Would you have caved in & used a pick?

[7615]

IMO, It's better to use your fingers to strangle the guitarist. A pick takes too long and can get messy.

Metal picks … eh... huh?

 

[7615]

I am by far a pizzicato player but I also use a pick when the original recording used a pick. There is an aggressive to e a pick delivers your fingers can't (unless you never cut your fingernails). However you are right that the audience does not care because they do not know 99% of the time.
Are your skills there with a pick or is it a weakness in your playing?
It was a weakness for me in the 1980's, but I overcame the weakness.

My 40 years of experience and 2-3 cents worth.

I kept my nails long for a while because it is an interesting tone. Trouble is not getting sound requires an awkward angle in order to not get the nail sound.

 

[Deleted member 271037]

I would have done it with a pick. Whatever the song needs.

Maybe a cover band isn't really your thing? Your own tone/style seems important to you (which is great btw!) and there's not really much room for that in a cover band IMO.

Still, your ex-bandmates sound like morons and under those circumstances I would probably have left the band too.

 

[rjake007]

I would have done it with a pick. Whatever the song needs.

^^This^^

I try to "serve the song," meaning if it calls for a pick, then I use a pick. But it sounds like those guys are derisive and condescending. I think you made the right decision by bailing. Music is supposed to be fun!

 

[Steven Ayres]

what are your opinions on using a pick or fingers in a situation like this?

You did the right thing: Fire the band.

 

[Tom Gallo]

I'm equally happy playing with a pick or fingerstyle and it wouldn't having a problem if I was asked to use a pick. My problem in this story is they're being jackasses about it.

 

[LoTone]

Sounds like walking out was a good idea. I would not tolerate another musician that does not play bass, to tell me how I should correctly play bass.

I am thin skin; I know...

 

[40Hz]

I've brought that up to him. His answer is simply that he didn't want to.

Ah! The famous “Loser’s Answer.”

“I strive with none, for aught is worth my strife.”

Phrased in more contemporary language: “I can do anything - I just don’t feel like doing it.”

Coulda, shoulda, woulda…yeah, right!

You made the right decision by walking. Nobody needs to tap dance around a “I coulda been a contender.”

 

[Jephmo]

I play with a pick in a 70s/80s metal cover band playing songs that the original bassist played with fingers. ALL of my bandmates have had the opinion and attitude of play what's comfortable to me and don't worry about the one or two people in the audience who might know the difference.

 

[DavC]

cover bands = never

once in studio ,... when producer asked

 

[pie_man_25]

Honestly, I've been told, or I suppose directed, on how to play certain parts before. I'm pretty okay with it - honestly, finding the "right" bassline is a matter of trial and error sometimes in music, and getting input can help - after all, if I did it right you wouldn't be thinking about it, would you?

That being said, this is also with guys I've been friends with for ages and they're mostly original songs, which can kinda change things from a cover context.

TBH, if said bandmates weren't being pricks, I would have considered using a pick - I mean, it's not much of a change and a pick is like thirty cents. But since they apparently were, you made the right decision. Life is too short to be miserable.

 

[Ellery]

I'd like to hear some opinions from fellow bassists on whether it matters to you that a bassist uses a pick in a cover band when the original bassist recorded with a pick.

To start at the end, I've washed my hands of the mainly 90's cover band I played bass in. The reason stemmed from me not wanting to use a pick because I found the tone that I, like all of us, have sought after.

Okay, so I was in a cover, not tribute band. I feel that gives me more liberties to not have the exact tone as the original bands.

The guitarist & singer argued that we don't play songs that we used to like In Bloom, Killing in the Name, or Song 2 because me picking with my fingers makes the songs "sound like s#&t" even though they take liberties of their own in the music. When I tell them that they & the 2 purist musicians in the audience are the only people that will care that the tone isn't exactly like the original recording.

Ultimately, I decided to leave the band after hanging out the other night for the first time since the lockdown started because of things like being told that my knowledge is inferior to the guitarist because of his master's degree in music. Also that I'm ignorant to what the music needs to be & sound like. There's plenty more drunkardly trash talking & belittling of my abilities that I won't get into. I will however say that for over an hour of this argument, I was literally not able to finish a single point I was trying to make before getting interrupted.

I know this was long winded, but with all the BS aside, what are your opinions on using a pick or fingers in a situation like this?

No respect. I would have walked out too.

 

[whitedk57]

Forget the argument of Pick vs No Pick.

Your band situation would have caused me start telling "your mom" jokes and barbs, while packing my gear!

 

[darwin-bass]

You have two separate issues here. One is music, the other is social.

Music - Are you serving the song & the audience? If the song is better with a pick, then play with a pick. Some stuff just isn't the same without it. It is subjective but if you're really trying to serve others you'll error on the side of doing what will benefit them over yourself.

Social - If you're in with a group of self-serving people, things are going to go south pretty quickly. If it isn't the pick thing it will be another thing. If you're serving yourself while they are serving themselves then... well good luck. With everyone standing their ground things won't end well.

Me? I'd have already decided to play with a pick if that was the sound closer to the original. It would not be caving, it would be doing my job with excellence. Even if the rest of the band took liberties. Even if I was the only one who appreciated it, I'd still choose the pick to be as good at my role as I can be.

 

[hardtop]

From 1.40 on, try it with your fingers. It's difficult enough with a pick.

I don't know if someone pointed this out already, and I know it's off topic, but the guy who wrote the original bass line didn't seem to have any trouble playing it with his fingers. I know this dude has busied it up a bit and added some complexity, but it doesn't necessarily add to the song overall , especially to people who aren't bass players (the original bass line is pretty rad as it is). Also, why you would cover a cover and not just cover the original....

 

[DigitalMan]

TLDR however

Two points.

I wouldn't stick around with a band where I didn't thoroughly enjoy the company and appreciate the way everyone treats one another. Life is too short.

As an exclusively fingerstyle player, I did switch (temporarily) to a pick full-time for a band quite some time ago. This was my own decision as I was of the opinion that the particular music style really needed it. After my time in that band concluded, I reverted back to fingerstyle.

 

[Koshchei]

I think a lot of bassists should have gone the lead guitar route.

Could you explain what this means?

 

[fishdreams]

If I have a problem with how the music sounds, I'll say it doesn't sound right to me. It's insulting to offer "solutions".
I expect the exact same in return.
I play. So I decide.
The end.

 

[DennisM]

I think you should have tried it and see what difference was. I'm kind of biased though because I always used a pick and only now have started working on finger technique for sound options.

 

[Koshchei]

In an old cover band, I used to play Immigrant Song mostly with slap after just messing with it in practice one day. My bandmates loved the sound & feel of the song with some slap & pop.

How did you handle the major scales in the "On we sweep..." part? Asking for a friend >.> <.<