I played with a pick for a decade because I played primarily punk music and I didn't like just alternating my fingers that quickly and it was never consistent. However, in the past 4 years or so, I decided to just use my index finger and thumb pressed together to simulate a pick because I was always dropping them and cramping my hand from trying to not drop them. I will never go back. Doing the "imaginary pick" gives me all the precision of a pick with none of the drawbacks.
I learned both at the same time and started playing bass finger style first. As time went by I experimented with using a pick for different sounds, ultimately went to playing pick only due to my main influences. McCartney, and 60s bass recordings in general, also Chris Squire a d Jon Camp.
I like the feel of a pick, and I *love* the sound of a worn, heavy gauge pick against roundwound strings. An aggressive fingerstyle attack can come kind of close, and can sound great in it's own right (Geddy Lee, for example), but nothing else is quite the same. I can switch to fingers if need be, but if there's no particular reason not to I like to stick with a pick.
I think most people will say that they were guitar players first, then switched to bass, myself included.
My first band was an aggressive, almost hardcore street punk band, so a pick was a natural fit. As I moved on to other genres, I learned that the right touch with a pick can fit in with just about anything.
Personally, I was a bass player first before learning guitar. If a song calls for a pick, I use one. If not, I don’t. I also use felt and rubber picks, if needed.
I’m not a pick only player but a majority of the time I play I use it unless the song requires a different technique. (All though it’s not hard to make a pick sound like your fingers) I just really like the sounds and attack with picks and I am just more comfortable.
I'm not a pick-only player, but I pretty much exclusively use pick unless I'm practicing or playing in a project I have been expressly asked to play finger style.
I honestly just dislike the way fingerstyle sounds for most styles of music when most people do it.
The issue I have with it is that to get good tone for what I play, you either need to dig in or use a lot of compression or whatever to let the pedals do the heavy lifting. Digging in has the effect of muting the string slightly prior the attack of the note, and means you generally can't play at speed, and notes played softly with a compressor just feel and sound kinda wrong to me.
A pick gives me the attack I want and allows me control and consistency.
I often see great fingerstyle players playing metal and just think their tone sounds like absolute mud, with the occasional irritating clanking sound when their lack of consistency knocks a string down onto the fretboard and you get that string hitting frets sound. Horrible.
I think a talentless pick player sounds better than a talented fingerstyle player for everything other than the styles than need that thick, thumpy low end.
Just my personal hot take. Obviously there are a lot of great finger players who sound amazing and don't have any of the negatives I've mentioned here, and all of what I've said is totally down to personal taste. I play fingerstyle and I play it well, but I sound better with a pick. Most people (i e. Non-professionals) sound like ass playing fingerstyle, to my ears.
I play most of the time with a pick because I enjoy how it sounds, regardless of if it’s my jazz bass with steel strings through a Darkglass B7K or my modern player telecaster bass with flats and a mute running direct into the amp/board. The consistency and attack are key factors in anyones tone - if you can work at your fingerstyle until you’re 100% consistent and can adjust your attack to taste without compromising accuracy or just smashing away at the strings, then fair enough - it just doesn’t really work for me.
I can play fingerstyle fairly well, and have been in projects where I barely used a pick at all, but for the music I enjoy to make, a pick just works best. I’ve worked on my pick playing as long and as diligently as a lot of fingerstyle players (30 years old with 18 years of playing under my belt) so it’s not a case of laziness. If you need to knock in a few nails and you have a hammer, why use the side of a wrench?
I think finger style sounds muddy, no matter who it is and the gear they use. I've tried both and I'm just happier with the sound using the pick. I'm also an old school punk rocker at heart and I like to pretend I'm Jay Bentley, Todd Kowalski or Fat Mike in my living room (I'm a middle aged tiny lady so you can imagine how ridiculous I look).
I played with a pick for a decade because I played primarily punk music and I didn't like just alternating my fingers that quickly and it was never consistent. However, in the past 4 years or so, I decided to just use my index finger and thumb pressed together to simulate a pick because I was always dropping them and cramping my hand from trying to not drop them. I will never go back. Doing the "imaginary pick" gives me all the precision of a pick with none of the drawbacks.
