Bass players. Do you use a pick, or fingers?

f.sciarrillo · Post by **f.sciarrillo** » Thursday Oct 20, 2011

Which bass players use a pick, and which bass players use their fingers? And why?

I tried to play with my fingers the other day, and I don't know if it is from all the years of using a pick, but I didn't like the feel of it. I imagine it would be something that you have to get used to?

Autumn Jacket · Post by **Autumn Jacket** » Thursday Oct 20, 2011

it really all depends on the sound you are tring to get from your bass and your style but i prefer fingers

RamRod 1 · Post by **RamRod 1** » Thursday Oct 20, 2011

Autumn Jacket wrote:it really all depends on the sound you are tring to get from your bass and your style but i prefer fingers

Me too.

tonefight · Post by **tonefight** » Thursday Oct 20, 2011

If ya gotta use a pic you ain't shit.

A bass player's gotta use his fingers end of story. Otherwise you're just a guitar player that couldn't cut it playin bass and not cuttin it.

Let's here it ................... boh ho, sorry guys that's the way it is !

CMOR · Post by **CMOR** » Friday Oct 21, 2011

tonefight wrote:A bass player's gotta use his fingers end of story.

That's a bit harsh but, hey, it's your opinion. There's too many examples that could argue that to go into here.

For me, it depends on the song and how I want it to feel. I've been told it sounds like I get more attack with my fingers than I do with a pick.

When I started playing, I was strictly a pick player. Doing the punk/metal thing, ya know? As time went by I started using my fingers more. I still remember to this day, once at practice, our drummer at the time(Shawn Hocherl) said to me "follow my kick." I was just getting comfortable using my fingers and then that challenge was laid out before me. And if anyone remembers what Shawn played like in the 90's, you see the task ahead of me. For that, I say "Thanks Shawn." Really.

kayla · Post by **kayla** » Friday Oct 21, 2011

tonefight wrote:If ya gotta use a pic you ain't shit.

A bass player's gotta use his fingers end of story. Otherwise you're just a guitar player that couldn't cut it playin bass and not cuttin it.

really? i'm pretty sure jeff clapper uses a pick. and you can't tell me that guy can't play bass. my two cents. carry on

- kayla.

UncleScabby · Post by **UncleScabby** » Friday Oct 21, 2011

<---- unapologetic bass picker

moxham123 · Post by **moxham123** » Friday Oct 21, 2011

99% of the time, I use my fingers using various fingering styles I developed for my playing. I only use a pick on 3 songs right now speciifically for a particular type of attack, sound, or speed necessary for the song.

TheBMC · Post by **TheBMC** » Friday Oct 21, 2011

Fingers for me. I have more control and I like the sound but I have been working on pick as well just recently because there are times I'd like the punchier sound from the pick. ... or when trying to learn some old rancid tunes...

sstuckey · Post by **sstuckey** » Friday Oct 21, 2011

tonefight wrote:If ya gotta use a pic you ain't shit.

A bass player's gotta use his fingers end of story. Otherwise you're just a guitar player that couldn't cut it playin bass and not cuttin it.

Let's here it ................... boh ho, sorry guys that's the way it is !

Tell that to Dave Ellefson and he'll show you quite differently. Think you can run with Dave?!

bassist_25 · Post by **bassist_25** » Friday Oct 21, 2011

tonefight wrote:If ya gotta use a pic you ain't shit.

A bass player's gotta use his fingers end of story. Otherwise you're just a guitar player that couldn't cut it playin bass and not cuttin it.

Let's here it ................... boh ho, sorry guys that's the way it is !

I'm gonna have to disagree with you here, Tony. That's not the way it is. Paul McCartney, Steve Swallow, Chris Squier, Rex Brown, Jason Newstead, Dave Ellefson, Leon Wilkeson, Carol Kaye, and as already mentioned, Jeff Clapper: All bad ass bass players, all primarily pick players. A pick is just another tool to communicate music. It produces a specific timbre that, unless you're Geddly Lee and have an oddly thick fingernail, you can't produce with your fingers. It would be like telling a guitarist that if ya gotta use a slide, you ain't shit, or telling a double-bassist if ya gotta use a bow, you ain't shit. For the sake of argument, we should be all playing bass with our thumbs, ala Brian Wilson. That's why the first Precisions had the finger rest towards the bottom of the bass.

As others have stated, the question of pick versus fingers really comes down to what the song calls for. On any given night, I'm probably 70% pizzicato and 30% pick. I prefer fingers, but sometimes to nail the vibe of a song, a pick is needed. I find that using a pick does present its own challenges. String skipping is somewhat more difficult. My right hand isn't available for muting, so I have to do most muting mostly with my left hand. I'm definitely no Jeff Clapper with a pick, but I've gotten better over the years.

Edit:

Tell that to Dave Ellefson and he'll show you quite differently. Think you can run with Dave?!

+1 I'm glad I'm not the only one who recognizes the awesomeness that is Ellefson.

(I much prefer Ellefson over Burton, don't taze me, bros)

bassist_25 · Post by **bassist_25** » Friday Oct 21, 2011

UncleScabby wrote:<---- unapologetic bass picker

You always wear a kick ass hat, Greg. So you pretty much have free reign to do whatever you wish.

tonefight · Post by **tonefight** » Friday Oct 21, 2011

LOL, you guys didn't get nearly as worked up and defensive as I thought you would.

bassist_25 · Post by **bassist_25** » Friday Oct 21, 2011

We are a predictable bunch.

