Bass Guitar: Picks Vs. Fingers

RickenbackerBassPlayer · 10-27-2008, 10:47 PM

Hey, I was just wondering, what do you guys prefer using or hearing? A pick or using your fingers on a bass guitar? I want to know you opinion on hearing and playing, even if you're not a bassist.

I play with my fingers, but there are a few people I like when they pick, with a pick. Johnny Christ (from Avenged sevenfold) uses a pick for half of the songs, he doesn't sound too bad actually. Also, even though a lot of people put rock music with using a pick, I don't get it. I mean for example: Geddy Lee(Rush) plays rock with his fingers, so does Johnny Christ (A little bit).

What are your opinions?

Aqualung · 10-27-2008, 11:00 PM

I prefer both using and hearing a pick on a bass. I prefer the sharper attack.

RickenbackerBassPlayer · 10-27-2008, 11:07 PM

Well, for a few songs I like that "punch" with a pick, but for some I don't it depends. There are some songs that if there was a pick it would fail.

Kameraad Pannekoek · 10-27-2008, 11:10 PM

I prefer both the sound and feel of fingers almost always.

Jody LeCompte · 10-27-2008, 11:47 PM

It's not a skill or a style thing, it's a tone thing.

It's not any easier to use a pick. I've heard the rumor it's easier to play with a pick but I have yet to hear decent groundings. Alternate picking may seem like getting faster is easier, but why would using two fingers both going up not go just as simply? Chris Squire of Yes played with a pick, while the Ox played with his fingers.

As a bass player, your never going to have 100% freedom in your bass lines unless your leading/composing. There will always be a box you have to operate in when playing against other instruments. Which is why you should absorb any and every tiny detail you can alter and take it to your advantage.

I learned to use up to 5 fingers(thumb included) on my picking hand if I need to, I can double thumb/open-hammer-pluck, I can do standard slapping, I can tap, and I can use a pick. Because I am as comfortable with a pick as I am with any combination of my fingers, I can get a wild hair up my ass, pull a pick out, and perhaps turn a half-done screw up into a masterpiece. Playing hip hop for instance. Rolling down my treble and mids, boosting the tone on my bass, and playing with a pick palm muted gives me that steretypical Roland 808 bass tone from mainstream rap/hip hop.

BlackDeth54 · 10-28-2008, 12:57 AM

Whenever I play bass I perfer A pick but when I do play finger I put duck tape
on my index and middle finger and I play that way

Jody LeCompte · 10-28-2008, 12:59 AM

Duct tape? Sheesh...

You'd be better off just building some callouses, man. Having duct tape on your fingers is going to alter your tone AND affect your feel.

BlackDeth54 · 10-28-2008, 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jody LeCompte

Duct tape? Sheesh...

You'd be better off just building some callouses, man. Having duct tape on your fingers is going to alter your tone AND affect your feel.

I don't play bass. I just mess around with my friends when he brings it over or we practice

keepmusicalive · 10-28-2008, 10:41 AM

I prefer using and fingers.

Although I don't play that much, I still give quality time for my bass guitar practice.

TAHOEAGLE · 10-29-2008, 08:45 PM

To me it's apples and oranges. I play guitar both ways, both styles of playing do different things, and allow different sounds to be produced.
Each has it's place in your skill set. I know putting that pick down has allowed my playing to evolve to places a pick wouldn't let me go.

Spike · 11-05-2008, 05:17 PM

fingers is the only way to go for certain types of music.
reggae music fingerstyle. i only play bass with fingers because i only like to play bass for reggae or ska or what type of music.
as far as listening it doesn't matter much if it sounds good

Jody LeCompte · 11-05-2008, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spike

fingers is the only way to go for certain types of music.
reggae music fingerstyle. i only play bass with fingers because i only like to play bass for reggae or ska or what type of music.
as far as listening it doesn't matter much if it sounds good

Have you ever tried playing raggae with a pick?

