pick (plectrum) or fingers?

[crguti]

Re: pick (plectrum) or fingers?

I play with a pick because I started to play guitar with a pick, so it was much easier for me the transition from guitar to bass. Plus, the metal band I'm in require an agressive sound which only a pick can gives. But I wish I could play with fingers. There are so many things you can do in a bass with your fingers.

 

[One Bad Monkey]

Re: pick (plectrum) or fingers?

Both. They are both so valuable to me depending on what I need as the outcome. Both are a real art IMO.

I am the same way. I grew up playing fingerstyle with the string bass, moved to electric and usually nixed the idea of a pick. Since becoming a freelance musician, I had to put aside preconceived notions of what something can or can't do, and realize that if the song calls for it (or, the person handing me the check), I need to at least give it a valiant effort. So nowadays, I play and appreciate both, although I usually lean toward fingers.

 

[BlueTalon]

Re: pick (plectrum) or fingers?

Plus, the metal band I'm in require an agressive sound which only a pick can gives.

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.

 

[Chris of Arabia]

Re: pick (plectrum) or fingers?

Even though I'm more of a guitarist, I find fingerstyle much more natural on a bass and have been learning to play that way. So far I've found the string spacing on a bass makes a pick rather awkward for me, though I can see why it might be preferable at times.

 

[Rodney Gene]

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.

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.

I understand what you are saying. I think languaging can be misleading. 'Pick' attack is just that, pick attack. What it is not, is 'finger attack'. I agree it really has nothing to do with an aggressive or soft approach as clearly we as bassists can be aggressive or soft with either. Its true Geddy is a monster aggressive player...he has massive finger growl but he doesn't ever sound like a pick player either. Its not a matter of 'advantage', but rather a matter of taste and style. Picks do what picks do. Sometimes using a pick offers the perfect feel for the tune/artist I am working with. Of course the same tune can be played with fingers and it will work, but it may not be what I want to hear or what the artist wants to hear. A pick is just a tool. It has a certain percussive 'click' that works well sometimes. Fingers can do things picks just cannot and vice versa. Its all valid. The focus for me is always on whats right for the song. Sometimes we stick with what we know we can do well though it may not be what is best. Cheers.

I put this together right now from some different grooves I have done Short 20 sec samples. I have more styles I can post, but this is pretty clear.

Tracks are:

1.Fingers / Peavey Active Tl-5
2.Pick / Yamaha passive P-Bass (I could not get this 'YES' type bite from my fingers myself which is why I chose a pick.)
3.Fingers / Peavey Active Tl-5
4.Pick / Yamaha passive P-Bass. (Maybe I could get from fingers, but not the 'open' snap which works in context with the rest of the country tune demo)
5.Fingers / Peavey Active Tl-5


Very distinct and are style specific. I don't use a pick for funky groove stuff, but I almost always prefer it for faster country rock and some prog rock...just as an example.
I really require both and love the sound of each distinct tone.

 

[Chris of Arabia]

Re: pick (plectrum) or fingers?

The one thing I did get from that is that fingerstyle seemed to lend itself to a rather different phraseology in the playing, even taking account of the differing styles of music played for each.

 

[Rodney Gene]

Re: pick (plectrum) or fingers?

The one thing I did get from that is that fingerstyle seemed to lend itself to a rather different phraseology in the playing, even taking account of the differing styles of music played for each.

That is definitely part of it. Still, I believe if I posted some 'Rock' bass playing with my fingers I think the phrasing may be more closely related to pick playing of the same genre. All of this was finger groove stuff against different styles. Still there could be no palm muted sharp pick attack (Like Owner Of Lonely Heart) without a pick nor could you get that running/notes blending together growl like the solo in Freewill unless you use fingers. They do lend themselves to certain outcomes. I recall as a young lad everybody thought Steve Harris from Iron Maiden used a pick when we first heard him because he was so fast and clean.

I did this quick. I can go through my sessions and find lots of examples of aggressive finger player I'm sure (After all I played in a Rush Cover Band as a lad!) Geddy ruined me as a bassist and Nathan brought me back to life! Cheers.

 

[crguti]

Re: pick (plectrum) or fingers?

Using a pick gives you an attack way different than finger style. Faster runs sound clearer with a pick unless you have a very good 3 finger style. Even grabbing the pick not perfectly perpendicular to the string gives a raw tone impossible to do with fingers.
Try using your fingers with long nails and you'll understand what I'm talking about. But again, I wish I could learn how to use my fingers.

 

[metalmachine]

Re: pick (plectrum) or fingers?

I use a pick because its easier and I like the sound better. But I've been learning finger because I see no reason why I shouldn't

 

[CTN]

Re: pick (plectrum) or fingers?

mostly fingerstyle, but for metal, the pick is essential for staying super tight. My fingerstyle is decent, but isn't developed enough to play metal with.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: pick (plectrum) or fingers?

I play with a pick because I CAN.

When I do use my fingers (1, 2, classical), it's because...I CAN!

There's no wrong way to do it, if you've got the skillz.

 

[vinta9e]

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.

I politely disagree. Here's the clip. Enjoy.
https://myspace.com/beautyofconcreteband/music/song/ray-of-hope-29203437

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.

You might be right but my opinion is "use what works best".

 

[saladin]

Re: pick (plectrum) or fingers?

It all depends what the song calls for!

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: pick (plectrum) or fingers?

Either is fine and I'm glad to see no finger/pick elitism so far that you see at some other places.

As long as it is good technique, and the bass is played like a bass (not played as if it was a normal guitar). It is annoying to see a guitar player call themselves a bassist but really they are playing guitar, just it happens to be on a bass.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: pick (plectrum) or fingers?

I can play both styles. I have spent more time in my life however playing with a pick so that is most comfortable.

I suppose practice would cure the issue but it's kind of hard to maintain an even balance in terms of dynamics when playing fingersytle, for me.

 

[crusty philtrum]

Re: pick (plectrum) or fingers?

I use a finger as a pick. It's not easy to buy fingers, but there are sellers out there, you just have to keep an ear to the ground ...... they'll usually swap that ear for the finger. I never seem to have any problem getting people to give me the finger.

 

[Justin Read]

Re: pick (plectrum) or fingers?

What a zany sense of humour Crusty. I love it!

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: pick (plectrum) or fingers?

you just have to keep an ear to the ground ...... they'll usually swap that ear for the finger.

Think how much money this will save you. Half price hi-fi. (Sell off the second loudspeaker. You won't need it anymore.) Back to mono chorus and delay pedals. Way fewer interconnecting cables.

 

[Laughing Kookaburra]

Re: pick (plectrum) or fingers?

On rare occasion, I've played bass in a blues or classic rock band. I do prefer the sound sound I get from using fingers. However, due to my lack of skill, if the song is quite up tempo, or has some tricky licks, I'll pull out a pick for that song because I may not have the finger power to keep up.

 

[dr. ad]

Re: pick (plectrum) or fingers?

i'm another "fingers wherever possible" guy
the motorhead approach can be quite painful this way though...