BassAdder60 Posted November 28, 2021 Share Posted November 28, 2021 Something interesting I’ve learnt is playing at home ( limited volume of course) the loudness you get from pick playing is huge compared to finger style However with the band the difference in volume reduces With an increase in amp input ( for fingers ) I still find the fullness of the sound is hard to beat. I do find having a compressor up front helps too especially taming the low E string and making it more punchy Fresh strings too are a must for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveH Posted November 28, 2021 Share Posted November 28, 2021 I'd like to join The Finger Tone Club also. I started on rhythm guitar age 12 playing rock n roll and shadows tunes, using a plectrum and bought my first bass at 17 it was a long time ago I'm now 60. So I don't remember there being a problem using my fingers or a plectrum..... I use either now, dependant on the song. I also dislike the fingernail click, it totally affects the way I play. Seems like I'm always cutting my nails...... Wish my hair grew as quickly 😁 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BabyBlueSound Posted November 29, 2021 Share Posted November 29, 2021 My accuracy, tempo and dynamics are all a lot more consistent when playing with a pick, as that's how I originally learned to play, donkey's years ago. Yet today 90% of the time I play fingerstyle and loving it... Just feels like I'll never get muting and raking right, even though muting comes so naturally with the pick I don't even pay attention to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassfinger Posted November 30, 2021 Share Posted November 30, 2021 Id love to join the finger tone club, but I have no feeling in 2 fingers due to an old injury, and at best my playing is woeful. The good news is that I've learned to largely mimic the tone, if not the actual technique, to the point where listening to old recordings I can't tell which I was at that day. So I guess that, like a schoolboy looking up at his heroes, I'll have to remain an honourary member rather than a full member of this particular club. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubit Posted November 30, 2021 Share Posted November 30, 2021 8 hours ago, whave said: My accuracy, tempo and dynamics are all a lot more consistent when playing with a pick, as that's how I originally learned to play, donkey's years ago. Yet today 90% of the time I play fingerstyle and loving it... Just feels like I'll never get muting and raking right, even though muting comes so naturally with the pick I don't even pay attention to it. im the opposite. I like to use a pick for certain songs for the attack but I find I get all mixed up when I need to play different strings. I’m just so used to playing finger style. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassAdder60 Posted November 30, 2021 Share Posted November 30, 2021 I’m probably equal ability fingers or pick and often find it hard choosing which method ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonard Smalls Posted November 30, 2021 Share Posted November 30, 2021 Personally, I'm a thumb and 3 fingers man... Thumb for both plucking and slapping, fingers either popping or doubledy-tripledy-do-ing. And it's always either right by or actually on the neck. Being polite I don't use my little finger - it's always pushed out with a slight bend, like a posh lady drinking a cup of tea. Folks often say I have a slightly weird playing style... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kwmlondon Posted November 30, 2021 Share Posted November 30, 2021 I've found the more I play, the more practise I put in the more I like my tone. I'd say I play 80% of the time with fingers and every now and again I just go off the leash and whack on a bit of distortion and attack the bass with a pick. One of my favourite tones is playing with a pick or the thumb and muting with the right hand at the same time to get a really bass-heavy big attack - dub with thumb, retro clack with pick. I've just now started to get into the Rocco technique of slightly muting with the left hand so I can play fingers on the right and still have that thuddy tone, fewer resonant frequencies. Really fun stuff! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassAdder60 Posted November 30, 2021 Share Posted November 30, 2021 Yep pick playing while palm muting is a great sound Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted November 30, 2021 Share Posted November 30, 2021 Exclusively fingerstyle here. Having no real background in guitar beyond abortive attempts in youth I came to bass fresh and the bassists who inspired me to take the plunge (principally Steve Harris and Jack Bruce) play(ed) fingerstyle. Odd then, that the first bassline I ever played on a bass was Peaches by The Stranglers. I learned it on the lowest strings of a guitar I had lying around then headed to the music shop to try basses I've tried using a pick but it feels so alien and disconnected to me not to be directly addressing the strings that I don't enjoy it and see no musical benefit in the bands I'm in to make it worth persevering with. Come to think of it, that's maybe why I never stuck at the guitar... Not anti-pick though! Some great players use 'em and to great effect. With a pick I am neither great nor effective. With fingers I'm not bad and make the correct noises most of the time... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer of the Bass Posted November 30, 2021 Share Posted November 30, 2021 1 hour ago, BassAdder27 said: Yep pick playing while palm muting is a great sound For me, that's the main thing I'll pick up a pick for on bass. I'm habitually a finger player and I reckon I get a better feel with fingers on most things, but that muted clicky thunk is such a unique sound that I can't get any other way. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boodang Posted November 30, 2021 Share Posted November 30, 2021 My first bass was fretless so it seemed natural to use fingers. I used lockdown to crack the pick thing but fingers is still my go to technique. Influenced early on by John Paul Jones, so mostly play over the end of the neck which also has a pleasing tone on fretless. And worked on the Gary Willis technique of using the ring finger to make string crossing more fluid... also good for triplets. