But he also put a finger rest on there so bassists could use their thumbs. Conflicting statements from Leo? Not that I care what he thought one way or another, though...he didn't play.
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Why is playing with a pick so frowned upon?
- Thread starter ferdinandstrat
- Start date
IMO playing with a pick is not all that frowned upon. But; playing with a pick badly, well that's a whole 'nother story. 
thank you thank you. I'll be here all week 
But seriously, I use a pick about 20% of the time. It's just another wrench in the tool box for me. I have never seen it as a problem either way.
thank you thank you. I'll be here all week But seriously, I use a pick about 20% of the time. It's just another wrench in the tool box for me. I have never seen it as a problem either way.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
Because some bassists are stupid. For some of us, it is a sonic change for fingers. For some, it makes playing some faster passages easier. For some, it is all they use. For some, it just doesn't work.
If it works for you, then do it. Sir Paul seemed to do OK.
If it works for you, then do it. Sir Paul seemed to do OK.
Everything that doesn't pay homage to the "Leo Fender got it right the first time" bassist, is automatically frowned upon.
Personally, If I had the scratch, I'd buy a 7 string 37" scale bass with fanned frets and the most hi-fi active electronics possible, played through a full stack of digital modelling amps drowned in effects and I'd play with banjo finger picks. Then, I'd start playing all of the classic songs that people say "You can only use a p-bass on this track, nothing else sounds right". I'd smile as the angry torch mob gathered around me.
-Ron
Personally, If I had the scratch, I'd buy a 7 string 37" scale bass with fanned frets and the most hi-fi active electronics possible, played through a full stack of digital modelling amps drowned in effects and I'd play with banjo finger picks. Then, I'd start playing all of the classic songs that people say "You can only use a p-bass on this track, nothing else sounds right". I'd smile as the angry torch mob gathered around me.
-Ron
Let people limit themselves if they don't believe playing a bass with a pick is valid; don't let their views limit your playing. As for the listeners passing judgement, screw 'em, you're the one having fun. ^_^
There was no channel for electronics on early Fender Jazz bases, at least none that were covered by the pick guard.
I, too, frown upon beginners learning with a pick. If you can play with a pick for songs that call for it ( I can't) you are more versatile. I started on guitar but as soon as I got a bass I started playing finger style. I can play for only short amounts of time with a pick. I do like the sound of a pick on certain songs. If your part and playing serve the song, most bass players will respect you no matter how you play.
Fender history: Leo Fender's beta tester for the Fender Jazz Bass was Monk Montgomery. He played with a pick.
and of course...
Carles Benevant
Anthony Jackson
Chris Squire
Sorry. My two cents again...
Stay groovy,
RH
and of course...
Carles Benevant
Anthony Jackson
Chris Squire
Sorry. My two cents again...
Stay groovy,
RH
I had the opposite experience when I expanded my skill set from guitar to bass. Finger style came pretty easily to me but using a pick was something I had to work at.
Every discussion where a small loud minority tries to tell the rest of the bass playing community they are doing it wrong gets contentious.
"i can't stand conentious people/bassists who insist on using fingers. use your fingers for whistling or pointing - thats all" - leo fender
Last edited:
Um...
Yeah, so why is it that this discussion gets so contentious, do you think?
I think most people have said it already, but for me it boils down to this:
The first reaction from another musician is probably "Here's the guy who couldn't quite hack it on guitar, or wants to play guitar but they won't let him, so he's trying to get as guitar-like as possible." For some bassists this was the case, like with Gene Simmons. Obviously there are several talented guys who play bass with a pick, but for most amateurs just playing root notes, it's hard not to see it as "Yeah, he's the guitarist who drew the short straw".
FWIW, I actually find playing with a pick to be fun on several songs, it's also very integral to the sound of many songs or styles. Punk music or grunge rock had a lot of pickers and it lends itself to the character of the tone. Krist Novoselic and Chris Joannou are who come to my mind for the quintessential picked grunge tone. If it works, it works...don't sweat it, because there are plenty of other things that fellow musicians will try and rip you apart for besides using a pick
The first reaction from another musician is probably "Here's the guy who couldn't quite hack it on guitar, or wants to play guitar but they won't let him, so he's trying to get as guitar-like as possible." For some bassists this was the case, like with Gene Simmons. Obviously there are several talented guys who play bass with a pick, but for most amateurs just playing root notes, it's hard not to see it as "Yeah, he's the guitarist who drew the short straw".
FWIW, I actually find playing with a pick to be fun on several songs, it's also very integral to the sound of many songs or styles. Punk music or grunge rock had a lot of pickers and it lends itself to the character of the tone. Krist Novoselic and Chris Joannou are who come to my mind for the quintessential picked grunge tone. If it works, it works...don't sweat it, because there are plenty of other things that fellow musicians will try and rip you apart for besides using a pick
I don't think it is. I play with my fingers, my thumb, and with a pick. 'Just depends on which bass and/or what tune I'm playin'.
IMO playing with a pick is not all that frowned upon. But; playing with a pick badly, well that's a whole 'nother story.
But seriously, I use a pick about 20% of the time. It's just another wrench in the tool box for me. I have never seen it as a problem either way.
I don't see how you can say that. There are plenty of examples of bass players on this board and even in this thread of players "frowning" upon those who use a pick.
