Bassists !! How many of you use a pick ?

Rigsby

I dont use one myself at the moment, but I'm considering it, for no other reason than to add to my tone/sound. I've read on some bass forums that plectrum players are considered somehow inferior by "real" (there's that word again ) bassists. This would not put me off using one, as I consider it a load of s***e. If it suits the music, then what is the problem ? The legendary bassist Carol Kaye always uses one, and if it she is not a "real" bassist than I don't know who is.

I'm just curious if there is the same bias here towards bassists who use a pick.

\Hands up

As long as suits the song, but one of my favourite sounds is the JJ Burnel, Mike Dirnt (early stuff) sound anyway. Not mad on rumbling bass sounds where it's barely audible in the background myself.

iamhunted

i rarely use one, though as papa smut said, if the song needs no plectrum then it gets none. +1 on monsieur burnell

Azphyxi8

Ibanez SR706

I don't use one currently but I was in a covers band and I used the pick quiet a bit because the song called for that type of sound. This whole thing about real players don't use a pick is a pile of ****e. Real players know when to use it and when not to.

marcin_plato

Pick only

best bass players don't use plectrum. Bass guitar was invented as continuation to double bass. i can't imagine playing double bass using plectrum.

Examples such as M.Dirnt is a bad example. Punk rock bass players aren't highly skilled players. they possibly can't coordinate fingering that's why they use plectrum. it's a lot easier.

anyway. i don't advise to start your bass journey with plectrum. it might be hard to switch back to the right direction.

check Jaco Pastorius, Marcus Miller, John Pattitucci to see what to do with bass.

Peace

M

Rigsby

Pick only

marcin_plato wrote: »

best bass players don't use plectrum. Bass guitar was invented as continuation to double bass. i can't imagine playing double bass using plectrum.

Examples such as M.Dirnt is a bad example. Punk rock bass players aren't highly skilled players. they possibly can't coordinate fingering that's why they use plectrum. it's a lot easier.

anyway. i don't advise to start your bass journey with plectrum. it might be hard to switch back to the right direction.

check Jaco Pastorius, Marcus Miller, John Pattitucci to see what to do with bass.

Peace

M

Granted, the majority of bass players use finger style. However, prefering fingers to pick is not a recipe to being the "best" bassist. The right direction points in a different way to different people. IMO, the more skills you have at your disposel, and knowing when and where to use them, is what makes a player the "best".

Ash.J.Williams

marcin_plato wrote: »

best bass players don't use plectrum. Bass guitar was invented as continuation to double bass. i can't imagine playing double bass using plectrum.

Examples such as M.Dirnt is a bad example. Punk rock bass players aren't highly skilled players. they possibly can't coordinate fingering that's why they use plectrum. it's a lot easier.

anyway. i don't advise to start your bass journey with plectrum. it might be hard to switch back to the right direction.

check Jaco Pastorius, Marcus Miller, John Pattitucci to see what to do with bass.

Peace

M

I disagree with your opinion on punks, i think plecs provide an aggressive tone when used appropriately.

jarain

I don't use a plectrum very often myself, to be honest I'm a bit crap with one due to years playing with fingers only. This is a big weakness in my eyes as I am effectively ruling out a whole range of tones!!! It is definitely on my to-do list this year to get much better at plectrum playing.

I can't really agree that punk players aren't highly skilled. Mike Dirnt himself is quite a melodic player and you should check our Matt Freeman from Rancid for another fantastically talented player who plays punk.

A pick for these punk players is part of the ethos and style and as such is the weapon of choice.

DerKaiser

In my experience it's about speed and tone, you can get a bright tone from your fingers if you adjust the settings the right way or play slap, and you can practice your fingers to get to that speed

Would I use a pick? Have done in covers bands, as has been said, where the original bassist used one on the record, on originals, never! A little part of me died when I saw the Chilis in Landsdowne in 2002 and they played Parallel Universe and Flea was using a pick.........

a9ismine

anyone know any good bass guitar teachers

judas101

DerKaiser wrote: »

A little part of me died when I saw the Chilis in Landsdowne in 2002 and they played Parallel Universe and Flea was using a pick.........

