• 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 is there so much hate against using picks?

T

thathatman

Sep 17, 2002
17
0
42
La Mirada, CA
Visit site
#1
The other day a buddy of mine said, "Real bassists don't use picks."
I asked him if he was afraid of rock and roll bass tone. I argued with him for a while. This happened a few days ago and it still makes my blood boil as much as being asked to play "the Seinfeld theme."

Why is there so much hate against using picks?

What are some memorable basslines that are played using a pick?
 
#4
Roundabout?

Pretty much anything w/Carol Kaye on it?

Tons of stuff - wasn't McCartney also a pick player?

Although I'm a finger player myself (never did get the hang of a pick) that's a fairly clueless comment on your buddy's behalf.


GT
 
#5
No idea. I use whatever gives me the sound/attack I feel is appropriate for the song. Fingers, thumb, pick, whatever. The one thing I don't do is slap/pop and that's because I just never put the time into learning how to do it properly as I've never really played a style of music where it was called for.
 
#8
Im slowly learning to use a pick....and I do mean slowly. Between work, learning songs, and perfecting my finger style technique, theres not much time to practice it, plus Im not THAT interested in it, just want to be a little more versatile tone wise. It never feels like ME making the music when using a pick for some reason, kinda artificial. But with fingerstyle it feels more like Im making the music. Who cares what anybody else uses if it sounds good?! So, no, I dont understand the hate...or gear snobbery. Rock on!
 
#10
I have never needed to use a pick. I can get a really nice pick tone from my fingers. I played guitar for 5 years and still play so I am comfortable using picks. I just dont need one on bass. For those who do use picks more power to you.
 
#12
I've always played straight fingers because that's how I was taught, but lately I've spent some time learning slap and pick. All techniques are useful for some things. Sometimes I joke that "real bassists use fingers", but it's only a joke.

I also tell people real photographers use film. That's not a joke...

As for famous bassists who use picks, how about Burke Shelley of Budgie? I don't think he could get that sound without a pick. Same goes for Roger Waters. They both use P-basses with that rich low end and they both get the hard attack from the pick.
 
#16
Ive been playing for almost 26 years. My teacher started me playing with a pick. He also taught guitar but was an excellent bassist and teacher and so I used one. There was no internet at that time, so I never heard anyone say anything to me about using a pick other than "hey, how come your tone is so consistent and even compared to every other bass player I know?" I played in tons of bands over the years in front of thousands and the only place i heard it was on the internet or from someone that heard it from the internet.

By the way, about 4 years ago I decided to get my finger technique up to where my picking was and I did that. And since my original teacher taught me slapping well, I have 3 strong techniques in my arsenal.
 
#17
sound of bass said:
Im slowly learning to use a pick....and I do mean slowly. Between work, learning songs, and perfecting my finger style technique, theres not much time to practice it, plus Im not THAT interested in it, just want to be a little more versatile tone wise. It never feels like ME making the music when using a pick for some reason, kinda artificial. But with fingerstyle it feels more like Im making the music. Who cares what anybody else uses if it sounds good?! So, no, I dont understand the hate...or gear snobbery. Rock on!
Click to expand...

I agree here. Using fingers makes playing feel more personal and intimate. Each technique has its place and provides a particular sound that one might be trying to achieve. For me. Fingers feel more personal and intimate, while slap style feels like I'm beating on my wife, and picking feels like I'm watching someone else do her while keeping my left hand busy fingering my "neck".
 
#19
Arr MiHardies said:
I agree here. Using fingers makes playing feel more personal and intimate. Each technique has its place and provides a particular sound that one might be trying to achieve. For me. Fingers feel more personal and intimate, while slap style feels like I'm beating on my wife, and picking feels like I'm watching someone else do her while keeping my left hand busy fingering my "neck".
Click to expand...

Yeh yeh, so what do feel while Tony Levin uses his funk finger?
 
#20
when I was coming up in the '70s, conventional wisdom was that the only bassists who used picks were frustrated guitar players, so it was that "Real" bassists used their fingers.

While there might be an element of truth in that statement, it's pretty silly. If using a pick works for you, great. If it doesn't - Great.

What I want to know is why do you care what people think?
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back