I have always used my fingers, but ive always heard that a real bassist uses only his fingers, and that using picks is a disgrace to bass players far and wide!

I think this is a load of ca ca, though what do the rest of you think?

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Squier For Life!

Peavey Mark IV Bass head
Peavey 2x10
Peavey 1x15

I know what you mean about people looking down on playing bass with a pick. I also think it's ca ca. This thread needs a poll!

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I think it's fine playing with a pick on bass, if you're more comfortable with that. I tend to not like rules regarding music and playing an instrument. Everyone should do it in the way that feels best for them and disregard what others are doing.

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Luck won't do it and ignorance can't

George Van Eps.

I don't have a problem with using a pick when I play bass,it gives my playing the "Ox" tone.I think that Entwhistle must've used a pick on the bass solo of "Call Me Lightnin' " because it has such a "wooden" sound.Sometimes my fingers tire of doing the "picking" so I'll go to a pick for sure then.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

I've been playing bass for a while, and never cared for the pick. There's nothing wrong with playing with a pick if you like it though. I tried felt covered picks in the 60's also, didn't care for those either.

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Am. Std. Jazz / Maple / Olympic White
D'Addario ETB92 Nylon Tapewound Strings
Hartke LH500 head / Acoustic B410 cab

I made a poll!

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Squier For Life!

Peavey Mark IV Bass head
Peavey 2x10
Peavey 1x15

Ive gone back and forth, depending on what I am doing in the band at the time..If i am singing and playing bass, i play with a pick, and i only really play simple stuff. If i am just playing bass, i use my fingers all the way! Ive been playing in a band where i don't sing for about a year now. I love using my fingers to play..i can do so much more and i have way more control over my bass. but, there is nothing like a pick if you are playing faster paced music. the music i play now is like post hardcore, emo, screamo..so its pretty much all medium paced.

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Squier For Life!

Peavey Mark IV Bass head
Peavey 2x10
Peavey 1x15

good point! Iv'e just heard time and time again, that real bassist use only their fingers. I like to mostly use my fingers. though i have been known to use a pick, like i was saying in my last post

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Squier For Life!

Peavey Mark IV Bass head
Peavey 2x10
Peavey 1x15

If you play with all four fingers, you don't miss much on the speed playing.

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Am. Std. Jazz / Maple / Olympic White
D'Addario ETB92 Nylon Tapewound Strings
Hartke LH500 head / Acoustic B410 cab

i use two fingers, my index and middle finger, sometimes i might throw my ring finger in there. no too often though

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Squier For Life!

Peavey Mark IV Bass head
Peavey 2x10
Peavey 1x15

What ever you're comfortable with, that's the key.

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Am. Std. Jazz / Maple / Olympic White
D'Addario ETB92 Nylon Tapewound Strings
Hartke LH500 head / Acoustic B410 cab

Use whatever works for you! I might be tempted to tell my bass player what he should play, I would never tell him how to do it

T2

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What time is it? It's Fender Time.

[with hazardous chemical suit on] you're right +1

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you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.

Personally I'm finger style almost all the way. I hardly ever use a pick unless the only way to get the sound I need requires a pick. Then I use a super thick one.
I prefer playing electric bass finger style because I'm more comfortable that way.

Many players start out on a 6 string using a pick. For these people it feels more natural to use a pick. They already have pick skills and just adapt that skill to electric bass. For example, Carol Kaye was a Bebop Jazz guitarist first, then picked up electric bass and claims that not once has she played electric bass without a pick. She admonishes finger style student players that if they want to wear the ends off their fingers it is their business and there is no reason not to play with a pick. She further stated that there is no way she could have gotten through 2 or sometimes 3 sessions per day playing electric bass finger style.

Both finger style and pick style are skills and take time to learn. As it is easier for a Spanish guitarist to play electric bass with a pick, those people coming from playing acoustic upright bass switching to electric bass will feel more comfortable finger style.

A real skilled electric bassist can do both with equal ease as the situation dictates. I can not do both with equal ease. For about a year I played with a pick most of the time in the 1970's. Never enjoyed that as much.

I also feel that having finger skills aids you in switching the other way, from electric bass to acoustic upright.

I prefer fingers only - but since I mostly play guitar (usually w fingernails), I find it difficult to avoid percussive sounds when playing bass- so i sometimes will use a soft pick for soft sounds........

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A-man