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Why the hostility towards plectrum ?
- Thread starter jsa0100
- Start date
+1.... and I used to be one of the ignorant ones when I was young and stupid. Now, I wish I wasn't too old and too busy to practice/learn how to play with a pick. Funny, how when you think you know it all.....that's when you're the dumbest!
why are you so worried about it? At the end of the day its another tool in the box, if people choose to ignore that tool then its their loss. Its interesting that someone like Anthony Jackson who is a pillar in the bass playing community used to be known for his use of a pick; isn't it? 
Just doing your thing and don't worry about it.
For the record, I'm mainly a plucker.
Just doing your thing and don't worry about it.
For the record, I'm mainly a plucker.
I honestly don't see anything wrong with the use of a plectrum. I don't use one myself, but that doesn't mean I think there is anything inferior about those that do. There are any number of players that, I personally, respect that do use one either primarily or partially. These include, as mentioned before Anthony Jackson, Chris Squire, Dominique Di Piazza, Justin Chancellor and so on.
Plectrum has its sound, which can vary depending on the material it is made from and the technique used by the player. There are also a number of techniques that can be employed with a plectrum, pretty much anything that can be done with one on guitar can be adapted to bass. On the other hand finger playing is finger playing and there are a series of applications that are unique to that type of playing.
So in general I would say, all things being equal, that the best approach is the approach that gives you the most options and not to discount any technique.
Plectrum has its sound, which can vary depending on the material it is made from and the technique used by the player. There are also a number of techniques that can be employed with a plectrum, pretty much anything that can be done with one on guitar can be adapted to bass. On the other hand finger playing is finger playing and there are a series of applications that are unique to that type of playing.
So in general I would say, all things being equal, that the best approach is the approach that gives you the most options and not to discount any technique.
Why the hostility?
Because many bass players using picks began as guitarists who weren't "cutting" it on guitar in a two guitar band. The band said, "Hey, our bass player just bailed, why don't you play bass instead?" Being crappy on one instrument can easily translate into being crappy on two instruments.
I've honestly shown up at auditions and had musicians immediately diggin me over others because I played with my fingers and was a "real" bass player!
Having said that, I play guitar solely with a pick, my bass with my fingers, and I personally dig bassists who use picks and/or fingers- it doesn't matter to me, but the perception is truly there. Some of my favorite bass tones are from bass players who only pick. Knowing how to do both well is best!
Because many bass players using picks began as guitarists who weren't "cutting" it on guitar in a two guitar band. The band said, "Hey, our bass player just bailed, why don't you play bass instead?" Being crappy on one instrument can easily translate into being crappy on two instruments.
I've honestly shown up at auditions and had musicians immediately diggin me over others because I played with my fingers and was a "real" bass player!
Having said that, I play guitar solely with a pick, my bass with my fingers, and I personally dig bassists who use picks and/or fingers- it doesn't matter to me, but the perception is truly there. Some of my favorite bass tones are from bass players who only pick. Knowing how to do both well is best!
If anyone ever says "real bass players use their fingers" just ask those people why.
They never ever have a reason why beyond "thats what they were always doing".
People weren't always playing rock n roll or electric instruments so "real" musicians only play classical on acoustic instruments.
They never ever have a reason why beyond "thats what they were always doing".
People weren't always playing rock n roll or electric instruments so "real" musicians only play classical on acoustic instruments.
more or less what happened to meWhy the hostility?
Because many bass players using picks began as guitarists who weren't "cutting" it on guitar in a two guitar band. The band said, "Hey, our bass player just bailed, why don't you play bass instead?" Being crappy on one instrument can easily translate into being crappy on two instruments.
In fact the only two other bass players i know personally
of also started out on guitar.
The reason why it became me though is that i am
a person who is easy to convince and since the other
guitar player give us the finger, it became me.
At first i thought it would be easy, but playing bass well is harder
than it seems.
I know there are many pro bass players that started out on
guitars and went to bass, in fact i think most of them
started out on guitar, including Carol Kaye.