Roll the tone knob on your bass back, and palm mute, keep mostly down strokes. See how it sounds.

Spike · 11-06-2008, 01:27 AM

its all about feel. even if it sounds good (or possibly better, i will give it a shot) i still like to feel the strings

Aqualung · 11-06-2008, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spike

its all about feel. even if it sounds good (or possibly better, i will give it a shot) i still like to feel the strings

Come on, man. I've told you to read the rules thread, and yet you keep breaking them. I'm trying to be patient, but honestly, how long do you want this go on?

Spike · 11-06-2008, 03:15 AM

edit: oops

Joel · 11-06-2008, 05:59 AM

Apples and Oranges for me as well. Both for their own reasons.

Jody LeCompte · 11-06-2008, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spike

its all about feel. even if it sounds good (or possibly better, i will give it a shot) i still like to feel the strings

Yeah.

I'm not saying you should change your style of playing, I'm predominatley a finger style player myself.

Picks are useful as well, very useful.

Kameraad Pannekoek · 11-06-2008, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jody LeCompte

Have you ever tried playing raggae with a pick?

Roll the tone knob on your bass back, and palm mute, keep mostly down strokes. See how it sounds.

If I could just get this sound with my fingers, it'd be great. Currently the only picks I can really use with my bass are plastic fingerpicks. Anybody know a way to palm mute with a fingerpick?

Jody LeCompte · 11-06-2008, 11:48 PM

Try growing your nails out.

I play fingerstyle guitar, and I realized that the way my nails are shaped, I could play with both my fingernails(pick tone) and my fingers.

10-27-2008, 10:47 PM	#1
RickenbackerBassPlayer Play the music, not the instrument Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Behind You Posts: 3,747 Thanks: 138 Thanked 188 Times in 177 Posts Rep Power: 141	Hey, I was just wondering, what do you guys prefer using or hearing? A pick or using your fingers on a bass guitar? I want to know you opinion on hearing and playing, even if you're not a bassist. I play with my fingers, but there are a few people I like when they pick, with a pick. Johnny Christ (from Avenged sevenfold) uses a pick for half of the songs, he doesn't sound too bad actually. Also, even though a lot of people put rock music with using a pick, I don't get it. I mean for example: Geddy Lee(Rush) plays rock with his fingers, so does Johnny Christ (A little bit). What are your opinions? __________________ Make sure to read the Rules for posting. Check out the KMA Review team thread post if interested. If you have any problems please feel free to Send me a message.. "Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy." - Ludwig Van Beethoven

10-27-2008, 11:00 PM	#2
Aqualung Pshaw! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Washington Posts: 11,539 Thanks: 527 Thanked 731 Times in 684 Posts Rep Power: 275	I prefer both using and hearing a pick on a bass. I prefer the sharper attack. __________________ Here we go. Mushu cereal for breakfast with duck sauce.

10-27-2008, 11:07 PM	#3
RickenbackerBassPlayer Play the music, not the instrument Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Behind You Posts: 3,747 Thanks: 138 Thanked 188 Times in 177 Posts Rep Power: 141	Well, for a few songs I like that "punch" with a pick, but for some I don't it depends. There are some songs that if there was a pick it would fail. __________________ Make sure to read the Rules for posting. Check out the KMA Review team thread post if interested. If you have any problems please feel free to Send me a message.. "Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy." - Ludwig Van Beethoven

10-27-2008, 11:10 PM	#4
Kameraad Pannekoek Drunk on power. And beer. Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Wazzu Posts: 3,179 Thanks: 61 Thanked 133 Times in 114 Posts Rep Power: 151	I prefer both the sound and feel of fingers almost always. __________________ If you ever need help with anything, anything at all, just send me a PM and I'll see what I can do for you. Dave's Gear: MIM Fretless Fender Jazz Bass Fender Rumble 100w Bass Amp Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster Vox Valvetronix AD30VT Guitar Amp Dunlop .71mm picks (Pink picks for the win!)

