Plectrum Or Fingers

[Mlucas]

Which do [b][u]you[/u][/b] prefer? What are the merits or disadvantages of each to you?

[arthurhenry]

Anything that makes good music. It really doesn't matter in the slightest.

[JJTee]

Horses for courses

[Bass_Guardian]

Fingers and of course mon thumb for slap

[3below]

It's not a matter of preference, just need to able to do both as and when required (and it is possible to do both together).

[Lozz196]

I`ve always used a plectrum, though am able to use fingers. Plectrum for me gives more attack and precision, which for the style of music I play, punk & hard rock, I find essential.

Have been improving my finger playing recently, as was very nicely given a set of flats which I`ve put on one of my basses, and have found these encourage me to play finger style, and then I seem to be playing more motown style.

[Russ]

Both.

Each technique sounds different and lends itself to different styles and feels, and pick, fingerstyle, slap, thumb-muting, etc are techniques that every bass player should have in their toolkit to be able to use when appropriate.

[Rich]

[quote name='Johnston' post='1096736' date='Jan 20 2011, 08:17 PM']Both.. It all depends on the song.[/quote]
+1000000

[cytania]

Fingers but I keep a plectrum around for songs that require it. I often find that after working out how to do a song with a pick I can make a much more convincing stab at it with fingers, which is just as well as I always drop the pick at some point.

[Cat Burrito]

Fingers. Pick. Thumb. Whatever gets you through the night

[Mlucas]

I totally agree on the dependency on the music but i always feel there is a natural discrimination against pick wielders..

[Cat Burrito]

[quote name='Mlucas' post='1096792' date='Jan 20 2011, 08:51 PM']I totally agree on the dependency on the music but i always feel there is a natural discrimination against pick wielders..[/quote]
Nah, only the ones who smell of cheese!

There is a natural discrimination against bass players, there is a natural discrimination against pick wielders and then there are those who just shut up and play

[risingson]

Both. Fingers 90% of the time, and a pick when a pick style quality to the track in question is required.

[skej21]

Teeth. I refuse to play unless I can do the whole thing with my teeth.

[icastle]

[quote name='Mlucas' post='1096720' date='Jan 20 2011, 07:53 PM']Which do [b][u]you[/u][/b] prefer? What are the merits or disadvantages of each to you?[/quote]

Fingers every time for me.

Nothing against pleccy users - I just don't get the 'feedback' that I like from the strings otherwise.

[BTS_Spacebass]

I'm all about the fingers meself (oooo-er). I can play with a plectrum at need but I just prefer the feel of fingers. I think I probably prefer the sound of a plectrum ever so slightly but I don't actually like using them.

Tx

[xilddx]

Versatile OR Dogmatic

[Russ]

[quote name='Mlucas' post='1096792' date='Jan 20 2011, 08:51 PM']I totally agree on the dependency on the music but i always feel there is a natural discrimination against pick wielders..[/quote]

If there is, it's because a lot of the people you see out there who really can't play well are often amateurishly sawing at a bass with a pick. Think the Pete Wentzes and Sid Viciouses of this world.

I think it just makes those who really can play with a pick, like Anthony Jackson, Hellmut Hattler and Bobby Vega look even better!

[risingson]

[quote name='silddx' post='1096831' date='Jan 20 2011, 09:18 PM']Versatile OR Dogmatic[/quote]

Controversial.

[Mlucas]

A good example is Rob Trujillo from Metallica, as he uses both, and shows the versatility in tone that can be achieved, plus speed and accuracy!

[icastle]

[quote name='Johnston' post='1096861' date='Jan 20 2011, 09:41 PM']and people called jaxsn [/quote]

He said PICK...

[jamesbass116]

Both. Only recently though...Ever since I became obsessed with trying to recreate bass tones/sounds perfectly

[el borracho]

One band fingers (my preferred option) the other band plec.

[stingrayPete1977]

The OP does say prefer so I will say fingers as my preference but I play quite a lot of pick, Thumb only sort of muted style and a bit of slap. I must admit sometimes a pick is a must something like Blur's Song 2 sounds crap fingered only IMO.

[Bassassin]

Both. Played with a pick for 25-odd years before deciding I really ought to brush up on finger technique. Now it's mostly fingers - about 95% probably so I suppose that constitutes a preference.

That's not to say I think either's "better" - I would say each has different strengths and weaknesses but for the most part, certainly in the context of what I play they are pretty much interchangeable.

Jon.