"Being crappy on one instrument can easily translate into being crappy on two instruments."
In fact i thought so once. I have also heard that statement on bass players in general.
It could be because i once saw a guitarist as an emergency played a bass with a pick.
On the other hand beginning bass players with no history on any other instrument
isn't wery convincing either. And i guess the also would have a hard time starting with a pick.
How ever even some more experienced finger players seems angry if some one talks about picks in a positive way.
I finds this strange.
Steve Swallow, immense contra-bassist and more or less inventor of the jazz bass playing, uses ONLY the pick.
And this stops any doubts.
I personally use both fingers and pick depending on the tune I have to perform.
Hard rock tunes (like Long live rock'n'roll by Rainbows) only with pick (and bridge HH).
ET
And this stops any doubts.
I personally use both fingers and pick depending on the tune I have to perform.
Hard rock tunes (like Long live rock'n'roll by Rainbows) only with pick (and bridge HH).
ET
Didn't Carol Kaye once write an extensive diatribe about the evils of using a pick to play bass? 
I just find it complicated to use a pick on a bass. Guitar i can play both finger style and pick but i just can't use a pick on a bass because of the string spacing. Dispite all that i just don't like the sound of the pick on bass.
No Carol Kaye uses a pick.Didn't Carol Kaye once write an extensive diatribe about the evils of using a pick to play bass?
This thread has inspired me to give the pick a try. I was goofin around with the guitarist the other day between songs. He started playing Zombie by the Cranberries, I grabbed a pick and started finding the bassline. It sounded so good, it fit the song better than fingerstyle. I'm gonna make a REAL effort to add the pick sound to my toolbox. 
I started as a guitarist...but i'm trying to become a real bassist so cut me some slack.
In most situations I prefer the sound of fingers. I would use fingers in most situations. Sometimes (like on the song "Salvation is Here" by Hillsong) I can't get the speed I need with fingers. I'm working on getting my fingers consistently faster but a plectrum really does help if you're playing a song that requires 16th notes...at least not starting out.
I'll get that solo with fingers someday...until then i'll unashamedly use a pick. : )
In most situations I prefer the sound of fingers. I would use fingers in most situations. Sometimes (like on the song "Salvation is Here" by Hillsong) I can't get the speed I need with fingers. I'm working on getting my fingers consistently faster but a plectrum really does help if you're playing a song that requires 16th notes...at least not starting out.
I'll get that solo with fingers someday...until then i'll unashamedly use a pick. : )
I just prefer fingers, seems more natural... and less wannabe-guitarist.... meh...
But I do like the sound of the pick if I have my bass as 'warm' sounding as possible, gives a really deep punch... not sure if those are the words I'm looking for but yeah
But I do like the sound of the pick if I have my bass as 'warm' sounding as possible, gives a really deep punch... not sure if those are the words I'm looking for but yeah
I prefer fingerstyle both because of the sound I get and the fact my fingers are doing their work, not my already computer-overtaxed wrist. If someone can dig it with plectrums, all the better for them - Pete Trewavas wouldn't get where he is now if he weren't a pick player! 
I use picks on some songs because these Pros:
A) Looks cooler
B) Easier to rock out
C) Sharper sound to cut through
D) Play your bass at any weird angle
E) Be able to play your bass positioned lower than a "necklace"
F) Ability to palm mute
Cons
A) Technical ability falls short of finger style
B) Lose all roundness of sound
C) Technical speed of playing (not blast bpm)
D) Comfort
E) Playing without a soft touch
A) Looks cooler
B) Easier to rock out
C) Sharper sound to cut through
D) Play your bass at any weird angle
E) Be able to play your bass positioned lower than a "necklace"
F) Ability to palm mute
Cons
A) Technical ability falls short of finger style
B) Lose all roundness of sound
C) Technical speed of playing (not blast bpm)
D) Comfort
E) Playing without a soft touch
I'm with you on most of those...but I can play a whole lot faster with a pick. Maybe its my guitar playing background (I listen to lots of post-rock...lots of tremolo picking) but I can't imagine being faster with my fingers...
