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Who uses a pick
- Thread starter trust24
- Start date
I've been playing for over 20 years, and I never used a pick, and don't miss it. I think it is a matter of preference, there is no right or wrong with it.
Pick is a good way to change the tone without tinkering with the knobs. I practice with both fingers and pick and use pick for about 20% of the songs we do.
But I have to admit, I prefer fingers so far. It brings the 'bass' out of your bass guitar better
But I have to admit, I prefer fingers so far. It brings the 'bass' out of your bass guitar better
The girl I was with last night told me this halfway through. Not a shining moment.
Anyhoo, I play mostly pick, because i'm a converted guitarist. It just comes easier. Plus, what the other dude said about the funkiness of picks, that's also true.
One of these days I should learn how to use fingers properly. Seriously, how you fingerplayers can skip strings and such at high speed is beyond me. I always get frustrated tripping over myself trying to use my fingers and I end up grabbing a pick. Baah.
I'm all fingers and thumbs. I waited 25 years until I took my first lesson, and we reset my picking hand position.
Then of course there's Bernard Edwards who used his fingers as if he was using a pick. I still figure out exactly what that entailed!
Then of course there's Bernard Edwards who used his fingers as if he was using a pick. I still figure out exactly what that entailed!
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
Me playing with a pick ...
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Me playing fingerstyle ...
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N.I.C.E!!!!!
+1 personally, I hate the sound of a pick on the strings, but I have seen some cats that were just incredible with it.
The only time I really use a pick (besides for experimentation purposes) is when I'm jamming with my Super Hell Metal guitarist, and it just needs that tone. I just prefer the feel and tone I get with me digits.
Phil Lesh and Mike Gordon play exclusivley with a pick. They are IMO, the most influential and talented bassists in their genre.
They play lines of all kinds and are extremely fluid players across all 6 strings... to the point that you would think they were fingerstyle players unless you knew otherwise.
Which brings me to my point, I feel that however you best express yourself on your instrument is the way to go. One is not better or worse than the other, but IME... 'mechanically' they are very different... I'm not sure how guys like Phil Lesh generate such an 'organic' natural style playing with a pick, but they do because it works for them.
I'm a fingerstyle player through and through. Never enjoyed using a pick to express myself musically... not even on guitar.
Pat.
They play lines of all kinds and are extremely fluid players across all 6 strings... to the point that you would think they were fingerstyle players unless you knew otherwise.
Which brings me to my point, I feel that however you best express yourself on your instrument is the way to go. One is not better or worse than the other, but IME... 'mechanically' they are very different... I'm not sure how guys like Phil Lesh generate such an 'organic' natural style playing with a pick, but they do because it works for them.
I'm a fingerstyle player through and through. Never enjoyed using a pick to express myself musically... not even on guitar.
Pat.
I've been a fingerstyle player from the beginning, but just recently I've been incorporating a pick into my playing more and more. I used to be all about fingerstyle playing, but as I've gone forward I began to see how being both a pick player and a fingerstyle player can be a good thing. I think being good at both means you're a well rounded player. Just my $.02.
Whatever works in context of what you're doing. Or attempting to be doing.
Rather than focusing on yourself- focus on the music as a whole, try to hear as objectively as possible what should be emphasized. Some people don't play as well with a pick or with their fingers. I can do things with a pick much better than I can with my fingers, and there's some things I can do better with my fingers. I think I'm a better pick player than fingerstyle player.
Some people, however, have a need to feel "different" from guitar players. It's those people that have some crazy vendetta against anything that could somehow link them to being a guitar player.
I think it's best to think of yourself as a musician first- rather than some blinding jingoistic pride in being a bass player.
Rather than focusing on yourself- focus on the music as a whole, try to hear as objectively as possible what should be emphasized. Some people don't play as well with a pick or with their fingers. I can do things with a pick much better than I can with my fingers, and there's some things I can do better with my fingers. I think I'm a better pick player than fingerstyle player.
Some people, however, have a need to feel "different" from guitar players. It's those people that have some crazy vendetta against anything that could somehow link them to being a guitar player.
I think it's best to think of yourself as a musician first- rather than some blinding jingoistic pride in being a bass player.
I suck at playing with a pick just because my hand cramps up when I play fast and I can't accurately hit the strings. I always end up going back to fingerstyle, but I still like the nice punch a pick can give to the bass.
Hello!
I play with a pick, always have played bass with a pick, the reason why is that i have always enjoyed this style of playing, i love the feel and the differn't sounds i can make with it! The pick for me works well! However i do play with fingers and practice finger style, slap style as it's good to have differn't styles and fun to play various styles.
In general the pick is my playing style, and will stick to what i enjoy the most! Having the same pick and the flat wrist for good playing!
Make shure you play with the same pick, thickness as this makes your sound, Get a pick that's the rite weight aswell. I always use a Jim Dunlop 1.00 mm (blue) have used them for years, they have the rite weight and a good grip aswell. Every one has a differn't feel and weight to a pick.
I have recorded where i have started with the 1.00mm pick, but asked to get a lighter gauge pick out as it was a certain sound they wanted on the record. It's always good to have a number of picks with you for differn't sounds! In general stick with what pick works and the main thing have fun with your playing!
I play with a pick, always have played bass with a pick, the reason why is that i have always enjoyed this style of playing, i love the feel and the differn't sounds i can make with it! The pick for me works well! However i do play with fingers and practice finger style, slap style as it's good to have differn't styles and fun to play various styles.
In general the pick is my playing style, and will stick to what i enjoy the most! Having the same pick and the flat wrist for good playing!
Make shure you play with the same pick, thickness as this makes your sound, Get a pick that's the rite weight aswell. I always use a Jim Dunlop 1.00 mm (blue) have used them for years, they have the rite weight and a good grip aswell. Every one has a differn't feel and weight to a pick.
I have recorded where i have started with the 1.00mm pick, but asked to get a lighter gauge pick out as it was a certain sound they wanted on the record. It's always good to have a number of picks with you for differn't sounds! In general stick with what pick works and the main thing have fun with your playing!
oh GOD, not another one of these threads again !!!!
and I suppose you have 50 youtube videos to show us your excellent fingerskills compared to anyone else who uses a pick playing the same songs?
in fact to make it interesting, if you even DO have a youtube video with you using your fingers it don't matter what song, I'll re-do your video and use a pick.
I use a pick, I use my fingers, AND I just laugh at comments like that.
are you that terribly lame that you rip on pickusers because you can't?
please explain why a pickuser is a loser????.....
Don't do that. The guy is an obvious troll and you're just adding to the flame by responding. He didn't elaborate, he just insulted and ran.
As for the topic, I play with fingers exclusively. At one time my index was hurt so I had to use a pick for a while. Guess what? It's hard, I never stopped strumming and clanking and... it was awful. Hats down for those who can play anything using any technique. Real skill = jack of all trades. IMHO
I use both, and it depends on the type of music we play. I think you will have more job options if you are good at both.