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeftyP Posted November 30, 2021 Share Posted November 30, 2021 I've never tried to use a pick and don't even know how to hold one. Do you pluck the strings with the pointy end or the roundy end (technical terms!) I am a fingers player but I do have some inconsistancy of tone. I like a nice dull thud, via flatwounds, but sometimes a note will 'twang' for no apparant reason. It mainly happens when I use my second finger so I'm experimenting with the angle of my hand in relation to the strings. As to finger nails; mine seem to suddenly sprout overnight and I wake up looking like Edward Scissorhands! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassfinger Posted November 30, 2021 Share Posted November 30, 2021 You can pluck with the pointy or rounded end for diffrrent tonds, or kind of stoke the string, or pluck with an oblique edge, all sorts of combinations and sounds. Very versatile if thats your bag. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassAdder60 Posted November 30, 2021 Share Posted November 30, 2021 I’ve found using triangle picks is an easy way for picking stability Normal size picks are great on guitar but on bass I think the larger pick helps alot I use Tortex 0.88 Green picks and being a triangle I use the pointy bit x 3 !! I think many try a pick without adjusting the EQ and it can sound nasty if you don’t tweak the EQ More lows and less mids finds a close finger tone I find and backing off the bass guitar tone too helps Then you can palm mute too and that’s a great sound Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjones Posted November 30, 2021 Share Posted November 30, 2021 (edited) I leaned the floating thumb style, when I first started playing bass and it means you can play anywhere along the strings, from the bridge to the neck. Which allows you to get a lot of different tones. But I've noticed many, very good bassists like Guy Pratt and Leland Sklar, playing with their thumbs glued to the pickup. Edit: Oooops, I take that back, I just saw a vid of Leland playing floating thumb style. Edit2: And just saw Guy do the same............I'll get me coat Edited November 30, 2021 by gjones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassfinger Posted November 30, 2021 Share Posted November 30, 2021 Inreresting. I do the opposite, middle and 3rd fingers glued to the other side of the pickup. Those are the ones that don't work proper like and that works well for just keeping them out the way. From that position I can pick play. I can use fu gers from there, but because middle finger is so inextricably linked to the 3rd it doesn't always do as I'd like, so im left with playing with forefinger and thumb. I can play like that, but its so limiting and frustrating compared to simply reverting to pick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted November 30, 2021 Share Posted November 30, 2021 Perfectly happy using either, just depends on the sound I'm going for. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleat Posted November 30, 2021 Share Posted November 30, 2021 I play with fingers mostly as I feel more in control of what's happening. I like to play close to the bridge mostly, but can move around comfortably if needed as I use floating thumb. I also use an "invisible" pick technique where it looks like I am holding a pick but actually use my first finger as the pick itself to strum the strings, so I retain the direct connection to them. It is something I have always done naturally, though I have started to use a "real" pick every so often more recently just to develop it as another playing style. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassAdder60 Posted November 30, 2021 Share Posted November 30, 2021 Played both methods ( Pick then Fingers ) The fullness of fingers especially with fresh strings is hard to beat More depth and thump to the notes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ultrasonic Posted December 1, 2021 Share Posted December 1, 2021 I use a pick only when I need speed, otherwise I prefer fingers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev mac Posted January 2, 2022 Share Posted January 2, 2022 On 29/09/2021 at 03:29, Waddo Soqable said: Some vintage thumb action.... Just something about those days.I love the wry smile on the bassist.It's like he knows something nobody else does.Anyone know him? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassAdder60 Posted January 2, 2022 Share Posted January 2, 2022 I’ve gone from fingers to pick and back to fingers again I’ve made a few changes such as strings and amp EQ and I prefer the “fullness” of finger tone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassfinger Posted January 2, 2022 Share Posted January 2, 2022 (edited) It is possible to pretty much emulate the tone with a pick, if you know where you're at. It seems not everyone can do it, or even want to, but I can and know other players who do. Play with fingers because it feels better, or its more dextrous for you, or whatever, but the idea of a unique finger tone that can't be replicated is simply incorrect. Indeed, the available tonal palette from a pick is far, far wider in range. My band member chums can tell from a recording whether I'd gone at it with a pick (which is more usual) or fingers. Sometimes I myself have to check my own written notes to establish that one, because when I want to no bugger can tell the difference. Im on the fence. Im mainly a pick player because of injury, but do play fingers from some parts and would play a bit more if my missing dexterity would let me. Do either because feels right for you, but this idea of a unique finger tone is pretty much a nonsense. Edited January 2, 2022 by Bassfinger Achieved re-entry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Tut Posted January 2, 2022 Share Posted January 2, 2022 Sign me up. Exclusively fingers these day, two or three for a gallop! I’ve used a pick in the past but not very often and when I do use both in the same set i find it hard to equalise tone and volume between the two techniques, plectrum style jumping out of the mix. our original bass player, Gary Giles, uses an interesting technique of fingers and thumb pick giving him the best of both worlds I guess! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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