Pick, fingers or both? - also if pick, which do you use?

[spyder]

Pick, fingers and thumb.

The Jack Casady Bass really likes pick and thumb best followed by a little finger action.

1mm green plastic pick.

[el borracho]

I started on a pick then after about 8/9 years switched to fingers when I joined a new band. I couldn't actually play with my fingers at that point but just persevered & nobody noticed in the meantime!

About 10 years ago I started to use a pick again for the odd song & now I am almost entirely back to using a pick.

Herco Gold or Silver - I alternate between the two every so often.

[Baxlin]

Fingers almost exclusively, but I also use my index finger as a pick, ie finger and thumb together as if holding a plectrum, and striking the string (with the finger nail side) rather than plucking it.

I first started this years ago when I was playing guitar and dropped my last plectrum through the sound hole while on stage, so just had to go for it, found it worked for me, so continued......

Edited January 11, 2021 by Baxlin

[Jono Bolton]

1mm Blue Dunlop Tortex. I've used them for years and can't use anything else.

[BigRedX]

When I use a pick it will depend on exactly the sound/attack I am after (a have a box full of different weight material picks to choose from). However my default choice if I am not a after a specifically different sound is the Herco Flex 75 which I buy 100 at a time.

[Deedee]

I’m shite with a pick and very much aware that I need to improve as some of my favourite lines are played with one. When I am using one, as the op it’s a Dunlop 0.73.

Edited January 14, 2021 by Deedee

[Jack]

On 12/01/2021 at 12:33, BigRedX said:

....which I buy 100 at a time.

Oh good, I thought I was the only one. Everybody else on BC is all "I've had this one pick for 84 years and it's my best friend". Dunlop sell them by the 72, which I've bought two sets of my favourites. They changed the colour of the 1.14 a bit over the years.

 

 

 

Edited January 15, 2021 by Jack

[Stub Mandrel]

Part of my collection, mostly kept in what, 35 years ago would have been known as a 'stash box' -  Golden Virginia tin*. A few of these are older than the tin, other beloved ones like my shark fin, mandolin and finger picking ones have long gone.

 

 

*Of which there are three types:

Basic - with the logo scratched out to read "COLD.. VIRGIN.." (How we laughed).

Painted - normally used by hippy types (e.g. me).

Old Lag - entirely encased in matchsticks.

[Dan Dare]

Both. Usually a Dunlop 1mm nylon when I use a pick.

[NAS Bass]

Currently 90% pick, usually a Dunlop Nylon 1.14mm or a Gibson large triangle Heavy

 

[franzbassist]

Both.  I've used Rotosound celluloid .96mm triangle picks, same as Foxton I believe, since I was in a Jam/Weller tribute band about six years ago and really like them.  Dunlop Utex are good too.

Edited January 30, 2021 by franzbassist

[Stub Mandrel]

On 11/01/2021 at 15:08, el borracho said:

I started on a pick then after about 8/9 years switched to fingers when I joined a new band. I couldn't actually play with my fingers at that point but just persevered & nobody noticed in the meantime!

About 10 years ago I started to use a pick again for the odd song & now I am almost entirely back to using a pick.

Herco Gold or Silver - I alternate between the two every so often.

I see Fender have introduced a silver pick. A bit pricier at $45...

[NancyJohnson]

I've used picks since pretty much day one...more attack, speed etc.  Currently using Dunlop Max-Grip 1.14, grippy. 

I can play with my fingers (and can see the virues/benefits of doing so) and can easy do so for slower stuff, but I've never been able to been able to use them for speed/control.

[hiram.k.hackenbacker]

Depends on the job at hand really. I started many years ago as exclusively pick, then went the other way and now use both depending what is called for. When I do use a pick it’s Dunlop Tortex blue (1.0.mm) or the yellow ones, whatever size they are.

[SteveXFR]

I play a bit of both. I use the green Tortex 0.88mm picks. 

Pick and fingers give quite a different sound, for fast punk I can't get the attack with fingers but for a lot of stuff I prefer the softer attack of finger playing and find muting easier. 