Listening to the record, its obvious he's using a pick.

It'd be impossible to get that tone and note consistency otherwise.

OK-Cancel-Apply

Pick only

Roger Glover - another pick user. I don't know, I prefer finger style. Playing with a pick doesn't give that fat sound I like.

Rigsby

Pick only

Thanks for all the replies so far lads. Naturally every one will have their preferences, for whatever reason. What I'm also curious about is, do you think some one who uses a pick is some how inferior or not up to the standard of a finger style player ?

DerKaiser

judas101 wrote: »

Listening to the record, its obvious he's using a pick.

It'd be impossible to get that tone and note consistency otherwise.

I can play it with fingers and I'll bet Steve Harris could too, Flea was being lazy in my book

DerKaiser

Rigsby wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies so far lads. Naturally every one will have their preferences, for whatever reason. What I'm also curious about is, do you think some one who uses a pick is some how inferior or not up to the standard of a finger style player ?

There is no reason why a bassist that uses a pick should be inferior to one who doesn't, it's just that the majority of bass players that play with fingers are better, in most cases it's endurance for me, when something is fast and repetative it's easier to use a pick, but you can achieve it with fingers if you really put in the wrist exploding practice, 3 fingers in theory can play faster than one pick once you get them up to speed, bloody hard work though, but if you think somethings worth doing, then why not?

davylee

the thing i don't like about pics is i don't get the same feel for what i'm playing as when i use my fingers.

judas101

DerKaiser wrote: »

I can play it with fingers and I'll bet Steve Harris could too, Flea was being lazy in my book

Wouldnt sound the same.

Fingerstyle would sound too low and rumbley.

I use both but as others have said, tone is a factor is choosing.

Malice

Ibanez SR706

Rigsby wrote: »

I dont use one myself at the moment, but I'm considering it, for no other reason than to add to my tone/sound. I've read on some bass forums that plectrum players are considered somehow inferior by "real" (there's that word again ) bassists. This would not put me off using one, as I consider it a load of s***e. If it suits the music, then what is the problem ? The legendary bassist Carol Kaye always uses one, and if it she is not a "real" bassist than I don't know who is.

I'm just curious if there is the same bias here towards bassists who use a pick.

I use both pick and fingers. When I started playing the bass I used the pick exclusively but then as I found myself devoting time towards playing the guitar I found it became easier to switch between the instruments if I only or mostly used my fingers for playing bass. I find most metal songs quite difficult to play with my fingers but for slower paced stuff I'll generally use my fingers. I find the tactile response of the strings easier to get to grips with (pardon the pun) when playing fingerstyle.

I also hate the elitism that's displayed towards bass players that don't use their fingers - as if there's not many, many other things for people to get their panties in a bunch over.

Malice

Ibanez SR706

I've added a poll. I'm curious to see what way the preferences break down.

Rigsby

Pick only

DerKaiser wrote: »

it's just that the majority of bass players that play with fingers are better

Maybe, maybe not. If so than it could be because there is a bigger pool to choose from, as the vast majority play with fingers. It may not be the case if the numbers were more even.

Quatre Mains

Ibanez SR706

there are some excellent players who use picks - Glenn Hughes, Dave Ellefson, Doug Pinnick (a particular fav of mine) to name 3.

I find myself that it depends on the type of music you're playing. For metal I find you can't beat the attack of a pick unless you're Steve Harris whose technique and tone is unreal. There's so much use of low notes in rock and metal (often with few note changes) that the bass can get a little muddy using fingers. I would love to be faster with my fingers - I'm trying to get the 3-finger technique down at present with VERY little success. Playing with fingers gives you the flexibility to go from 'regular' plying to slap and back without rummagng in the pockets, and is also great for playing 'disco octaves' as I call them a la Jamiroquai etc I'm learning some early Whitesnake stuff at present (Neil Murray) which is great for helping the right hand as well (I am loath to use the term 'fingering techniques', it sounds plain wrong lol)

DerKaiser

judas101 wrote: »

Wouldnt sound the same.

Fingerstyle would sound too low and rumbley.

I use both but as others have said, tone is a factor is choosing.