UncleScabby · Post by **UncleScabby** » Friday Oct 21, 2011

bassist_25 wrote:You always wear a kick ass hat, Greg. So you pretty much have free reign to do whatever you wish.

Thanks Paul, that's better than a license to kill!

If you can get me a chrome badge I might be able to turnover the guys' veto of this--
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=houU6FjEnaI

onegunguitar · Post by **onegunguitar** » Friday Oct 21, 2011

I use a pick....so fuckin' what

sunsetbass · Post by **sunsetbass** » Friday Oct 21, 2011

tonefight wrote:If ya gotta use a pic you ain't shit.

A bass player's gotta use his fingers end of story. Otherwise you're just a guitar player that couldn't cut it playin bass and not cuttin it.

Let's here it ................... boh ho, sorry guys that's the way it is !

No offence but considering this came from a "guirtar player" ill consider the source and chalk it up to being just your opinion and not take it to heart. its like saying if you don't use your tremlo bar or a certain stomp box all the time you ain't shit. thats just horse shit. im not busting on you for what you wrote, although it was very harsh.

WITH THAT SAID, i can play either way and do so very well(those are not my words) i even have a place in heart for playing slap. IN MY OPINION i believe it depends on what your trying to play. granted i can not play like steve harris, he's just insane with his fingers. but some songs need to be played with a pick and some need fingered. its just the way they were written and the sound your trying to acheive. there are some songs that we play i can finger but other times i may need a pick. thats just a sign of old age setting in.

but my preference is to finger my baby all night long. my bass that is.

tonefight · Post by **tonefight** » Friday Oct 21, 2011

sunsetbass wrote:
tonefight wrote:If ya gotta use a pic you ain't shit.

A bass player's gotta use his fingers end of story. Otherwise you're just a guitar player that couldn't cut it playin bass and not cuttin it.

Let's here it ................... boh ho, sorry guys that's the way it is !
No offence but considering this came from a "guirtar player" ill consider the source and chalk it up to being just your opinion and not take it to heart. its like saying if you don't use your tremlo bar or a certain stomp box all the time you ain't shit. thats just horse shit. im not busting on you for what you wrote, although it was very harsh.

LOL, I guess it was a little harsh booter, it was partially meant in a joking manner knowing a few would get worked up.

f.sciarrillo · Post by **f.sciarrillo** » Friday Oct 21, 2011

Lol, you had me going for a minute there, Tony

Good responses. I am going to work on using my fingers more. I would like to eventually get to where I am using my fingers more than a pick.

I also agree that Ellefson is a great bass player.

RamRod 1 · Post by **RamRod 1** » Friday Oct 21, 2011

tonefight wrote:LOL, you guys didn't get nearly as worked up and defensive as I thought you would.

Good one Tony!

moxham123 · Post by **moxham123** » Saturday Oct 22, 2011

Frank,

There is nothing wrong with being in the Plectrum Posse and using a pick for bass if you feel more comfortable on certain songs with a pick versus your fingers. It is all a matter of style, sound, preference, feel, comfort, etc. I even use a fingering method I developed for myself with my index finger in a pick style that works perfect for me on some songs. It gives me a tone between overhand fingering and a pick and provides a different feel than either method. That style is not something you learn overnight but it works well for me when needed.

P.S. I love Jeff Clapper and Chris Squire's pick playing style and sound.

f.sciarrillo · Post by **f.sciarrillo** » Saturday Oct 22, 2011

Thanks, Duaine. I hope to be able to do both. But like I said, I want to get to the point where I use my fingers more than a pick.

sstuckey · Post by **sstuckey** » Saturday Oct 22, 2011

I personally prefer the sound of a bass played with a pick over the finger style. At least for the heavy metal genre. I find it easier to distinguish the notes and sounds less muddy to me. But there is times when the fingers work better for different songs. I think the song should dictate what style(s) to use. So try em all Frank and see what works best!! Think of it as just another tool in the tool belt....and you can never have enough screwdrivers.

f.sciarrillo · Post by **f.sciarrillo** » Saturday Oct 22, 2011

sstuckey wrote:I personally prefer the sound of a bass played with a pick over the finger style. At least for the heavy metal genre. I find it easier to distinguish the notes and sounds less muddy to me. But there is times when the fingers work better for different songs. I think the song should dictate what style(s) to use. So try em all Frank and see what works best!! Think of it as just another tool in the tool belt....and you can never have enough screwdrivers.

There is nothing more truer than never having enough screw drivers. Good one, Steve. I can see where a pick would add more to the metal genre. I didn't think of the different genre approach. That is a good tip.

Naga · Post by **Naga** » Saturday Oct 22, 2011

Genre has a lot to do with it, not to mention the bassist's style. The sound and feel obviously make it different too. I can't see playing punk without having a pick, but at the same time, I've seen where some players have the power and attack in their fingers that allow them to run the frets from the digits. One of Steve's former bandmates had an approach that was nuts

Personally, I started on bass not long ago. I don't consider myself a bassist, just yet, but I'm working upward to it. I feel that using pick or fingers depends, really, on me. I don't have the speed or stamina to go heavy-finger, so I switch to picks for that. But then I have more diversity in what I can do with fingers. It's a lot harder to go up and down from top to bottom with a pick if you're doing single-note-per-string stuff. A pick, however, has a lot more drive and drill speed and power