Some people just have a bee up their arse, I guess. I use both a pick and my fingers, and even switch back and forth during songs. It all depends on the sound you're looking for. If I'm playing something that can be done with both, however, I usually bust the pick out. I have more command over the strings with one.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Why Hate Pick Players?
- Thread starter sohamorrohit
- Start date
I used to be a finger snob when I was about 18 ish. I was pretty much following on from what other people had said to me at the time. Like it was some kind of discipline to turn your fingertips into asbestos via blister and heal. I also used to play the heaviest gauge strings possible. I was probably a bit a tedious ******* about it back then tbh.
I'm more enlightened these days. Both finger and pick each provide different tones and techniques. So you'd be pretty foolish not to use either, when applicable. And actually it's handy to switch to fingers if you get handcramp playing with a pick to much (I should probably do more stretches though for that).
One thing I will add is that you shouldn't abandon your fingers altogether otherwise you get nasty blisters at the time you most need them.
I'm more enlightened these days. Both finger and pick each provide different tones and techniques. So you'd be pretty foolish not to use either, when applicable. And actually it's handy to switch to fingers if you get handcramp playing with a pick to much (I should probably do more stretches though for that).
One thing I will add is that you shouldn't abandon your fingers altogether otherwise you get nasty blisters at the time you most need them.
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.
And this all goes away when you grab your pick and play circles around that guy. Or it continues when he plays circles around you. But if that guy hasn't even heard you play, why do you care in the slightest?
Of course, I'm not saying music is a competition, but it is a fact that some people confuse skill with bragging rights; this happens no matter what particular techniques you use or what instrument you play. I guess if the attitude bothers you, your options are to prove them wrong or learn to deal with it. I hope you enjoy practicing.
In my opinion, there is no reason to strive to become the best, but lots and lots of reasons to strive to become good.
When i was young, i was dumb enough to fall under "real bassist plays with fingers" stereotype but smart enough for never bashing pick players. And it turned out good for me, forcing me to work on my fingerstyle.
My first instrument was guitar and then i became singer/bass player in a band having no prior bass playing experience. So i started playing bass with pick because we wanted to rock as soon as possible. But then i started to learn finger style and incorporate it more and more in my playing.
Who knows, maybe without the stereotype, i would play pick only to this day
. Instead i can do both fingerstyle and pick playing now (usually it's fingerstyle though).
My first instrument was guitar and then i became singer/bass player in a band having no prior bass playing experience. So i started playing bass with pick because we wanted to rock as soon as possible. But then i started to learn finger style and incorporate it more and more in my playing.
Who knows, maybe without the stereotype, i would play pick only to this day
. Instead i can do both fingerstyle and pick playing now (usually it's fingerstyle though).Just about all of my fav bass players use picks. Paul M. Jason Newsted, Rex Brown, Tyson Ritter. I just LOVE the sound that it gives, that real trebbley pumpin sound. In my opinion anyone who hates on what someone is using to get their sound probably has no respect or knowledge on the instrument in the first place. I'm a proud pick user because it gives me the sound that I love.
- Jul 3, 2004
- 1,300
- 641
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Ernie Ball MusicMan Guitars
Don't consider people offering this opinion a musician. Easy enough, as that would be the case.
You know:
Anthony Jackson
Paul
Chris...etc...all suck cuz they use a pick.
Yeah that one from Bob Whats his name uses, you know the great metal guy from the metal band .....................................MegaMatilicaDeath, I think thats their name!!!! The guy whos the best bass player in the world or on his block I forget which or maybe his house!!
Doc
Doc
I usually only hear the anti pick player sentiment from non-bassists or kids . You know the I hate all (insert brand here) basses and I never play a simple bass line (regardless of the song's needs) 'cuz I so awesome' type malarkey
I don't hate pick players, but I made a conscience effort when I learned to play to learn not to use a pick. I started on guitar and switched over maybe at 13 or 14. But I do have prejudice when I see a player in a club playing with a pick for every song not just songs that require a pick. I love Chris Squier, Macca, some of the new wave players that used a pick. Hell I am sure there are players who used a pick that I like and I never knew they were pick players. Funny thing is now, I am not comfortable playing bass with a pick.
I do think proper players can play finger style. I
I do think proper players can play finger style. I
I'm so glad I found pickstyle. I found my voice on the bass when I did. The whole proper bassist thing is garbage.
I can play with my fingers, and used to be a "fingers only" snob. I was pretty stupid and ignorant back then.
Honestly, there is no excuse for it except if you want to be a sheep, or are just completely ignorant.
I can play with my fingers, and used to be a "fingers only" snob. I was pretty stupid and ignorant back then.
Honestly, there is no excuse for it except if you want to be a sheep, or are just completely ignorant.
The advantage to playing with a pick is that you can have them custom made and throw them into the crowd for souvenirs (or hand them to the hot girls). I'm not cutting off a finger - no matter how hot she is.
Picks are used on guitars. A lot of bassists whose priorities are jacked want to stand out and be recognized, so they figure using a pick will just make them the boring guitar player.
It's stupid and they're wrong, of course. Being a bass player means that 99% of the time you're not going to stand out anyway, so suck it up cupcake.
It's stupid and they're wrong, of course. Being a bass player means that 99% of the time you're not going to stand out anyway, so suck it up cupcake.
Some people (in metal world especially) dislike pick players because they do the same thing those 'haters' do with years of practice with fingers. I've met a plenty of pick players and they were generally way tighter in metal context than their fingerstyle counterparts. Karma's a bitch, turns out some metal players focus on using their hands so much that they forget to be tight with the drumkit, while many pick players MOSTLY practice muting, string skipping and getting locked in with the drummer. All this being said, there are some songs that simply sound way better with a pick so I use it, but I prefer to use fingers for comfort. Got no shame in playing with a pick if it will sound better, if I am playing fingerstyle just to boost some ego, I've already failed as a musician, bass player and a human being.
My favorite part of the Metal world is seeing those guys with either the 4 string slung so low they have to put wheels on the thing to move on the stage, or Captain Mozart with his 12 string Fodera doing Kiss cover songs.
But yes, we as metal bassists tend to be overly dramatic when we're younger about **** that doesn't matter.
Hahahaha, yeah, this is really golden. I saw some SOAD cover band a few months ago, the guy was using a black epi thunderbird. I might be wrong, but I think he hit the floor with his HEADSTOCK once. It was really amazing (in the worst sense possible). Also his strings rattled so much I could see them moving from the third row.
Yeah, and the worst ones are those who play least important stuff.
