhythm that's easier to play with a pick--or I want a very percussive sound
Others might do so for other reasons...
That doesn't mean you can't change later on.
I started learning by playing with my fingers
I've added pick and thumb here & there.
But I'd say I probably play with my fingers at least 95% of the time.
When I sue my thumb it's for playing arpeggios or chords.
When I play with a pick it's either because I want a rhythm that's easier to play with a pick--or I want a very percussive sound
Others might do so for other reasons...
Videos of concerts and often music videos on youtube are good indicators of the technique used for a given song. I've always played with my fingers, but recently I've started incorporating some pick playing. Some of my all time favorite tones (John Entwistle Live at Leeds and Chris Squire) come from a pick. I'm still at the point where my fingers are quite a bit faster than my pick (which isn't saying much).
By the sound of it of course. And if later we know that we were wrong, doesn't matter. Doesn't matter at all, or even can make us a better musician/bass player.
I think a lot depends on what type of song you are playing. Some songs sound better with a pick and others will sound better with fingers. Then there is slapping which is done with the thumb. Try to incorporate all methods for your playing. 
