• 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?

#101
There is nothing wrong with using a pick.
There is nothing wrong with root notes.
It's all about the music. If that's what the song needs, that's what you should play.

Imagine The Cars' "Drive" played with a million notes and slapped silly. Wouldn't work, would it?
Imagine "Ace of Spades" with Jaco-esque fretless noodling. I'd rather not.
The reverse is also true:
Teen Town wouldn't be much fun with the root played with a pick.
Play the song.

Fingerstyle, slapping, pick all have their place. If every bass player played the same way it would be really, really boring.
 
#103
Bass playing can, and often has to be boring and simple. Playing with different feel, tone and attack can make the difference to a "simple" bassline, and could keep your head in the game instead of falling asleep during a ballad or overplaying. Using a pick is another tonal option.
 
#104
I've had to tell a young player or two to go listen to a couple of Yes songs and listen to Chris Squire. Report back to me and please tell me that pick players suck.

I'm mostly a finger player and I can get a pretty good attack with my fingers. But there are some songs that simple demand playing the bass line with that attack you can only get with a pick. I'm not a great pick player, so if the line is something very fast or needs a lot of dexterity, I have to use my fingers. But things like "Rebel Yell" just sound better when played with a pick.
 
#105
2 of the best bassists ever, Bobby Vega and T-Bone Wolk (now deceased), played with a pick. As I remember Wolk said he used a pick often because of all the guitar players onstage.

I believe Tommy Shannon uses a pick now and again. I believe he used a pick whenever SRV played "Voodoo Child-Slight Return".
 
#106
I think the prejudice is rooted in a place far away. Back in the day a bass player with a pick = converted guitar player = roots. It wasn't always accurate, many prejudices are not.

In my case it was. When I was 18 I was the worst of 3 guitar players in a band that couldn't find a bass player. I bought a bass, learned the roots, played with a pick. I caught alot of heat but then we also gigged alot.

Some finger divas came to shows to yuk it up making fun of my pick. A quick "where's your band playing tonight" shut them up pretty quick.

Fast forward 35 years. I stll play alot of songs with a pick. Still play some songs on the root. Still gig alot.

Go figure.
 
#108
I, too, used to be a mostly funk / jam band / blues kind of player who didn't really have a developed pick technique. But my current project has a lot of punk / no-wave influence, and the pick sound is just right.

So, in developing my ability with the pick, I started seeing how utilizing it on my previous interests worked, and I have to say that on some funk tunes or even just noodling around in that style, the pick often sounds really cool. Also, see: BOBBY VEGA.

I'm still primarily a fingerstyle player, but feel grateful to have developed my picking technique to a point where I'm comfortable with it.
 
#111
I have been experimenting with a pick that is basically a plastic washer. 5/16th's inch hole and 1 3/8's inch diameter. Have used UHMW plastic, and just today had a machinist buddy make me two picks from Teflon and one from Delrin. The Teflon picks are 1/8 inch thick and the Delrin one is thinner. I just love the way the Teflon glides on the string. I am sure this has been done before, but can't find anything on it yet. Dave
 
#113
I don't use a pick but some of my favorite bass players do. Chris Squire, Phil Lesh, Mike Gordon are all incredible bass players who use a pick. Its all about getting out the sound and if a pick works for you that is awsome! No one should care if one uses a pick or not. PERIOD.
 
#114
I had no idea pick players were hated until seeing the title of this thread.

I would sincerely hope that humans have more important things to focus on in life.

It seems that many humans suffer from the "be like me, think like me" syndrome. If someone likes something else, or has a differing opinion of something, it's time to burn them at the stake!

If a finger player enjoys fingerstyle playing, that's cool, but why spend brain time hating pick players? (and vice-versa).

I just don't get it.

Imagine being in a world where everyone likes the same thing and everyone does the same thing. Eew! That would be a freakish science fiction world that I would not want to live in. I am pleasantly relieved that we like different things and do different things. I therefore do not hate others for being different than me. In fact, I am very thankful for it!
 
#116
Arrogance seems to be most of the time a big player in the negative comments from "fingers only faithful bass players" to those who choose to use a pick. There is no right or wrong way if you ask me. Play the way you want. Most pro's use a pick too and it works out just fine.
 
#118
arock0627 said:
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.
Click to expand...

Link Removed
wine-snob1.jpg
 
#119
Right now I'm learning Sound of White Noise by Anthrax. The grinding, sludgy basslines on this album demand a pick for that nastiness in most cases.

I'm also learning a few of the tunes finger style because they're physically demanding and constant, persistent emeffers that will help me overall.
 
#120
When I play "Hillbillies (Love it in the Hay)" by Hot Apple Pie I wind up playing 3 styles in the same song:

1. Pick goes in the mouth like a cigarette before the song starts
2. Slap through the verses
3. Fingerstyle through the choruses
4. Grab the pick real fast for the solo
5. Drop pick on the ground after solo
6. Slap the rest of the song

So, a place in the world for everything, blah blah blah.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back