JPF Home Page Forums Musician Gear and Techniques Bass and Drum Forum The Pick Driver Debate

Bass Players...A question of some debate.

While I was at a music store this weekend buying my new Fender Jass bass, I overheard the salesman telling a new player that the bass is always played with the fingers never a pick. I naturally stepped in and spoke my two cents (which is what I had left after my purchase...)

I told the salesman that I mostly use a pick when I play bass as does Carol Kaye and thousands of other great players. First he asked "Who is Carol Kaye???"

What about this notion of the pick?

Some players use their thumb, players like the Late, Great James Jamerson used his index finger only and some use a pick.

What is your preference and why?

I carry several picks, some nylon, some heavy, some light, which I use. I also keep my nails on my right hand a little long.

Mostly I play with my fingers like a normal bass player, sometimes I dig in with my finger and catch a nail to make a note stand out. Often I play with my index finger in a downward motion as if it were a flatpick, picking with the nail. I also use my thumb, occasionally snapping the strings with an outward motion. I use anything to make the note stand out in the mix without losing a pleasing tone.

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Mike Dunbar Music

I play with the index and middle finger exclusively. I must confess this is partly due to laziness regarding learning to play with a pick. The pick does give a more defined tone whereas the fingers give a more deep, felt-but-not-heard kind of tone. (Gross simplification, but it gives the general idea.)I started off playing with the fingers because that is what I saw in a book! Now whenever I try to play with a pick (13 years down the road)I just get frustrated and end up dropping the pick and going back to the fingers. Then again, I use flatwound strings and a foam mute on the strings because I like the deeper sound, so my motivation to play with a pick is quite low! But for someone to say that a bass is never played with a pick is just ignorant. And that is coming from a guy who NEVER plays with a pick...

Because I started out playing guitar for many years, I mostly use a pick. I used to use these thick white felt picks. They were very stiff until until they got broken in. I used them because I was used to a pick but didn't necessarily want to hear that pick "click". Sometimes I will use a heavy plastic pick. I will often use my thumb also. I rarely use my fingers because it feels foreign to me and I can't quite get comfortable.

I read a story once that Geddy Lee lets his fingernails on his right hand grow long and uses them in a combination pick/finger style.
That was during the Show of Hands tour - I'm sure he has used a number of styles over the years.

Mike

I started playing using my index/middle fingers, but I always loved the sound Jack Casady got with a pick and a Fender Bass, so I learned a little of that too eventually (though I'm sure not giving Jack any sleepless nights!). My only problem with switching back and forth is the change of tone...bass drops off a lot with a pick. Depends on the individual bass how much, my Fender's OK but when I use the Kawai I have to EQ it a lot to get a good sound. Still, anybody who says you can't play bass with a plectrum...thereby ignoring players like Jack Casady, Steve Swallow, John Entwhistle and oh yeah, Paul McCartney...is just a moron.

I see a lot of rock bassists play with a pick. Almost never in R&B. I also play mostly index, middle finger. Sometimes thumb. I never use a pick, even when playing guitar, I go Curtis Mayfield style.

Well I will use one occaisionally if I want a really bright sound.

I almost always use a pick. I get much better definition and control with a pick. I'm also playing a Rick and like a brighter sound and play mostly rock.

I always use a pick for recording. About the only time I use my fingers is if I drop my pick or am learning a new song and want to stay in the background until I get the progression down. I also sometimes play multiple notes at a time, hitting one with a pick and one or more others with my fingers. This is more for a certain effect as I often strum chords with a pick. (New topic: Yes, bass players do occasionally play chords.)

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Stone Marmot
experimental pop-rock
www.stonemarmot.com
www.soundclick.com/bands/4/stonemarmotmusic.htm

Depending upon the sound I want, I play with the lightest nylon type pick I can get and pluck or snap with my index (no pick) or middle finger (with pick). I use my thumb for that 'thump' sound and tuck the pick inside the knuckle on my middle or ring finger (depend on what I'm playing). I almost always have the pick in my fingers whether I'm using it or not. This way I can switch whenever I want. I use the side of my hand to muffle the strings so I can just lift my hand when I want sustain. Got to have that pick to double pick or strum.
I've been listening to that 'fingers only' crap for years. Way too muddy for me.
Did I just go over my two cents worth?

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'Frygter jeg iffe for ondt thi du er mid mig'

My personal experiance is using fingers, thats how I started. I tried using a pick and it... Didn't quite work out for me. My playing style is a melodic cut-through-the-mix style, and instead of using my fingers alone I use my fingernails, much like Geddy Lee of Rush does.