picks or fingers?

[skaboy125]

i wanted to see what style most people prefer? i personally hate playing, and hearing people play with pics. but i want to know your opinion. :thumb:

[Akira]

I use my fingers primarily, but I believe picks have their uses.

[Sleepy]

I definitely prefer fingers - they allow for much easier transition between strings than picks, and there are a lot more creative things you can do with a free right hand than with a pick (slap/popping, etc.). I also don't really like the tone I get with picks. Sure, it's louder, but it also rattles around and gives the bass the sound of metal breaking and grinding - not a great tone for a musical instrument. This over-metallic sound is even worse in drop-tuning; also, you can get just about as much of that dirty, metallic sound as you need by being a little forceful with your fingers and playing on the neck pickup.

[Munky_Jam]

I started as a pick player, like most people, but i had to move on to fingers to get the tone i liked for a while (while now i do dig the sound of both) but I had to move to fingers for easier string skips and I was faster.

[bottlerocket]

Please read the rules...I know it says no picks vs. fingers threads, but these types of threads are sort of included in that domain. Also, we get these all the time, so this topic's boring and been done to death.

I'll let it run for a bit, though, and see what happens. If I see spam or arguing, I'll close it. Be warned.

I play with my fingers. I like the tone better and can jump from string to string more easily. Also, it's easier to transfer from fingerstyle to tapping and slapping. It looks cooler (:cool:) and I save money on picks (I'm poor). :lol:

-Gav

[PaulR]

Fingers, but picks are useful for different things.

[LewsTherin]

I use both about equally. Depends on how Im feeling and what I want to sound like at the time.

[The_Red_Death]

It depends on the sound I'm going for. I'll usually play fingerstyle, but I'll occasionally switch to a pick for a bit of variety. Also, I find it a lot easier to play and sing when I'm using a pick.

[Chris K]

Fingers for me, all the way! I slap and tap all the time, and I much prefer the sound of fingers anyway. Makes complex lines so much easier too.

[mookie91]

I use (heavy) picks but every so often when I want that tone I use my fingers. I can play equally fast with both but I just prefer the sound of a pick.

[chipmunk2510]

Diffinently depends on the song I'm playing. If I'm playing a song by Green Day for example I'd use a pick. But if it's something like a funky jazzy song I'll use my fingers.

[Kibuddy]

Depends on what I'm playing. I primarily use fingers, but I practice both equally, since using a pick is just as viable as fingerstyle, slap, tap, etc.

Frankly, I can't see why people look down on it.

[zink182]

Both equally..

I can play as good with both and as fast so it's mainly soundwise for me..




I though use the pick more :)

[WHoRRID]

u guys really find skipping strings easier with fingers?

once i learned to alternate pick skipping strings with a pick became MUCH easier than fingers. i also pinch harmonics find are easier, and i prefer the palm muted sound i get with a pick over that of the thin mute i get with fingers. i cant say i prefer either tho. i love using both when i feel they fit best. i can play better with a pick but i prefer the tone of fingers overall, and i groove better with fingers. i often create my basslines whilst playing fingers but cut the treble and record and finalize them witha pick.

[backsidetailslide]

both are good.
i play at band practises with a pick.. sometime fingers
when i practise im too lazy to get a pick so i use my fingers.
im a jack of all trades bitcches:p

[WhoDidTheElf]

51% Fingers
49% Pick

Just depends on what tone I want. Both are fine for me playing whise. I can do what I did on one the same as the other.

[Rawb]

fingers. :thumb:

[FruscianteFan08]

I use fingers unless I'm playin chords. I'm not a huge fan of picks primarily because I don't like the sound it makes when you hit the low notes

[Sleepy]

I use fingers unless I'm playin chords. I'm not a huge fan of picks primarily because I don't like the sound it makes when you hit the low notes

Felt picks for chords. They are somwhat expensive, and wear down quickly, but they keep almost the same tone as fingers - so if you don't play chords too often, just keep one or three of these handy. They sound pretty damn smooth, IMO.