I use all treble when I play funk bass, it doesn't sound bassy or rumbley in the slightest

DerKaiser

Malice_ wrote: »

I also hate the elitism that's displayed towards bass players that don't use their fingers - as if there's not many, many other things for people to get their panties in a bunch over.

I'm not being elitist, anything but, BUT, the majority of bass players out there that are good, the lions share of em use fingers, likewise of the bad bass players, the majority use picks, there are plenty of good guys using picks, but let's look at Les Claypool, Victor Wooten, Stanley Clarke, Flea, Billy Sheehan, Stu Hamm, Mark King... any of those who use picks use them sparingly

Bass is all about versatility, how can you switch from straight picking to slap or fingertaps with a pick in your hand? Anyone who discounts those styles of bassplaying is losing out on the whole mystery of the bass, the bass is one of the most interesting instruments on the planet, because of unconventional playing of this magnificent piece of wood and metal, it's not just an accompanient instrument but to learn how to use it you have to think outside the box, and the box contains a pick....

Adyx

I think it does come down to choice of tone. How would a Tool song sound id Justin Chancellor used his fingers and as mentioned Mike Dirnt is by no means an inferior bassist. That said, despite coming to the bass from guitar, I never use a pick except to mess around. Even if the song originally had a bass player using a pick, I still use my fingers just because I find it easier.

Also there was a discussion of famous bass players who used picks over on Talkbass. Including John Entwistle, Paul McCartney and even Billy Sheehan and Stu Hamm on occasion.

Adyx

DerKaiser wrote: »

Bass is all about versatility,

Yes and part of that is using the right tools for the job. If a song calls for a picked bass line, why would you use your fingers? A truly versatile player would use both fingers and pick as required.

DerKaiser

Adyx wrote: »

Yes and part of that is using the right tools for the job. If a song calls for a picked bass line, why would you use your fingers? A truly versatile player would use both fingers and pick as required.

I'm confident in speed and tone that I never need a pick, I disagree

judas101

DerKaiser wrote: »

I'm confident in speed and tone that I never need a pick, I disagree

So you're saying there is NO difference tonally between your playing when you use a pick or not?

Ross Mc

Ibanez SR706

I've only started playing bass, been playing guitar for 3 and half years and the obvious thing would just to be go for the pick but i prefer the sound with fingers and besides it's the proper way to play. I do use pick too but only for certain songs

Adyx

DerKaiser wrote: »

I'm confident in speed and tone that I never need a pick, I disagree

As am I. Like I said, I play almost exclusively with my fingers because that's the tone I prefer a lot of the time and because I find it easier. That said, if I thought a song warranted the use of a pick then I would use one. You cannot, in my opinion achieve the sound of playing with a pick using your fingers. Speed shouldn't even come into it.

Ross Mc wrote: »

I've only started playing bass, been playing guitar for 3 and half years and the obvious thing would just to be go for the pick but i prefer the sound with fingers and besides it's the proper way to play. I do use pick too but only for certain songs

To be honest saying it's the proper way to play is a bit ridiculous. It's not "proper" to fret notes with your thumb either but it can expand your playing and give you options that weren't there before.

How you play is purely a matter of personal preference. There's no right or wrong way in my opinion. Like the OP I too am considering of experimenting with a pick because it's a newish technique for me to learn.

Ross Mc

Ibanez SR706

yeah but personally i think tonally fingers sound better

auti

Ibanez SR706

I'm a fingerstyle player primarily but when (after searching everywhere between the bridge and the neck using different finger positions and pup configurations for the best tone for any particular piece I am working on) I can't find the tone, I will try one of the five different gauge picks I always carry with me.

I believe any musician will get their perfect tone by any means possible. A pick is just a tool and it creates a sound on the bass that fingers just can't physically produce.

Just face it lads, your fingers cannot possible sound like plastic no matter how tight you close your eyes and make believe.

True, most of the best bassists use their fingers. Maybe they didn't want that pick sound or maybe they were just too lazy to learn how to use one effectively in the first place!

