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Post subject: What is the big deal about playing with a pic
Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 3:48 pm
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i dont get what the big deal is about bass players playing with a pic is like the worst thing that can happen. i understand they should be able to play with there finger but i prefer the punchiness of a pic

anyone else have ideas why people make a big deal about it?

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Posted: Thu May 21, 2009 5:14 am
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I think most bass players find the sounds they want to make require playing with your fingers, and the truly groovy lines are more easily done with your fingers... so, a good bass player should be able to play with their fingers.

Since so many guys who use a pick (it's spelled with a "k", BTW) are ex-guitar players who haven't yet tried or learned to play with their bare fingers, this style is often seen as the mark of a less skilled player.

I know that I was never a good bass player until a good one, who caught me playing with a pick in the Fender booth at NAMM, jokingly shamed me into learning to play with my fingers.

That doesn't mean that a good bass player doesn't use a pick once in a while. But if that's the only way you know how to play, well...it's like playing guitar with mittens on.


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Posted: Thu May 21, 2009 7:44 am
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playing with a pick is just another color on your pallette...it is usually more percussive and sharper sounding than finger style without having to resort to the even more percussive slapping or popping. It's not wrong or right or shows you're any less of a player by using a pick. Just different...watch most of these heavy metal players that absolutely shred on their basses. Most of them are using heavy picks. Actually Sir Paul uses them from time to time as well...and he's pretty good in my book

I learned to play bass by using two or three fingers but found over time that there were times I wished I had the sound of a pick on strings. I ended up learning to play with a pick as well; not easy for me to do and I started out as a guitar player. The bass is a different animal altogether, it's just not the same as transferring what you know from guitar to bass.


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Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 7:37 am
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Leon Wilkeson from Lynyrd Skynyrd played with a pick. And he is one of the best...


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Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 6:30 pm
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SlapChop wrote:
I think most bass players find the sounds they want to make require playing with your fingers, and the truly groovy lines are more easily done with your fingers... so, a good bass player should be able to play with their fingers.



Sorry buddy but thats not true!

What makes you feel that all bassists want to play groovy lines? In fact what quantifies as good is something that people could argue about till the end of time.

I play both styles depending on the situation and how i feel at the time, almost everything i can play with a pick i can play with my fingers and visa versa (except slap obviously).

Using a pick is awesome, using fingers is awesome. As long as it comes from the heart it rocks.

Taylor buddy just play however you want!

Thats the greatest thing about playing an instrument! NOTHING is wrong and NOTHING is right, just go with it!


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Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 9:43 pm
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Some lines simply need to be picked.


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Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 10:42 pm
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Part is tradition in that the bass guitar in a sense comes from the double bass on which you use bow or fingers. Even now in jazz (or some would say purist) circles, if you play an electric bass guitar at all, you can at least adhere to some tradition by not using a pick.

But the fact is, most of us play a bass guitar, so why not use a pick sometimes. You can get a unique sound and one that in my mind is a better match for rock. Even the Mel Bay beginners book I had something like 40 years ago noted that a pick was "sometimes used in popular music," so the new bassist should consider adding that skill.


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Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 8:15 am
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throwoff wrote:
SlapChop wrote:
I think most bass players find the sounds they want to make require playing with your fingers, and the truly groovy lines are more easily done with your fingers... so, a good bass player should be able to play with their fingers.



Sorry buddy but thats not true!

What makes you feel that all bassists want to play groovy lines? In fact what quantifies as good is something that people could argue about till the end of time.

I play both styles depending on the situation and how i feel at the time, almost everything i can play with a pick i can play with my fingers and visa versa (except slap obviously).

Using a pick is awesome, using fingers is awesome. As long as it comes from the heart it rocks.

Taylor buddy just play however you want!

Thats the greatest thing about playing an instrument! NOTHING is wrong and NOTHING is right, just go with it!


Yes, it is true. A good bass player should be able to play with their fingers.

Or let me put it another way: I hire musicians for recording sessions, and I would never hire a bass player who couldn't.

"COming from the heart" is highly overrated. I need some actual skill to go with all that heart.

And if you look, I said that a good player will use a pick sometimes. I just don't think you're very good if you can't do both. (Spare me the Carol Kaye routine, I know, I know.)


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Post subject: I think it is a mixture of sound and old school thinking
Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 9:21 am
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They used to teach drummers that they had to hold the sticks in a certain way. I think it is much the same for playing the bass with your fingers.