[Saberpunk]

I can play equally with both, for me its far more of a tone/style factor than a capability factor. For example, an audioslave or chili peppers bassline would sound horrible and wouldent feel right with a pick. By that same token, a Trivium bassline would be crap with fingers.

[JohnnyBlackhands]

I'm not a big fan of picks. Even heard in a lot of songs, the sound of a picked bass annoys me a bit, unless it has the right tone for it.

Can't use a pick anyways, never been able to...Always drop the damn thing while I'm playing. Not holding it right, I think, but I've never taken the time to try and get better at it

[Sleepy]

By that same token, a Trivium bassline would be crap with fingers.

Nah, put a little bit of force behind your fingers and A Gunshot to the Head of Trepiditation sounds just like the original. Take it from a 90% finger player.

[Futuro]

Im guessing a plectrum would have it's uses. More transient attack?

[Omega Red]

fingers are much faster and much easier to change on the fly

[Bass Queen]

fingers.
except two of mine are broken.
picks arn't my style. but they can be handy.

[SixnStones]

Mark Hoppus plays with a pick /thread

[wicked_child]

depends on the music that your playing. i use fingerstyle a lot but if i need a good attack on the strings, i use hard picks.

[JeBuSrOcKs]

i switch between the two quite often. just depends on what mood im in and what songs im playing. when playing with my band though i mainly play with fingers

[Strange Brew]

I use pics about 80% of the time, i love the tone i get out of my Ibanez. It sounds like Roger Waters tone from 'money' lol.

[RoadGear]

I play mostly with fingers but I sometimes use a pick for the sake of sound:)

[Az_Holl]

Mark Hoppus plays with a pick /thread
Mark Hoppus also has one of the nicest tones in the bass world, same as Duff McKagan.

I dont really think fingers/picks change your tone that much its all in your EQ really.

[Criss Frantic]

For my punk rawk band I use a pick, I find that I can't get the tone I want using my fingers, and I can actually play faster lines/sustained 16th notes easier with a pick (my fingerstyle stamina sucks).

For my country band, or pretty much any other genre that I play, I go fingerstyle for the more mellow tone, and also it's a lot easier to transition into and out of tapping or slapping. I also find that I prefer the flamenco strum to a pick when playing chords.

[peeted]

iv been playing to much guitar recentley and my finger playing has realy sufferd, my pick playings shot forward though. i preffer using my fingers though so im going to get back into practice

[Untitled]

Mark Hoppus also has one of the nicest tones in the bass world, same as Duff McKagan.

I dont really think fingers/picks change your tone that much its all in your EQ really.
His bass sounds so amazing.

Personaly, i love playing pcik most, ill play finger i dont mind doing it, like today i have been doing, because i cant find a pick mind.

But i perfer the sharper, livlier, bouncier sound i find i can get better with a pick and new strings.

[StoneTemplePilot]

Fingers

[StoneTemplePilot]

Duff Mckagan is a rock star and a half

[Pr0bAss]

fingers... billy sheehan plays with his fingers...great sound...good harmonics

[Chris K]

fingers... billy sheehan plays with his fingers...great sound...good harmonics

Yeah, but it is perhaps unfair to use his tone in a "picks and fingers" debate, since he uses a bi-amped rig, even live.

[Pluperfect_Arson]

Even though I can pick extremely well, I always tend to use my fingers for just about everything because I'm not a fan of the tone that a pick produces. I just like the warm, mellow sound that I hear when I use my fingers.

Also my EQ isn't really set so that a pick would sound somewhat decent. I have it set to how I want it to sound when I'm using my fingers, so meh.

