Mlucas Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 Which do [b][u]you[/u][/b] prefer? What are the merits or disadvantages of each to you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arthurhenry Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 Anything that makes good music. It really doesn't matter in the slightest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJTee Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 Horses for courses 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bass_Guardian Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 Fingers and of course mon thumb for slap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3below Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 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). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 [quote name='Johnston' post='1096736' date='Jan 20 2011, 08:17 PM']Both.. It all depends on the song.[/quote] +1000000 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cytania Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 Fingers. Pick. Thumb. Whatever gets you through the night Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mlucas Posted January 20, 2011 Author Share Posted January 20, 2011 I totally agree on the dependency on the music but i always feel there is a natural discrimination against pick wielders.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 [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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
risingson Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 Both. Fingers 90% of the time, and a pick when a pick style quality to the track in question is required. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skej21 Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 Teeth. I refuse to play unless I can do the whole thing with my teeth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 [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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BTS_Spacebass Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xilddx Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 Versatile OR Dogmatic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 [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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
risingson Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 [quote name='silddx' post='1096831' date='Jan 20 2011, 09:18 PM']Versatile OR Dogmatic[/quote] Controversial. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mlucas Posted January 20, 2011 Author Share Posted January 20, 2011 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 [quote name='Johnston' post='1096861' date='Jan 20 2011, 09:41 PM']and people called jaxsn [/quote] He said PICK... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesbass116 Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 Both. Only recently though...Ever since I became obsessed with trying to recreate bass tones/sounds perfectly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
el borracho Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 One band fingers (my preferred option) the other band plec. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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