Now if you play with a pick you are limiting yourself with what you can do with a bass. There are so many new techniques that simply can't be done playing with a pick.

I read a great explanation for why picks weren't used. Most music that was played before punk rock or metal didn't mix well with the bass if it was played with a pick. The sound a pick would give simply made the bass too bright for most music. You would sound like a lead guitar and not a bass.

You can use one of the thick felt picks for basses as it mutes the sound.
But then why bother because you can get nearly the same sound with your fngers. If a felt pick gives a bit of a brighter sound that is needed for certain songs then all means use one.

But once you learn to play with your fingers it seems very natural and the pick awkward.


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Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 10:42 am
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In a typical all night set of around 30 songs, I will use a pick for perhaps 5/6, the rest of the time I play with 3 fingers (this is using a 69 P Bass) On one particular song I swap between a pick & fingers 3 times (I hold the pick between my teeth when not in use & there is just enough time to grab it when needed - I sing harmonies in this song as well & nearly swallowed the bloody thing on one occassion as I drew breath & released the pick at the same time - the rest of the band fell about laughing!!)

It's simply the sound needed to fit the song. How much sustain, how percussive, the song mood, best tone?

I do however beleive that there is a degree of snobbishness amongst some bass (& guitar) players around this subject.


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Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 11:12 am
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Maulden7 wrote:
It's simply the sound needed to fit the song. How much sustain, how percussive, the song mood, best tone?

I do however beleive that there is a degree of snobbishness amongst some bass (& guitar) players around this subject.


Right and right.

And, as I said, that snobbishness is based on the fact that guys who CAN'T play with their fingers are frequently guitar players who picked up bass thinking, "How hard can it be?" Those guys are often really bad bass players, and not because they use a pick.... but the pick often gives them away.


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Posted: Fri May 29, 2009 2:29 pm
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SlapChop wrote:

Yes, it is true. A good bass player should be able to play with their fingers.

Or let me put it another way: I hire musicians for recording sessions, and I would never hire a bass player who couldn't.

"COming from the heart" is highly overrated. I need some actual skill to go with all that heart.

And if you look, I said that a good player will use a pick sometimes. I just don't think you're very good if you can't do both. (Spare me the Carol Kaye routine, I know, I know.)


I think there are some incredible bass players who only use picks.

And playing with heart is the most important thing in my eyes.
I believe it was Krist Novoselic (may of been Dave Grohl memory unfortuanatly fails me at this moment) 'Play your guitar as a drum as long as it comes from the heart'.

I truly believe some of the best musicians have very little traditional talent. Personally i dont believe that people should have to play in any way just to conform to some norm.

If you are setting up a recording then fair enough i can understand from a producers point of view why a player with several methods would be something that would be of benifit although i stand by what i said previously, i dont believe that not being able to use fingers makes anyone any less of a musician.


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Posted: Fri May 29, 2009 10:19 pm
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SlapChop wrote:
Maulden7 wrote:
It's simply the sound needed to fit the song. How much sustain, how percussive, the song mood, best tone?

I do however beleive that there is a degree of snobbishness amongst some bass (& guitar) players around this subject.


Right and right.

And, as I said, that snobbishness is based on the fact that guys who CAN'T play with their fingers are frequently guitar players who picked up bass thinking, "How hard can it be?" Those guys are often really bad bass players, and not because they use a pick.... but the pick often gives them away.


True

I started using a 1.14 dunlop (resin) pick , but now I prefer a celluloid pick in Fender medium.


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Post subject:
Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 5:46 pm
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I say, why limit yourself?

Learn to play with your fingers, with a pick, with your thumb, etc.

I mostly play with my fingers, but sometimes the thumb sounds better, sometimes a pick sounds best.

Versatility will help any bassist in any situation.

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Posted: Sun May 31, 2009 9:43 am
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Play whichever way you feel most comfortable. The most important thing is that you PLAY!! In this era of guitar hero, I would never discourage someone from picking up a bass and using a pick instead of their fingers. Music is supposed to be fun, a release from everything. Someone shouldn't feel wrong for using a pick because of narrow minded comments. There are certain songs that need to be played with a pic for the correct feel and tone. So play whichever way feels right. I will say, it is a good idea to learn to use your fingers, as it does give you more options.


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