pick (plectrum) or fingers?

[bruceasorensen]

Re: pick (plectrum) or fingers?

As a player who started when the Beatles started, McCartney was my roll model and I gravitated to the pick. Outside of about 3 years when I seriously worked at finger style I have pretty much been a "picker". When I do play finger style I usually play with index finger and the side of my thumb. I have been able to play most styles with the pick. Octaves are played using pick and middle or ring finger. Right hand palm muting is to me the easiest to control. McCartney, Carol Kaye, Joe Osborne, Sting....All master pickers.

[ginormous]

Re: pick (plectrum) or fingers?

Welcome to the forum, and thanks for posting!

[jacksontrader]

Re: pick (plectrum) or fingers?

Pick's. 1.00 mm & 1.14 mm thick pigs with a star shaped hole in the middle of them, so my meat hooks won't drop it. lol

[threechordcharlie]

Re: pick (plectrum) or fingers?

Whoops! Sorry G man. That's what I get for being gone so long. I didn't realize you had already done this.

[Adieu]

Re: pick (plectrum) or fingers?

Why do people say this? Not to pick on you, but I have heard a lot of people say this, and I just don't get it.

The sound from fingers can be every bit as aggressive as the sound from a pick. Geddy Lee plays a lot of stuff that has an aggressive attack. The only place I can see a pick having an advantage is playing rapid-fire 1/16 or 1/32 notes, but even there the advantage is not significant.

This clip was recorded at a jam. I played the bass using fingers. I really would like for someone to point out how this sound and attack is any less aggressive than what can be achieved with a pick -- and I'd like to hear clips demonstrating how pick playing is more aggressive in its attack than this.




IMO, if people can't get an aggressive sound from their bass using fingers, it's a failure of their application of technique, not a failure of the technique itself.

Really, its more like you might achieve speed easier at low technique w/ pick, but nobody forbids you from using 2, 3, or 4 fingers (my pinky broke & set quite unevenly as a teen before ever picking up bass, wouldnt know about using all 5, got no power in it)....id seriously like to see a pick achieve the speed and thumpy ooomph possible when really punching strings with three or so fingers

And yeah dear parttimers PUNCHING, you dont strum past for power, you hit ON for power

[threechordcharlie]

Re: pick (plectrum) or fingers?

Two words:
Iron Maiden

[njstoehr]

Re: pick (plectrum) or fingers?

Pick... I'm mainly a guitar player so its natural for me to use a pick and I find I get more rattle which I like when I'm using picks

Pretty well sums it up for me too.

[blueman335]

Re: pick (plectrum) or fingers?

Really, its more like you might achieve speed easier at low technique w/ pick, but nobody forbids you from using 2, 3, or 4 fingers

+1. I've used fingers most of my life for bass. I can get a lot more speed with a pick, and it's a punchier sound, which fits some songs better. My first finger isn't much use for plucking strings, as that was messed up from a snake bite years ago...

[rashayritto]

Re: pick (plectrum) or fingers?

I'm a guitarist who plays bass to fill out his recordings. I use a pick since I can't get consistent results with my fingers

[kilphody]

Re: pick (plectrum) or fingers?

Fingers only. My right thumb is hard as a rock.
PC

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

[blueman335]

Re: pick (plectrum) or fingers?

My right thumb is hard as a rock.

Is that from hitch-hiking?

[kilphody]

Re: pick (plectrum) or fingers?

LOL
PC

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: pick (plectrum) or fingers?

Two words:
Iron Maiden

The difference is that Steve Harris is an anomaly. He uses flatwound strings, vintage hot pickups. Most of that aggressive tone could also be from the fact that he uses a trebled out amp. Seriously. Put the treble all the way up on you bass amp, and you'll sound aggressive as hell.

[DBras]

Re: pick (plectrum) or fingers?

Entirely finger style. Typically my index and middle. But I add my ring in with my middle for more attack or triple finger gallops. Other than that, the occasional slap. But never a pick. I even strum and sweep with my fingers xP

[Spookbass]

Re: pick (plectrum) or fingers?

Pick mostly, I prefer the attack you can get.
Playing Rock and Metal, I just think finger style doesn't cut it unless the amp has all the trebles and mids flat out, which is a sound I hate.
My preference is all the lows flat out, with a tiny bit of mid and treble, ( I want to make the ground shake), and without a pick it would sound
very muted.
If you want treble, or to play solos, get a guitar!


It would be a boring world if everyone did the same thing