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Why Hate Pick Players?

#61
I'm amazed at how many players are influenced by other players opinions especially when the opinion is offered with a touch of malice to it. The fingers vs pick crap has been around for ever and I think started when guitarists first picked up the Bass and played it. The folks who couldn't quite cut it on guitar brought an attitude to the Bass that it was easier and less technical. The pick was just along for the ride!!! Now a days it seems the finger player guys have the attitude and the pick player is the grunt of poor comments. 'If your a pop musician you need to be well rounded in all methods of playing a Bass just as all musicians should.
If you feel someone is getting overly personally just walk away and if he follows turn around and drop him. Lifes to short to take **** from morons and I believe there should be consequences to peoples actions and comments freedom costs, some need to pay up!!!!! Doc
 
#62
I play with a pick most of the time because I like the extra mid it adds. I do play with fingers too, but not often because my chops are not as smooth. Both are a must to be a great bass player. Knowledge is power........the more you know, the more you grow!!!
 
#68
rymiraflores said:
Picks or fingers...flats or rounds..., valves or solid-state...fender or gibson...blues or jazz...need I go on?...Whatever YOU like is what´s best !
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However, in any art or industry, there are "Best Practices" or "Best Approaches".

I was taught to use my fingers;
When I taught, I taught students to use their fingers.

There *is* a place for pick playing, just not with me.
 
#71
Gaius46 said:
Really?

A fingernail produces the same clarity of tone that a pick does.
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In theory maybe. Bunny Brunel is the only player I've actually seen do it though. And what nails won't do are down strokes which sound different from upstrokes. Not to mention that taking care of nails long and strong enough to play bass with is a nightmare. I know, I tried for several weeks once.

If it's so doable to get the sound of a pick with your fingers why do players like Steve Swallow, Carles Benavent, Bobby Vega and many others spend so much time working on playing with a pick?
 
#74
jeff arddun said:
In theory maybe. Bunny Brunel is the only player I've actually seen do it though. And what nails won't do are down strokes which sound different from upstrokes. Not to mention that taking care of nails long and strong enough to play bass with is a nightmare. I know, I tried for several weeks once.

If it's so doable to get the sound of a pick with your fingers why do players like Steve Swallow, Carles Benavent, Bobby Vega and many others spend so much time working on playing with a pick?
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Don't know. Maybe you're right about the difficulty involved in using nails. I've only started experimenting playing bass with my nails though it's something I do all the time on guitar. (and yeah maintaining nails is a pain....)

And while you're right about up and down strokes with a pick you can produce different tones with your fingers (without using nails) by using rest or free strokes.

Okay so I'll take back the statement that there isn't a thing you can do with a pick that can't be done with the fingers - that was ill advised. I do think that fingers are more versatile.



rockstarbassist said:
tell ur guitard to play with his fingers
lets see if he laughs at you! :love:
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There are *LOTS* of guitarists who play with their fingers. And not just acoustic players. And for the record one of my guitarists does play some tunes with his fingers though he's mostly a pick player.
 
#76
Etchbass said:
Honestly, I was trained to pluck--- I have been plucking away for years and years.

Now i find myself in a pretty successful rock band, looking for more aggressive tones from time to time. That's just one instance where playing with a pick will come in handy (pun intended).

The long-short of it is this:

For me at least, learning to develop my picking technique has been much more difficult than it was for me to learn finger style bass playing. I'm still not comfortable playing live with a pick, after months and months of practicing.

Has anyone had similar experiences?

Also, what kind of picks do you guys prefer? I'm really digging 2mm picks my guitarist had lying around. I feel like I have a lot more control than when I use floppy fender picks... although they are really good for lighting on fire.
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I know exactly what you're saying. I've been in the same boat for quite some time now. But I've (for the most part) gotten my picking down, and can do pretty much anything I can do with my finger, aside from slap/pop and thump. I generally use the Tortex 1.18mm purple sharps. Their incredibly easy to play with, (and dont feel like your holding a small rock, like some picks I've used. )
 
#78
I wish I could still play with a pick. Way back in my youth I used a pick for about a good half of the songs we played bars and used my fingers for the rest. I very seldom ever give myself a pat on the back for anything, but back then I had a hell of a technique with a pick.

Many years have past and free time to practice is a rarity anymore due to long work hours. Last time I tried to play with a pick was about a month ago. I was practicing at home and thought I'd try to play "Roundabout" by Yes...I was about as useless as they come.

Nothing wrong with adding good pick playing to one's bag of tricks. Anyone who say's it's not valid is an idiot.
 
#80
people naturally downplay anything they cant do. i use both, i can do 97% of what i can pic with my fingers, and vice versa. i dont have preference, whatever i (or the producer) think fits the song the best.
 

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