Have always played bass with a pick. I moved from guitar, and played a lot of chords, or stuff with an open A or D ringing out while playing melodies, and it was way easier to do that with a pick than fingers.

If I need a lower, thuddier sound I can just turn down the tone knob and get that result.

NC for me.

I've never *not* done both.

Over the course of my "career" (ha ha ha) I have put in more time playing fingerstyle so I guess I'm more fluid with fingers vs. with a pick.

That said, in my current band (since 2013) I play with a pick about 90% of the time because it suits us better.

But with flatwounds. I'm weird like that.

Pick=NC.

finger bass is really cool and has its place in some really great bands (minutemen, sabbath ... ) but in really aggressive and fast music it can just sound farty. chunky pick bass all the way !

My main instrument has always been guitar, so it was natural to use a pick on bass. Most of my favorite bassists use picks, so I feel no inferiority.

pigeonkill wrote: finger bass is really cool and has its place in some really great bands (minutemen, sabbath ... ) but in really aggressive and fast music it can just sound farty. chunky pick bass all the way !

I agree, the notes come across uneven and there's a lot of fretboard rattle.

Finger played dub bass lines can sound great, but yeah they're generally slower parts that aren't plucked aggressively.

Bass with a pick is NC, just be sure to break the strings in a little you rotosound aluminum beard warriors.

You can pick your bass, and you can pick your nose, but you can't wipe your bass under the chair. Or something like that.

ErikG wrote: Sun Aug 08, 2021 4:43 pm I've never *not* done both.

Over the course of my "career" (ha ha ha) I have put in more time playing fingerstyle so I guess I'm more fluid with fingers vs. with a pick.

That said, in my current band (since 2013) I play with a pick about 90% of the time because it suits us better.

But with flatwounds. I'm weird like that.

Pick=NC.

Pick on flats on a p-bass ftw!

Not crap. Crap on guitar though

Obviously there's nothing crap about either option. I've only learned to play with my fingers, but much of my favourite bass playing as a listener has been done with a pick, including Wm Sims, Ben Green, Rob Wright, etc.

I've gone finger on a death / grind band for all of our run and it worked, you have to be aware of how you sound, is all.

It's kinda as silly as "Guitar Style: Finger Style"

It's a tool of tonal control. Some songs need a pick, some need fingers. It's weird when people draw a line.

Kniferide wrote: Tue Aug 10, 2021 2:15 pm It's kinda as silly as "Guitar Style: Finger Style"

It's a tool of tonal control. Some songs need a pick, some need fingers. It's weird when people draw a line.

Thank you.
This thread had me feeling embarrassed for not using a pick. I've been teaching myself bass so that i can lay down serviceable bass lines on demos. I was so proud that I was avoiding using a pick. It totally depends on the song/tone.

On the recording side (with a pick), there is definitely more consistency on the bass tracks as far as attack and volume go, but I don't love the plinky planky fret sounds I get. When playing with fingers I get quiet spots when I try to do a little fill or something.