Question:
Both!
Response:
well, youre talking to a purist, so i will play with my fingers before i play with a pick, but both are good to know, as fingers can slap, tap, play percussive parts. picks can play sharply, or chords, and sometimes faster than with fingers. either way, learn em both, in fact, learn everything! some of the most revered bass players use items usually found in tool shops or something. matt
Response:
Hey do you like Metallica? You know that solo in Mercyful Fate that Jason pulls off? What would be the best method? Fingers,pick slap pop what? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >The only thing with alternating between ‘finger’ and ‘pick’ is that your >fingers get soft from the perspiration of holding the pick. It then becomes >diffucult to revert back to playing fingers again. > I play with my fingers most of the time but sometimes a pick comes in > handy. I use thin picks because the action on my basses is set low and > because it is easier to manage. I can strum the strings with it too. I > can think of a recording I did that required a pick because the deep bass > sound got lost in the mix. I used a ‘78 Fender Jazz Bass and picked > between the pickups. It was crisp and had just enough lows to be heard. > Playing with the pick made the track stick out. The more versatile you are > the better. Slap is nice to know but I don’t do it all the time. > Rick
Response:
The only thing with alternating between ‘finger’ and ‘pick’ is that your fingers get soft from the perspiration of holding the pick. It then becomes diffucult to revert back to playing fingers again. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I play with my fingers most of the time but sometimes a pick comes in > handy. I use thin picks because the action on my basses is set low and > because it is easier to manage. I can strum the strings with it too. I > can think of a recording I did that required a pick because the deep bass > sound got lost in the mix. I used a ‘78 Fender Jazz Bass and picked > between the pickups. It was crisp and had just enough lows to be heard. > Playing with the pick made the track stick out. The more versatile you are > the better. Slap is nice to know but I don’t do it all the time. > Rick
Response:
: Look at the hands of : "classical" guitarists you will notice that thier nails are longer on the : strumming hand. One plus is when you scratch an itch, it feels so much better : and chics dig it too! I guess you are saying that it feels better when you scratch her itch too! :-) — Benjamin Jacoby | "Some rob you with a six-gun and some with (SPAM GUARD! Delete the no spam letters in name to email.)
Response:
I started out years ago on classical. Don’t play it much anymore, but I keep my picking hand nails groomed the same way. I find this extra nail gives you a great sound when plucking a bass. Not as "thuddy" as a fleshy finger, but not as bright as a pick. I find that unlike the classical guitar, you really have to have somewhere to anchor your thumb to play fast lines with your fingers on a bass. Some basses have a thumbrest, but I have never found one in the "right" place for me. I like them exactly one string spacing (usually 3/4") above the low E. But I don’t like to drill holes in my guitars to mount them. A great alternative is available at Radio Shack and some hardware stores. It is a small black rubber foot about 3/4" square that usually sticks to the bottom of an electrical component. The stick-um is strong enough to keep it mounted anywhere on the guitar. And the softer rubber feels better than a hard plastic thumbrest. Use mineral spirits to loosen it if you decide to remove it. The adhesive could lift off your finish if you just peel it off. All my basses have this modification. Mark D
Response:
> Hi all! > Just wanted to know, what’s the difference between playing with ur fingers, > or with a pick? Pros, cons? And should I leaern how to do both? > Nick.
The omnipotent pick vs finger thread rears it ugly head once again! I greatly prefer using my fingers for 99% of my playing. However, on occasion I use a pick, generally for classic rock songs. When I play these classic rock songs, I usually bust out my Fender P. Conclusion: You’ll end up favoring one over the other, but it’s good and useful to know both. 8^) Dave
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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > : Playing with a pick gives a sharper attack, with fingers gives a more mellow > : sound, more of a "thud". I started out playing with my fingers and gradually > : learned picking. They are both useful. Sometimes you’ll find that a song > : just needs that bite, and unless you have long (and string) fingernails, a > : pick is the only way. > : Tom > This is what I consider to be the right answer. Two different ways to > play, two different sounds. Learn ‘em both. > I think why pick playing has a kind of bad rep here is because when > guitar players for one reason or another switch to bass they often use a > pick exclusively because they are more comfy with it. The problem is > that then they often always have this bright attack bite sound even when > it doesn’t fit the tune. You can use EQ to cut back the pick attack even > if you always use a pick, but finger playing gives you an optimum mellow > tone without a lot of adjustments. > — > Benjamin Jacoby | "Some rob you with a six-gun and some with
I personally have let my fingernails grow a little and use then to get a picking sound. I find control much better. Just as you use more than one finger when playing finger style you have just that much more with your nails and you modify your sound with a slight hand adjustment. The key is to keep your nails groomed and strong (drink your milk!). Look at the hands of "classical" guitarists you will notice that thier nails are longer on the strumming hand. One plus is when you scratch an itch, it feels so much better and chics dig it too!
Response:
They are indeed for playing bass as well as some exotic folk inst. Good question, since I didn’t even think of them when I posted my last message. The felt picks give you less attack than plastic. The felt is to resemble the felt hammer of a piano. Though "IMO" it doesn’t necessarily give you that sound. I get better results of getting that "piano" sound by whacking the string w/ my thumb. (thumb should be parallel w/ the string) I don’t see these picks around much either. As I now play primarily fretless, I usually fingerpick. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->So what about those felt picks I used to >see. Are they for bass playing or some other >instrument? >John
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snip > Try different gauge picks as well. Thin picks wont be so harsh but harder to > keep steady. Thick picks are easier to manage but harsh attack.