10-28-2008, 12:57 AM	#6
BlackDeth54 Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bristolville Ohio Posts: 57 Thanks: 1 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts Rep Power: 24	Whenever I play bass I perfer A pick but when I do play finger I put duck tape on my index and middle finger and I play that way __________________ http://www./joechamberlain54

10-27-2008, 11:47 PM	#5
Jody LeCompte Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 531 Thanks: 3 Thanked 69 Times in 51 Posts Rep Power: 59	It's not a skill or a style thing, it's a tone thing. It's not any easier to use a pick. I've heard the rumor it's easier to play with a pick but I have yet to hear decent groundings. Alternate picking may seem like getting faster is easier, but why would using two fingers both going up not go just as simply? Chris Squire of Yes played with a pick, while the Ox played with his fingers. As a bass player, your never going to have 100% freedom in your bass lines unless your leading/composing. There will always be a box you have to operate in when playing against other instruments. Which is why you should absorb any and every tiny detail you can alter and take it to your advantage. I learned to use up to 5 fingers(thumb included) on my picking hand if I need to, I can double thumb/open-hammer-pluck, I can do standard slapping, I can tap, and I can use a pick. Because I am as comfortable with a pick as I am with any combination of my fingers, I can get a wild hair up my ass, pull a pick out, and perhaps turn a half-done screw up into a masterpiece. Playing hip hop for instance. Rolling down my treble and mids, boosting the tone on my bass, and playing with a pick palm muted gives me that steretypical Roland 808 bass tone from mainstream rap/hip hop.

10-28-2008, 12:59 AM	#7
Jody LeCompte Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 531 Thanks: 3 Thanked 69 Times in 51 Posts Rep Power: 59	Duct tape? Sheesh... You'd be better off just building some callouses, man. Having duct tape on your fingers is going to alter your tone AND affect your feel.

10-28-2008, 10:41 AM	#9
keepmusicalive Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Rep Power: 22	I prefer using and fingers. Although I don't play that much, I still give quality time for my bass guitar practice.

10-29-2008, 08:45 PM	#10
TAHOEAGLE Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Lake Tahoe, Cal. Posts: 176 Thanks: 21 Thanked 18 Times in 14 Posts Rep Power: 44	To me it's apples and oranges. I play guitar both ways, both styles of playing do different things, and allow different sounds to be produced. Each has it's place in your skill set. I know putting that pick down has allowed my playing to evolve to places a pick wouldn't let me go.

11-05-2008, 05:17 PM	#11
Spike Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Oslo Posts: 27 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Rep Power: 22	fingers is the only way to go for certain types of music. reggae music fingerstyle. i only play bass with fingers because i only like to play bass for reggae or ska or what type of music. as far as listening it doesn't matter much if it sounds good

11-06-2008, 01:27 AM	#13
Spike Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Oslo Posts: 27 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Rep Power: 22	its all about feel. even if it sounds good (or possibly better, i will give it a shot) i still like to feel the strings

11-06-2008, 03:15 AM	#15
Spike Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Oslo Posts: 27 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Rep Power: 22	edit: oops

11-06-2008, 05:59 AM	#16
Joel Biggest gig ever was a talent show Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Cold Cold Canada Posts: 272 Thanks: 32 Thanked 27 Times in 25 Posts Rep Power: 44	Apples and Oranges for me as well. Both for their own reasons. __________________ Wrong or right, Black or white, If I close my eyes, Its all the same. Joels Guitar Setup = Ibanez RGA Prestige 121 --> Dunlop Crybaby --> Boss Super Overdrive --> Fuchs Tube Job --> Traynor YCS50 (PODXt Live in loop) --> Ears

11-06-2008, 11:48 PM	#19
Jody LeCompte Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 531 Thanks: 3 Thanked 69 Times in 51 Posts Rep Power: 59	Try growing your nails out. I play fingerstyle guitar, and I realized that the way my nails are shaped, I could play with both my fingernails(pick tone) and my fingers.

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