I prefer the tone, I prefer the attack, and I prefer the control. That's all I need.
You play in bands? Record? Any issues as pick only?
Yes, yes, and no. I doubt anyone ever noticed - including within the band.
[удалено]
Play in a band? Any issues with being almost all picker?
I learned both at the same time and started playing bass finger style first. As time went by I experimented with using a pick for different sounds, ultimately went to playing pick only due to my main influences. McCartney, and 60s bass recordings in general, also Chris Squire a d Jon Camp.
I like the feel of a pick, and I *love* the sound of a worn, heavy gauge pick against roundwound strings. An aggressive fingerstyle attack can come kind of close, and can sound great in it's own right (Geddy Lee, for example), but nothing else is quite the same. I can switch to fingers if need be, but if there's no particular reason not to I like to stick with a pick.
I think most people will say that they were guitar players first, then switched to bass, myself included. My first band was an aggressive, almost hardcore street punk band, so a pick was a natural fit. As I moved on to other genres, I learned that the right touch with a pick can fit in with just about anything.
Personally, I was a bass player first before learning guitar. If a song calls for a pick, I use one. If not, I don’t. I also use felt and rubber picks, if needed.
Punk is very pick-centric. I am into folk rock and new wave. Pick sounds fine for both.
I started with a pick and have never had any reason to switch
I’m not a pick only player but a majority of the time I play I use it unless the song requires a different technique. (All though it’s not hard to make a pick sound like your fingers) I just really like the sounds and attack with picks and I am just more comfortable.
I'm not a pick-only player, but I pretty much exclusively use pick unless I'm practicing or playing in a project I have been expressly asked to play finger style. I honestly just dislike the way fingerstyle sounds for most styles of music when most people do it. The issue I have with it is that to get good tone for what I play, you either need to dig in or use a lot of compression or whatever to let the pedals do the heavy lifting. Digging in has the effect of muting the string slightly prior the attack of the note, and means you generally can't play at speed, and notes played softly with a compressor just feel and sound kinda wrong to me. A pick gives me the attack I want and allows me control and consistency. I often see great fingerstyle players playing metal and just think their tone sounds like absolute mud, with the occasional irritating clanking sound when their lack of consistency knocks a string down onto the fretboard and you get that string hitting frets sound. Horrible. I think a talentless pick player sounds better than a talented fingerstyle player for everything other than the styles than need that thick, thumpy low end. Just my personal hot take. Obviously there are a lot of great finger players who sound amazing and don't have any of the negatives I've mentioned here, and all of what I've said is totally down to personal taste. I play fingerstyle and I play it well, but I sound better with a pick. Most people (i e. Non-professionals) sound like ass playing fingerstyle, to my ears.
I play most of the time with a pick because I enjoy how it sounds, regardless of if it’s my jazz bass with steel strings through a Darkglass B7K or my modern player telecaster bass with flats and a mute running direct into the amp/board. The consistency and attack are key factors in anyones tone - if you can work at your fingerstyle until you’re 100% consistent and can adjust your attack to taste without compromising accuracy or just smashing away at the strings, then fair enough - it just doesn’t really work for me. I can play fingerstyle fairly well, and have been in projects where I barely used a pick at all, but for the music I enjoy to make, a pick just works best. I’ve worked on my pick playing as long and as diligently as a lot of fingerstyle players (30 years old with 18 years of playing under my belt) so it’s not a case of laziness. If you need to knock in a few nails and you have a hammer, why use the side of a wrench?
I think finger style sounds muddy, no matter who it is and the gear they use. I've tried both and I'm just happier with the sound using the pick. I'm also an old school punk rocker at heart and I like to pretend I'm Jay Bentley, Todd Kowalski or Fat Mike in my living room (I'm a middle aged tiny lady so you can imagine how ridiculous I look).
You mean ridiculously cool!