So what about those felt picks I used to see. Are they for bass playing or some other instrument? John
Response:
I play with my fingers most of the time but sometimes a pick comes in handy. I use thin picks because the action on my basses is set low and because it is easier to manage. I can strum the strings with it too. I can think of a recording I did that required a pick because the deep bass sound got lost in the mix. I used a ‘78 Fender Jazz Bass and picked between the pickups. It was crisp and had just enough lows to be heard. Playing with the pick made the track stick out. The more versatile you are the better. Slap is nice to know but I don’t do it all the time. Rick
Response:
I think you should try all avenues available. Some of my friends have been kicked out of the studio (on famous projects) because they couldn’t use a pick or because they couldn’t do the slap thing. And these guys finger phenomenally. I like (for most instances) fingerpicking but I’ve found myself choosing a pick in the studio because I couldn’t get what I wanted on tape. I like to use all available styles: finger, pick, thumb & pull, tap & a mixture of these. Basically whatever works best in the situation at hand. Try different gauge picks as well. Thin picks wont be so harsh but harder to keep steady. Thick picks are easier to manage but harsh attack.
Response:
> I just do a flemenco style downstroke (ala Claypool) with my > index/middle/ring fingers. have to have some nails to do it, but you get > more fat tone out of it usually.
I like that aproach. I also like the thumb and fingers approach when it comes to chords on the bass. (I often hit the root with my thumb and then sound the higher notes together with my other fingers). Wheat comp.uark.edu/~jemartin/bassbook.html | A Resource for Electric Bassists
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<<You can also change the volume of the bass, depending on how hard you hit the strings.>> You can do that with a pick! I’ll be honest, i use a pick only when i play punk, OR when i play chords. I just have an easier time, playing a chord with a pick…. Face it, get the best of both worlds, go buy a pick or two, and experiment with em. Be able to use picks and fingers equally. http://members.aol.com/marduk213/index.html (Acid Bath.) A cloud of flies obscure the sun, A stone is dropped the dream undone. Ripples grow and ride the tide… The dead things crawl from deep inside.
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>I’ll be honest, i use a pick only when i play punk, OR when i play chords. I >just have an easier time, playing a chord with a pick….
I just do a flemenco style downstroke (ala Claypool) with my index/middle/ring fingers. have to have some nails to do it, but you get more fat tone out of it usually. – Aidan
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A big difference is what you can do with your fingers, such a play slap style, and have a better, easier reach to each of the strings. You can also change the volume of the bass, depending on how hard you hit the strings. Basically, you just have a better range of styles with your fingers while a pick is pretty clunky sounding. -Pat- – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> > Hi all! > > Just wanted to know, what’s the difference between playing with ur fingers, > > or with a pick? Pros, cons? And should I leaern how to do both? > > Nick.
Response:
I usually pluck, but our band did a fast rock song with repetitive eighth notes – I found a pick much easier than trying to evenly pluck that fast. Plus, the sharper attack sounded really mean :>) — Doug – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Playing with a pick gives a sharper attack, with fingers gives a more mellow >sound, more of a "thud". I started out playing with my fingers and gradually >learned picking. They are both useful. Sometimes you’ll find that a song >just needs that bite, and unless you have long (and string) fingernails, a >pick is the only way. >Tom > Hi all! > Just wanted to know, what’s the difference between playing with ur fingers, > or with a pick? Pros, cons? And should I leaern how to do both? > Nick.
Response:
: Playing with a pick gives a sharper attack, with fingers gives a more mellow : sound, more of a "thud". I started out playing with my fingers and gradually : learned picking. They are both useful. Sometimes you’ll find that a song : just needs that bite, and unless you have long (and string) fingernails, a : pick is the only way. : Tom This is what I consider to be the right answer. Two different ways to play, two different sounds. Learn ‘em both. I think why pick playing has a kind of bad rep here is because when guitar players for one reason or another switch to bass they often use a pick exclusively because they are more comfy with it. The problem is that then they often always have this bright attack bite sound even when it doesn’t fit the tune. You can use EQ to cut back the pick attack even if you always use a pick, but finger playing gives you an optimum mellow tone without a lot of adjustments. — Benjamin Jacoby | "Some rob you with a six-gun and some with (SPAM GUARD! Delete the no spam letters in name to email.)
Response:
Hi all! Just wanted to know, what’s the difference between playing with ur fingers, or with a pick? Pros, cons? And should I leaern how to do both? Nick.
Response:
Playing with a pick gives a sharper attack, with fingers gives a more mellow sound, more of a "thud". I started out playing with my fingers and gradually learned picking. They are both useful. Sometimes you’ll find that a song just needs that bite, and unless you have long (and string) fingernails, a pick is the only way. Tom – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Hi all! > Just wanted to know, what’s the difference between playing with ur fingers, > or with a pick? Pros, cons? And should I leaern how to do both? > Nick.
Response:
That should be "strong" fingernails. String fingernails would be interesting… Tom – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Playing with a pick gives a sharper attack, with fingers gives a more mellow > sound, more of a "thud". I started out playing with my fingers and gradually > learned picking. They are both useful. Sometimes you’ll find that a song > just needs that bite, and unless you have long (and string) fingernails, a > pick is the only way. > Tom > Hi all! > Just wanted to know, what’s the difference between playing with ur fingers, > or with a pick? Pros, cons? And should I leaern how to do both? > Nick.