Pick or Fingers?

[nashman]

A bit of a newbie question ... but ... do you play bass with a pick or with fingers?

I have never really used a pick, however I was jamming with some Guys on Sat night and I was amazed at the difference in both tone and volume. I played the same bass with my normal finger style when the pick player finished and my volume was much lower and the tone much less bright. I tried using a pick tonight but found it difficult to mute strings versus finger style. I always hear about tone as it relates to basses, rigs, EQ etc., but I think the difference between pick/finger style is greater than many other factors. Should I try to switch to a pick or keep going finger style? I like to play mostly classic rock if that makes a difference.

 

[maddog]

Use whatever you need to get the sound you want. I'm in the midst of experimenting with picks.

 

[hankSRay]

I play with both but prefer to use a pick live and fingers just when I'm at home jamming. The muting factor is a downside of playing with a pick but you just have to learn to rest your picking hand on the strings or mute with your fretting hand.

 

[silverburst]

Fingers, although it seems like all of the new bands are using picks. On their P-basses....

 

[KennethB]

I back down the volume a little bit when playing with a pick. Either on the bass or with a volume-pedal. I use the EB 6166 model. I use it with both bass and guitar. Works flawlessly and is built like a tank.

 

[GassieBall]

I like to use either depending on what song I'm playing and what the style calls for. Hmm... Queen's Crazy Little Thing Called Love: Fingerstyle. Atari's Boys of Summer: Pick.

Sometimes on punk type songs when my finger gets tired of playing the same eighth notes over and over again, I use the pick cause I'm lazy.

 

[slucas]

Used a pick once on a bass, for about thirty seconds.... and with EBMM active basses it seems like kind of overkill to me, especially with a Bongo. I have to be careful not to get overly agressive with my Bongo's with just my fingers sometimes. I guess whatever butters your toast though

 

[DKWilkins]

I play fingerstyle mostly, though I do use the fingernail of my right index finger like a pick sometimes (don't have to worry about dropping it and it's always right there ).

 

[Aussie Mark]

20 years ago I played with both pick and fingers, but these days I only play fingerstyle.

 

[MCBTunes]

the only time you'l lcatch me with a pick is when I'm just following the rythem with strait 8th or 16th notes.

Otherwise I find my fingers on both hands to be smoother and more coordinated without a pick.

 

[phatduckk]

i play with a pick a lot when playing with my band (its a punk band). i started off on pick and personally like it. however, i do play w/o the pick a lot at home.

usually at home im too lazy to go find a pick so over the years ive gotten "ok" at playing w/o a pick but honestly i like playing with a pick more.

one of the reasons ive practiced finger style is just cuz of the whole "oh you play with a pick" stigma. i shouldnt care but i kinda do...

as for yourself, do whatever you want and whatever you like better. the best thing about playing music is that there's no rules. personally i think the only rule is "have fun". if people dig it, well, that's just a bonus. just do whatever makes you enjoy playing more. if thats fingerstyle - have at it, if its w/ a pick - go nuts.

 

[artisan]

fingerstyle only for me,i play mostly blues & classic rock although the odd Motorhead or Iron Maiden song is called for every now & then.
i've been playing for 27 years now and never used a pick at all-guess i'm a bit old school.

 

[OnlyMe]

Fingerstyle only. Tried a pick once, never did it again.
Don't like the bright, snappy sound of a pick.

 

[tombboy]

I'm a pick man! With the style of music we play I need that initial 'attack' you get to drop in with the kickdrum. Try not to overkill the high end though... which is now proving more difficult with the SR30th!!! Sweet Jesus, that beast is SO responsive.

 

[Lazybite]

i like the cutting tone gets with a pick... my biggest problem when I play with a pick is that I tend to play too much like i play guitar... same style syncopation... little bit more control with rythym finger style.. I guess i like both really but play mostly finger.... that doesn;t help i guess.

 

[jamesattard]

i found that if i pluck with my fingers closer to the bridge i get that picking timber. personally i feel more expressive using my fingers however, as already pointed out, be open to other techniques. i used to play with a pick too, and it was fun

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

I play with both but prefer to use a pick live and fingers just when I'm at home jamming.....

That's basically me

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

To take the matter to another step, how do you guys hold your picks?

 

[Bill]

I play fingerstyle 99.99999999999% of the time. I'll pick up (pun intended) a pick every now & then at home, and I like the sound it makes. It's good for some songs (like Ed said, "Boys of Summer"...Ataris version). If my band played some songs like that, I'd probably use a pick for those tunes. I also like the sound when using a pick & muting the strings with my picking hand near the bridge.

 

[Kirby]

I agree finger style all the way except for a few rare songs. I usually play U2 "Street's have no name" with a pick due to the driving nature of the song. Mostly though I use fingers and kick in the third finger if I need extra speed a la Steve Harris.

I too vary where I play to alter the sound.