Some people seem to think using a pick on bass is cheating or wrong but I just see it as another tool for a different sound. It was good enough for Lemmy, Chris Squier, Justin Chancellor and Paul McCartney so it's good enough for anyone. 

[adamlunt]

Yellow Dunlop Tortex (0.73mm I think) gives me everything I need. The FLEX series feel a little nicer, but I can't explain why.

I saw a PG RigRundown with Juan Alderete and, I didn't realise that while thicker picks give more note attack, slightly thinner picks tend to give you more low-end. To me they just always felt more comfortable.

 

[TrevorR]

On 02/01/2021 at 21:46, Raymondo said:

Always used fingers, Never could get on with a pick.

I failed an audition for a Status Quo Tribute band once because I didn't use a pick! 

Ironic given that neither does the longest serving bass player with The Quo!

[SteveXFR]

6 minutes ago, TrevorR said:

Ironic given that neither does the longest serving bass player with The Quo!

Maybe they weren't convinced he knew both notes.

[Woodinblack]

I almost always use fingers, but I use a pick if my fingers get tired of if I feel like it. Or sometimes a combination of both. When I use a pick though it has to be really hard, and not even slightly flexible so like fender heavys or the wood ones.

[SteveXFR]

59 minutes ago, Woodinblack said:

I almost always use fingers, but I use a pick if my fingers get tired of if I feel like it. Or sometimes a combination of both. When I use a pick though it has to be really hard, and not even slightly flexible so like fender heavys or the wood ones.

I used to like really heavy picks with no flex but the more I use them the more I like a thin, flexible pick. Dunlop Tortex 0.66 are my favourite 

[Woodinblack]

37 minutes ago, SteveXFR said:

I used to like really heavy picks with no flex but the more I use them the more I like a thin, flexible pick. Dunlop Tortex 0.66 are my favourite 

I like doing the flex in my fingers, which is probably because normally instead of using a pick I use my fingernails, and they are heavy gauge!

 

[SteveXFR]

54 minutes ago, Woodinblack said:

I like doing the flex in my fingers, which is probably because normally instead of using a pick I use my fingernails, and they are heavy gauge!

 

I like how I can pick through the string and let the picks flex give a nice consistent attack. 

[Bunion]

On 02/01/2021 at 22:27, FinnDave said:

Pick for the last five years after an accident damaged my right hand. Only pick I use is a Dunlop 3mm, I can't grip anything thinner.

Strangely enough I had an accident and damaged my right hand, I now can’t hold a pick for long it just flips out of my grip after awhile. 
when I do it’s one of these. 

[robscott]

100% fingers, I can't get the expression, the ghost notes, the contrast and all that with a pick. If I was in a Yes tribute band it would be pick all the way but I'm not and I don't want to be so.........

PS I admire pick players, I'm just not one.......

[Dabbler]

On 11/01/2021 at 18:34, Baxlin said:

Fingers almost exclusively, but I also use my index finger as a pick, ie finger and thumb together as if holding a plectrum, and striking the string (with the finger nail side) rather than plucking it.

I first started this years ago when I was playing guitar and dropped my last plectrum through the sound hole while on stage, so just had to go for it, found it worked for me, so continued......

I did that on acoustic guitar a few years back, found that I could use my other fingers to sort of 'assist' with the strum which gave a fuller sound, and stuck with it. It also allows you to seemlessly switch to finger picking and back without having to stash the plectrum somewhere! Curiously though I find it's not precise enough for electric guitar (which I only play occasionally) and so have to use a plectrum for that.

For bass I feel fingers are the more natural method for the instrument and so use those 80% of the time, but a plectrum does give a more attacking tone, and can't be beaten when you want that that driving/palm-damped rock sound!

For guitar my preferred plectrum is quite soft: Jim Dunlop .60mm. For bass I find stiffer gives a fuller tone: Dunlop Tortex 1.14mm.

Edited April 18, 2021 by Dabbler