[Candy]

I would say it depends on the song for me, if its a song with much feeling I use my fingers, but if its a fast song without many bass lines I use pick.
mostly pick becouse I play with a punkrock band ;)

[pitchfork]

Pick, fingers, thumping, slapping and popping. Whatever appeals to me first.
By the way who says you have to play with a pick in a punk band i'm in a punk band and i don't limit myself to one or two styles, be different and try and get notice as much as possible are my thoughts on life, instead of sounding like everyone else.

[lemoley]

both - depends on what tone im going for

[Candy]

Pick, fingers, thumping, slapping and popping. Whatever appeals to me first.
By the way who says you have to play with a pick in a punk band i'm in a punk band and i don't limit myself to one or two styles, be different and try and get notice as much as possible are my thoughts on life, instead of sounding like everyone else.

I didn't mean it like that, Look on Rancid's bassist he uses both, but I prefer just wave my arm up and down and use all my energy ;)

[edgebass5]

I would break my playing down like this:
Pick: 80%
Slap: 10%
Finger: 7.5%
Tap: 2.5%

[Ian]

I stared out playing fingerstyle, since I was playing guitar for awhile before taking up bass and wanted something "different". Ill use a pick on occasion though, you should know how to do all techniques so you are a versatile player. The pick definately has its place in the bass world, it would be hard to imagine bands like Pantera and Tool without the aggresive pick tones.

[King Tarkus]

I switch between the two all the time, but I usually use my fingers. I use a pick whenever it suits the style, like when playing basslines from McCartney, Waters or Redding (I think.) Also, I find that after using one method for a certain period of time, it starts hurting a bit; with a pick, my thumb joint starts aching a bit, and my fingertips begin blistering when fingerpicking to long, so after a while I either grab a pick, or drop my pick.

I'm a guitarist, and I don't play bass much, but my band is doing a version of Spinal Tap's "Big Bottom," on which everyone except our drummer will play bass guitars. I use a pick for that, and I run the bass through my normal guitar rig and a fuzzbox.

[Visti]

I think my stats would go something like:

Fingers: 90%
Pick: 7%
Slapping: 2,5%
Tap: 0.5%



But then again I play fretless, so tap isn't as hot as it could be, but I think it's good to know as much as possible.

[TheBassStylee]

i personally hate playing, and hearing people play with pics. but i want to know your opinion. :thumb:
123

/didnt read thread at all

> mike

[Thonk]

Nice post Mike. Good job. No, seriously.


I play with both. Fingers more than picks though. A bunch of bass and mids and roll off the treble a bit = pick sex.

[katana_manatee]

I prefer my fingers, more intimate contact with the strings and the shape of your tone and dynamics. Also it makes chords easier and cleaner especially on crossing strings and makes it easier to switch to tapping and slapping.

I have more control with my fingers but I can play a lot faster with a pick.

[bottlerocket]

I would break my playing down like this:
Pick: 80%
Slap: 10%
Finger: 7.5%
Tap: 2.5%

I hope you know I double checked your math. :lol: :thumb:

-Gav

[pukeboy66]

pick 75%

fingers 25%

[vashts80]

Fingers: 80%
Pick: 20%

I don't slap or tap because I'm horrible at both and I haven't felt the incentive yet to learn "properly" how to slap on a 5-string fretless

[fltlnbassist]

im all for fingers i liek the "roll" of it almost jazzy like but i love a real deep kinda tone so a pick would never work for me

[fltlnbassist]

im all for fingers i liek the "roll" of it almost jazzy like but i love a real deep kinda tone so a pick would never work for me

[shadow316]

Depends what i'm playing (music, bass). With my Fender Jazz i use both, with my Fender P is use a pick mainly and with my Warwick $$ i use fingers mainly.

[Samick]

It depends on the sound I'm going for. I'll usually play fingerstyle, but I'll occasionally switch to a pick for a bit of variety. Also, I find it a lot easier to play and sing when I'm using a pick.
123... Iuse a pick alot but i also use fingers alot it really all depends on what the guitar sound like.

[Spaceman Spiff]

I never use a pick. I have tried it, but I never did like it.