That is a good point, I've found myself walking during a slow part of a song and the bassline is very minimalist. I'll actually keep my pick between my index and thumb while I pluck the string with my middle & ring finger.
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Why Hate Pick Players?
- Thread starter sohamorrohit
- Start date
That is a good point, I've found myself walking during a slow part of a song and the bassline is very minimalist. I'll actually keep my pick between my index and thumb while I pluck the string with my middle & ring finger.
I haven't seen much hatred at all for pick players on TB. Most of the people taking shots at pick players are only being sarcastic.
sohamorrohit said:I know this has been done like a million times. No. Like a gazillion times but I still can't figure out why these two styles can't be accepted as a package for a bass player rather than a this vs that debate. When I first started playing bass I was totally into funk and funk-fusion. So I never used a pick. And even if I ever wanted to, the fact that I love slapping a lot made it difficult to switch mid-song. But recently I joined a punk band (I'm surprised that punk has actually strengthened my technique - speed and finger strength to be precise) and on many songs I find that it's easier/better to play with a pick. And just the other day, another bassist here, saw me playing with a pick and said "You play with a pick? Oh cool. So do you play anything beside root notes?"
Now, I don't take comments like those personally but that made me angry.After 2 years of covering Sly and The Family Stone, Funkadelic and Jaco I dont need anybody telling me that.
So, why EXACTLY is a pick-using-bassist synonymous with a noob? I mean most guitarists use picks but the ones that use fingers (most old country-blues players, Knopfler, Albert King, Derek Trucks, Chet Atkins and EVEN John Mayer, to an extent) don't get **** for finger-picking. So why us?
Phil lesh used a pick and he played all around the root note. Instead of going back to the root he would play say the minor 5th. Some really good players used picks for example Phil lead and mike Gordon. I think Roger waters even used a pick ever now and then. Nothing wrong with using a pick in my opinion, I personally play with my fingers most of the time but I do like the sharper tone you get from a pick.
I don't see any hate here on TB but out in the real world, there will be that one "technically accomplished and thus superior" bass player who will look down upon a pick player. And like someone else mentioned, they probably don't HATE you but they DO consider you inferior. What that guy told me about how I must only know how to play root notes proves the stereotype that people have: pick players are just punk and pop-punk players who only picked up an instrument to look "cool" and doesn't really care about playing it. THAT preconceived notion is what bothers me.
I think even John Myung used a pick on Systematic Chaos for a few tunes.
I play rhythm guitar too, so for me, I already have that muscle memory trained so to use a pick on a bass usually gives me pains because I don't do it right. The last couple of years I've been diversifying my finger technique, trying to use more 3 fingers and experiment with different positions for my right hand. Still can't get floating thumb, either.
Remember that a lot of people pretend to know what they are talking about.
I play rhythm guitar too, so for me, I already have that muscle memory trained so to use a pick on a bass usually gives me pains because I don't do it right. The last couple of years I've been diversifying my finger technique, trying to use more 3 fingers and experiment with different positions for my right hand. Still can't get floating thumb, either.
Remember that a lot of people pretend to know what they are talking about.
Just tell them you're very good with your fingers. If they don't believe you, have them ask their mom.
Been playing bass with a pick or thumb for forty three years and the thought of one style vs. the other NEVER crossed my mind. I just decided about after forty years in that it was time to add more to the tool box so, I learned fingerstyle.
It's not a competition or about a right or wrong style. It's about making music.
It's not a competition or about a right or wrong style. It's about making music.
I've played both for years, each style has it's own place in terms of tone and necessity. There are things that I can do with a pick that I can't do with my fingers and visa versa. As for the whole argument that a pick is better for rock while fingers are better for jazz/funk, I'll be the first to say that if you're teqnique regarding either style is together, you can play anything.
I was always a "you play bass with your fingers not a pick" for years. Kind of stupid really cause when you get down to it your really just taking a tool out of your toolbox. I still play mainly with my fingers, but there are songs where a pick fits the song much better.
Nothing wrong with using a pick.
Nothing wrong with using a pick.
Hey, why not hate pick players?
I mean, if you have nothing to do with your time might as well hate pick players for a bit, then maybe potato chips for awhile, perhaps followed by chinchillas. I typically hate mustard in my spare time.
Alternatively, you (meaning pick haters) could spend your time playing bass.
I mean, if you have nothing to do with your time might as well hate pick players for a bit, then maybe potato chips for awhile, perhaps followed by chinchillas. I typically hate mustard in my spare time.
Alternatively, you (meaning pick haters) could spend your time playing bass.
A pick is just one pick.
Without a pick, I have four picks. They're called fingers.
Seriously, It comes down to dexterity and what you are comfortable with.
I feel limited if I use a pick.
Without a pick, I have four picks. They're called fingers.
Seriously, It comes down to dexterity and what you are comfortable with.
I feel limited if I use a pick.
Why all the hate? Because people keep posting threads like this. We don't need polls asking picks or fingers etc. Use your comfort and skill as the gauge and damb (sic) the opinions.
I don't recall encountering any hate for flat-picking a bass.
Anyway, I like to do it all: plucking, slapping, picking, scraping, slamming, bowing, vibrating strings with a sex toy. Variety is your friend.
Why give s*** what anyone thinks about picking?
Anyway, I like to do it all: plucking, slapping, picking, scraping, slamming, bowing, vibrating strings with a sex toy. Variety is your friend.
Why give s*** what anyone thinks about picking?
So, why EXACTLY is a pick-using-bassist synonymous with a noob? I mean most guitarists use picks but the ones that use fingers (most old country-blues players, Knopfler, Albert King, Derek Trucks, Chet Atkins and EVEN John Mayer, to an extent) don't get **** for finger-picking. So why us?
Every classical guitarist in creation plays fingerstyle.
I've played with a pick in the past but have played mostly fingerstyle for the past decade.
Since picking up classical guitar and learning some classical guitar right hang techniques I can honestly say the flexibility inherent in using the fingers and the number of different tones you can produce from using your fingers makes playing any stringed instrument with a pick seem little better than hitting it with a club.
There are things you can play with your fingers that simply cannot be played with a pick. The reverse isn't true (except maybe for the agressive tone that picks generate.
I play with a pic all the time!! I love it!! I can play way faster and way harder! No hate for players who prefer to use a pic! If you notice, many of the most technical bass players play with a pic...to name one, Matt Freeman from Rancid...he is a bass God!!! I would like to see him play Maxwells Murder using his fingers!
