Why are most short scale demos played with a pick??

[Bassnkeys]

Really.
Is it for metal/punk only?
Every demo I enter, they start hammering the bass with a pick.how can you listen to the sound?

Fair question and thread that got highjacked away from the sentiment of your original question. After nearly a decade on 5-string 34" basses, I just bought and am really enjoying two 4-string 30" basses. I only play them finger-style like all my other basses — and play them mostly for traditional jazz.

I think one of the early comments in the thread is insightful: many guitar players would likely feel more at home playing bass on a 30" — and would likely use a pick due to their comfort with a technique that is already natural to them.

Here's a monster on a short scale at the time — Jack Bruce and Cream, finger-style and not punk or metal.

 

[Old Blastard]

Playing Paul Hindemith's cello concertos on a jaw harp is very unprofessional.

Whoa! Just knowing who Hindemith is and that he wrote cello pieces is awesome. Good on ya. Playing him on a jaws harp would be so cool.
Painful to hear, but cool.

 

[Mugre]

i've never been one to even watch demo's. too many variables with cpu speakers etc... is good to see what they look like, but sound, i'm not sure its the best way to find out...gotta get them in your hands to really know...

And the YouTube compression algorithm which is for bandwidth not sound quality.

 

[Bass4LifeRS]

Why are most short scale demos played with a pick??

Why are so many TB threads started with an opinion , but stated as a fact?

 

[ThinCrappyTone]

What a great opportunity to shamelessly plug my short scale bass demo. Ironically, someone had criticized an earlier demo because I didn't include a picked example. So this vid includes both.

 

[Jeff Bonny]

Many of these types of demos and reviews are done by people not making a dime for their efforts.
Don't like what someone is giving you for free? Then stop whinging and do your own damned video.

 

[ShortyGetLow]

I play fretless with a pick....

 

[obimark]

I undeestand that, but I just dont understand why every demo I have tried to watch for the past 2 days is played only with a pick. I find it very unprofessional, and I only just started trying to play, but reall. . Comon sence...

Really- you just started to play and you are qualified to judge, you better tell all the guys who recorded HUGE hits with a pick, that they need to go re-do them to be professional. Are we really still on the "pick" players aren't bass players nonsense?

 

[Sean Brookes]

Short scale basses are finally having a moment and are finally being seen as 'serious' instruments - especially like Chowny and the SWB-1. Too many demos still open with... great for small hands and guitar players who need an occasional bass... This prejudice is disappearing and I think the pick thing is still a hang over from this old attitude.

 

[petrus61]

OP asks for demos without picks, everyone posts demos with pics.

 

[Pirate Captain]

Probably a guitar player...

this ^

 

[higain617]

What are you trying to glean from bass demo videos? You'd be much better serviced by going out and trying a few. That's the only way you'll know if it fits your style.

 

[Rocinante_x1]

Hey, hey... you got it wrong! I said playing bass ONLY with a pick in a DEMO is unprofessional, and I stand still behind this statement, no matter who the player is

Agreed. Or those demos that the dude only slaps in.

 

[flyingfinbar]

Wow, only here can so many people get it so wrong, and then get so outraged and offended by their misinterpretation of the meaning of the original post! I hope you folks aren't as obnoxiously nitpicking and thin-skinned in real life- with significant others, family, friends and strangers- as you are here.

Take a deep breath, maybe a Xanax, and reread the original post. Forgive any slightly vague statements, try your best to forget your newfound, yet grossly overstated, copy editing and litigation skills, and think big picture. The OP isn't offending or targeting anyone. Not even you, lil pal. Relax.

It's no wonder modern music is going bass player-less, in favor of programming... we're a bunch of crybabies.

 

[Copperhead]

Hee.. hee... told ya.
Strange ..

Not at all. Mostly guitar players. Can't you tell ?

 

[konfyouzd]

Why are so many TB threads started with an opinion , but stated as a fact?

Swing and a miss

 

[Bass4LifeRS]

Swing and a miss

He said most, that is his "fact" but it is not proven or maybe not even true, so it's an opinion.

 

[nomaj]

Whoa! Just knowing who Hindemith is and that he wrote cello pieces is awesome. Good on ya. Playing him on a jaws harp would be so cool.
Painful to hear, but cool.

I love his Concerto for Jew's harp and theremin.

 

[konfyouzd]

He said most, that is his "fact" but it is not proven or maybe not even true, so it's an opinion.

Sounds like you don't have enough stuff to fill your day.

 

[GBBSbassist]

I find it very unprofessional

and I only just started trying to play