Someone mentioned Flea's bass line in Parallel Universe earlier. I remember reading an interview with him in one of the bassist magazines when Californication was first released where he spoke about each track. I distinctly remember him saying that the original idea for the song Parallel Universe came about one day when he was practicing with a pick. I'm sure most of you would agree that Flea is one of the very best bassists that ever lived, you'd also probably agree that the bass line for Parallel Universe is pretty crackin' too.

If you have never used a pick you really should try it and if you dismiss it entirely you are really missing out!!

jarain

I think most of the higher end bass players use their figures due to the increased connection it gives you with your instrument. Playing with your fingers gives you levels of versatility and control that is not really possible with a pick in my opinion.

Being a 100% finger player up to now, like DerKaiser I have learned to manipulate the Amp and guitar controls to provide a sound I need and also learning that playing in different areas (close to the bridge, over the pick-ups, near the neck) can provide very different tonal qualities.

But I would most definitely not assume that because somebody plays with a plec they are inferior players! It is just another way of manipulating your instrument and if it gives you the tone and feel that you are looking for then that us what you should use.

Personally I would use my shoe if it ended my never ended tone quest!!

DerKaiser

auti wrote: »

True, most of the best bassists use their fingers. Maybe they didn't want that pick sound or maybe they were just too lazy to learn how to use one effectively in the first place!

Now we're being silly

There are ways of getting that tone using your thumb, using your finger with a lot of nail.... and the only genre I can think of that uses a pick as much as it does is punk, I don't play much punk and if I did I could out finger most peoples picking, and as for slight difference in tone? Stop being pedantic, not something you're gonna notice when that noisy punk guitarists amp is turned on

Malice

Ibanez SR706

jarain wrote: »

I think most of the higher end bass players use their figures due to the increased connection it gives you with your instrument.

Is that like playing the bass with your ass or something?

Adyx

jarain wrote: »

I think most of the higher end bass players use their figures due to the increased connection it gives you with your instrument. Playing with your fingers gives you levels of versatility and control that is not really possible with a pick in my opinion.

Being a 100% finger player up to now, like DerKaiser I have learned to manipulate the Amp and guitar controls to provide a sound I need and also learning that playing in different areas (close to the bridge, over the pick-ups, near the neck) can provide very different tonal qualities.

But I would most definitely not assume that because somebody plays with a plec they are inferior players! It is just another way of manipulating your instrument and if it gives you the tone and feel that you are looking for then that us what you should use.

Personally I would use my shoe if it ended my never ended tone quest!!

QFT!

DerKaiser wrote: »

Now we're being silly

There are ways of getting that tone using your thumb, using your finger with a lot of nail.... and the only genre I can think of that uses a pick as much as it does is punk, I don't play much punk and if I did I could out finger most peoples picking, and as for slight difference in tone? Stop being pedantic, not something you're gonna notice when that noisy punk guitarists amp is turned on

I don't agree that you can get the same tone and it certainly is noticeable with or without a noisy guitarist. To be honest I think you're just elitist about using fingers. A pick is a tool to help make music, just because you don't like how the tool works doesn't mean it's wrong to use it. There was a thread recently in the Instruments or P&T&T forum about using a capo with a bass. Now it's not something I'm keen to try, but if it helps me get the result I need, I'm not going going to dismiss it just because it's "wrong" or not the done thing.

novarock

Ibanez SR706

Ross Mc wrote: »

yeah but personally i think tonally fingers sound better

Relative to the song, the style of music, how much you need to cut. It is not physically possible for the finger to generate the higher pitched tones of using a plec.

The electric/non-upright bass is such a new instrument that in my opinion there is no defined way to play it yet. I also find it ridiculous that there is such elitism in style of playing. Could you imagine guitarists argung over whether or not to use a plec? No, because its all relative to the song/style of music they are playing.

anyone could play with their fingers if they really wanted to. Its not difficult in the slightest..

biko

Both, depending on the song

I always use a pick but then my influences are The Jam and New Model Army and similar bands. Not jazz or dixie.

Malice

Ibanez SR706

I see nobody chose the Ibanez poll option .

