playing method
- Thread starter ljahalive
- Start date
EugeneSmasher
New member
I play both ways depending on my mood. :mrgreen: I prefer to use a pick at this point since I'm not a proficient bassist, but I do use fingers if I'm able to kep up. Personally, I prefer the tone you get playing with fingers, but playing with a pick is a lot easier.
alanchia
New member
if you were a guitarist, picking bass may be easier. if you were a classical guitarist (aka nylon strings) then finger plucking may be easier.
if you were neither, choose anything you like so long it's the tone you like.
5stringwonder
Member
neither. it's all about preference and what is more suitable for the type of music you play. try both to see what you prefer.
EugeneSmasher
New member
... So Sam Hill (Judas Priest) is not a real bassist, because he plays with a pick? And Jason Newsted?
dumbcube
New member
agreed
Totally with you on that. Though no offense to pickers. Just that it's not the traditional way of picking, and I am a bass purist.
Totally with you on that. Though no offense to pickers. Just that it's not the traditional way of picking, and I am a bass purist.
I'm agreeing. I especially don't like those guitarists who think that they can play bass and belt out guitar solo's on a bass thinking its good.
dumbcube
New member
Tradition
The Ventures's nice, I like their Wipeout.
Anyways, you will agree when I say the electric bass was made to replace the Double Bass, which was meant to be played with fingers. 60s or not, it's definitely later and part of the evolution in bass playing.
I am not saying that pick playing is not good. It is in fact an avenue for an alternative tone; useful when required. However, picking just doesn't give that vibe finger-style gives, which is important to have most of the time. You tend to realise most guitarists-turned-bassists use picks, and can't do the traditional fingerstyle properly as a result.
You gotta start from basics man.
Guitarist don't finger their e-guits during normal playing (thank God they don't), so why do it like a guitarist when you're a bassist?
edit: btw Alan, nice verse from Psalms. One of my favourite verses of encouragement to improve.
The Ventures's nice, I like their Wipeout.
Anyways, you will agree when I say the electric bass was made to replace the Double Bass, which was meant to be played with fingers. 60s or not, it's definitely later and part of the evolution in bass playing.
I am not saying that pick playing is not good. It is in fact an avenue for an alternative tone; useful when required. However, picking just doesn't give that vibe finger-style gives, which is important to have most of the time. You tend to realise most guitarists-turned-bassists use picks, and can't do the traditional fingerstyle properly as a result.
You gotta start from basics man.
Guitarist don't finger their e-guits during normal playing (thank God they don't), so why do it like a guitarist when you're a bassist?
edit: btw Alan, nice verse from Psalms. One of my favourite verses of encouragement to improve.
lester_music
New member
actually it depends on your versatililty,
not so much on whether you wanna use finger or pick(best to be able to use both),its more depends on what kind of tone you wanna have..
even on electric guitar you can also fingerpick, the same thing applies.....
not so much on whether you wanna use finger or pick(best to be able to use both),its more depends on what kind of tone you wanna have..
even on electric guitar you can also fingerpick, the same thing applies.....
dumbcube
New member
agree
Agreed. That's why i said thank God that guitarists don't use finger-style during NORMAL play. If they do it all the time, it'll be awful.
I myself use both pick and finger-style. I use pick style mostly when I am using chords when playing with a trio, to cover my guitarist when he goes into solo/riffs.
Agreed. That's why i said thank God that guitarists don't use finger-style during NORMAL play. If they do it all the time, it'll be awful.
I myself use both pick and finger-style. I use pick style mostly when I am using chords when playing with a trio, to cover my guitarist when he goes into solo/riffs.
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lester_music
New member
hehe.....what do u mean by NORMAL play?
lester_music
New member
depends...some song need lotsa fingerpicking...especially if country, chicken or travis picking, may need to use both pick & fingers at the same time......
or when playing bossa, definitely fingerpick will sounds better if you are doing "4 note chord"..
or when playing bossa, definitely fingerpick will sounds better if you are doing "4 note chord"..
dumbcube
New member
Some Song
Er yea, some songs. Some genres. But anyway, my point isn't to say which song uses fingerstyle and which doesn't. What I am trying to say that there's always a default way of playing an instrument, and it is the default for good reasons.
So learn the basic before going on to other styles.
Likewise, I'd say most people learn guitar by learning how to pick a chords first (a.k.a strum).
Er yea, some songs. Some genres. But anyway, my point isn't to say which song uses fingerstyle and which doesn't. What I am trying to say that there's always a default way of playing an instrument, and it is the default for good reasons.
So learn the basic before going on to other styles.
Likewise, I'd say most people learn guitar by learning how to pick a chords first (a.k.a strum).
shinobi
New member
wooten plays with his fingers because he uses slap techniques on most of his songs. it's not as though he explores ALL the possibilities of fingerstyle. he does it because his music demands it. period.
list of 'fake bassists':
justin chancellor
stu hamm
billy sheehan
john entwhistle
chris squire
jason newsted
paul mccartney
duff mckagan
flea
mike dirnt
paul simonon
peter cetera
jeordie white
justin meldal-johnsen
leon wilkeson
nikki sixx
"Lord knows I've tried, but I just can't get it." - Stanley Clarke, Guitar Player, 1975
the difference is tonal. you can't get finger tone from a pick. you can't get pick tone from your fingers. i don't see how it is a BAD thing to use a pick.
you use specific tools to fulfil specific needs of a song. you don't play pick or finger merely because you CANT play the other. and if you can't play one technique you don't come up with lame ass excuses as to why the other is a lesser technique.
list of 'fake bassists':
justin chancellor
stu hamm
billy sheehan
john entwhistle
chris squire
jason newsted
paul mccartney
duff mckagan
flea
mike dirnt
paul simonon
peter cetera
jeordie white
justin meldal-johnsen
leon wilkeson
nikki sixx
"Lord knows I've tried, but I just can't get it." - Stanley Clarke, Guitar Player, 1975
the difference is tonal. you can't get finger tone from a pick. you can't get pick tone from your fingers. i don't see how it is a BAD thing to use a pick.
you use specific tools to fulfil specific needs of a song. you don't play pick or finger merely because you CANT play the other. and if you can't play one technique you don't come up with lame ass excuses as to why the other is a lesser technique.
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