DerKaiser

Adyx wrote: »

I don't agree that you can get the same tone and it certainly is noticeable with or without a noisy guitarist. To be honest I think you're just elitist about using fingers. A pick is a tool to help make music, just because you don't like how the tool works doesn't mean it's wrong to use it. There was a thread recently in the Instruments or P&T&T forum about using a capo with a bass. Now it's not something I'm keen to try, but if it helps me get the result I need, I'm not going going to dismiss it just because it's "wrong" or not the done thing.

Elitist, hmmmm, you make that sound like a bad thing nothing wrong with wanting to achieve advancement in your instrument, if you're one of these guys that goes on about trained or orchestral musicians not being able to show creativity, I'm gonna switch off now.

I have not denied all along it's a personal preference and I do subscribe to the theory that better bass players don't use plecs, because they don't, if you go through the top 10-20 bass players in the worlds, it's a rarity for any of those guys to be using one

novarock

Ibanez SR706

DerKaiser wrote: »

I do subscribe to the theory that better bass players don't use plecs, because they don't, if you go through the top 10-20 bass players in the worlds, it's a rarity for any of those guys to be using one

IN YOUR OPINION

I think bass solos, triple picking, bass tapping etc are all ****. None of the "top 20" have written a decent song between them in my opinion. I find the music they produce to be too self indulgent (bar artists like Billy Sheehan's solo stuff, at least that was musical) I spent years learning these techniques for various styles of music. The style of music that I play now leans towards pick playing but not exclusively.

Being a good bass player is not about being able to hold a 16's rhythm at 150bpm for five minutes with one finger. Its about feel, and musicality. Nothing more. Its about your ability to fill out sound and give your band some beef. Despite what you may think, the best players are the ones that dont get noticed because they play so seamlessly within a band. I use John Deacon as an example because he used both plec and finger, depending on the song.

I would see you as less of a player if you weren't good at stylised playing using both a plec and finger style - not one or the other. You are being elitist because you are looking down on a playing technique and refusing to learn it.

At the end of the day as I said before, my opinion is that there is no pre-defined classical technique when it comes to bass playing. It entirely depends on the type of music you are playing, how you want to sound. It is most certainly not down to a pre-defined technique that was made up by players with a penchant for natural colured 5 strings...

Adyx

DerKaiser wrote: »

Elitist, hmmmm, you make that sound like a bad thing nothing wrong with wanting to achieve advancement in your instrument, if you're one of these guys that goes on about trained or orchestral musicians not being able to show creativity, I'm gonna switch off now.

I have not denied all along it's a personal preference and I do subscribe to the theory that better bass players don't use plecs, because they don't, if you go through the top 10-20 bass players in the worlds, it's a rarity for any of those guys to be using one

Elitism is a bad thing and it's a completely different thing to advancing in your instrument. There's nothing elite about looking down on people because of their chosen playing style. Nowhere have I said trained musicians aren't creative. In fact I think being a trained musician removes certain barriers to creativity that non-trained musicians might encounter.

To be honest I'd think less of a player who dismisses a technique out of hand because of their own snobbishness than someone who only plays with a pick.

Even if it is a rarity for the so-called "top" bass players to use a pick, the fact is that many occasionally do. Which would indicate that they do have a use for them and don't look down on them. Not using a pick isn't what makes a bass player good. As novarock said, playing with your fingers isn't especially hard and some people (myself included) may find playing with a pick harder. Which is as good a reason as any to practice it.

DerKaiser

Sorry, but I do look down on the Adam Claytons of this world and rightly so!

There are too many bad musos out there who think that feel is everything and therefore don't need to improve at their instruments because they are being 'creative', B@ll@cks! The stage is a hallowth place in my book and if you're not good enough you don't belong up there.

And again, it's personal preference. I get tones that work with any genre of music and can play a lot faster than most guys usings picks, so I'm not going to change at this point.

DerKaiser

novarock wrote: »

IN YOUR OPINION

I think bass solos, triple picking, bass tapping etc are all ****. None of the "top 20" have written a decent song between them in my opinion. I find the music they produce to be too self indulgent (bar artists like Billy Sheehan's solo stuff, at least that was musical) I spent years learning these techniques for various styles of music. The style of music that I play now leans towards pick playing but not exclusively.

Being a good bass player is not about being able to hold a 16's rhythm at 150bpm for five minutes with one finger. Its about feel, and musicality. Nothing more. Its about your ability to fill out sound and give your band some beef. Despite what you may think, the best players are the ones that dont get noticed because they play so seamlessly within a band. I use John Deacon as an example because he used both plec and finger, depending on the song.

I would see you as less of a player if you weren't good at stylised playing using both a plec and finger style - not one or the other. You are being elitist because you are looking down on a playing technique and refusing to learn it.

At the end of the day as I said before, my opinion is that there is no pre-defined classical technique when it comes to bass playing. It entirely depends on the type of music you are playing, how you want to sound. It is most certainly not down to a pre-defined technique that was made up by players with a penchant for natural colured 5 strings...

In YOUR opinion

Les Claypool has never written a decent song? I disagree, he has penned many great tunes. I agree with you about note crunchers, but that's note crunchers across the board, I prefer musicians to be rounded, but have some technique at least.

I have used picks, mostly in cover bands to emulate the exact sound of the original recording and there is nothing I can do with a pick that I can't do with my fingers (bar a pickslide) and plenty I can do with fingers that is impossible to do with a pick.

Gaspode

Ibanez SR706

Rarley use a pick, but find it good for some types of songs, it give a bit more 'attack' or something to the notes.
Tend to drop the pick a lot though when I'm on the bass so I prefer to use the finger myself!

Adyx

DerKaiser wrote: »

Sorry, but I do look down on the Adam Claytons of this world and rightly so!

There are too many bad musos out there who think that feel is everything and therefore don't need to improve at their instruments because they are being 'creative', B@ll@cks! The stage is a hallowth place in my book and if you're not good enough you don't belong up there.

And again, it's personal preference. I get tones that work with any genre of music and can play a lot faster than most guys usings picks, so I'm not going to change at this point.

I've no problem looking down on Adam Clayton (or any of U2 for that matter) but again playing with a pick has nothing to do with ability. There's plenty of amazing bassists who use picks and plenty of sh*t ones that don't. If you prefer using fingers that's fine, so do I, like you I'm faster and prefer the tone from using fingers. However I won't discount ever using picks for originals or covers if I think the song would benefit. And creativity is a subjective thing. I think most jazz music is a pile of w*nk, that doesn't mean I think jazz musicians are talentless and lack creativity - I just don't like what they do.

DerKaiser

Well you see I love jazz, by discounting jazz and including picks you are missing out on a lot more than I am, but I digress

It's my preference, that's all, I agree some top dudes uses picks, most genres of metal for instance, speed metal guys use picks and some of them are unbelievable, it's just not for me, too cumbersome, what if I want to switch to slap? I've gotta drop the accursed pick....

Adyx

DerKaiser wrote: »

Well you see I love jazz, by discounting jazz and including picks you are missing out on a lot more than I am, but I digress

It's my preference, that's all, I agree some top dudes uses picks, most genres of metal for instance, speed metal guys use picks and some of them are unbelievable, it's just not for me, too cumbersome, what if I want to switch to slap? I've gotta drop the accursed pick....

I think we'll just have to agree to disagree so. For the record though I don't use a pick, it's just some thing I might look into down the line. While jazz itself does nothing for me, I do appreciate the talent and abilities of jazz musicians. The only time I slap is when playing a cover song (Chili Peppers -Can't Stop :rolleyes: ) for instance so even if I used a pick it wouldn't be an issue for me.

Dord

Ibanez SR706

Rigsby wrote: »

I dont use one myself at the moment, but I'm considering it, for no other reason than to add to my tone/sound. I've read on some bass forums that plectrum players are considered somehow inferior by "real" (there's that word again ) bassists. This would not put me off using one, as I consider it a load of s***e. If it suits the music, then what is the problem ? The legendary bassist Carol Kaye always uses one, and if it she is not a "real" bassist than I don't know who is.

I'm just curious if there is the same bias here towards bassists who use a pick.

I can use both,... obviously not at the same time though. Sometimes a pick just doesn't work, the same can be said for fingerstyle. I've been thinking about getting some of those rubber wedgie picks though. Supposedly they have a mix between fingerstyle and pick sound. You've got none of the "click" that a pick produces but can still attack the strings.