Basska Posted December 9, 2009 Share Posted December 9, 2009 I seem to get the impression, that people are generally less impressed when they see a bassist using a pick and not giving it laldy on the slap front. Is it just me or is my impression accurate? What's your opinion on the subject BassChat?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YouMa Posted December 9, 2009 Share Posted December 9, 2009 I enjoy fingering and slapping most people i know enjoy this the most :brow: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 the polically correct thing to say is that it's horses for courses.... but bass played with a pick has to be doing something amazing before i'm interested. For some things it sounds great but something about how your hand moves means it gets into a steady up down rhythm, much like guitar players. Thats good for some types of music but for me the interesting bits of a bass line are where rhythmically its being pushed and pulled about. so a pick for a rythem guitar a octave down, fingers for the throbing pulse at the heart of the music, for the soul. slapping i'm non-plussed about, sometimes good, often technically amazing but musically it's not that interesting to me in most genres Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basska Posted December 10, 2009 Author Share Posted December 10, 2009 (edited) cheers YouMa, real deep haha Edited December 10, 2009 by Basska Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisnameistaken Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 If it sounds good I dig it. I grew up on the old '70s post-punk bands so I like the sound of a P played with a pick, but 99.9% of the time I play with my fingers (I don't really play in rock bands). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basska Posted December 10, 2009 Author Share Posted December 10, 2009 I tend to do both, so I find that i'm more impressed by what the fretting hand is doing. The reason asked this question in the first place is because I tend to find I get more interest from people when I'm not using a pick (even tho I am doing the same thing as I would with a pick) and it makes me wonder! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
51m0n Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 The Stranglers The Violent Femmes New Model Army 'nuff said.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisnameistaken Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 [quote name='Basska' post='679776' date='Dec 10 2009, 12:10 AM']I tend to do both, so I find that i'm more impressed by what the fretting hand is doing. The reason asked this question in the first place is because I tend to find I get more interest from people when I'm not using a pick (even tho I am doing the same thing as I would with a pick) and it makes me wonder![/quote] I did once get a compliment from an older player in an established band when I was a wee nipper, who said I was the only bass player in town he'd seen pick with fingers, and he went on to learn how to do it himself because he was a bit ashamed. I suppose it's because upright players don't play with picks and we all feel a little bit like cheats compared to them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 I use both techniques & try not to get too hung up on how other players play bass. I can name great players who use both techniques. It will always be hotly debated though 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 The only pick player that has ever genuinely impressed me from a Bass playing perspective (as opposed to just being a solid part of the band) is Justin Chancellor from Tool. He's incredibly musical and really makes the most of his pick tone!. Oh and Steve Swallow is obviously amazing...but excites me less tonewise Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acidbass Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 I'm more impressed than a nice groove and feel from a bass player, rather than being concerned about how he physically plays it. A great line is as great if it's played on a cheapo Encore copy with a pick, as it is on a Fodera with fingers IMO. Danny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leschirons Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 For me it's simply what the bassist is playing and how well he's playing it. (When I say "what" I don't mean the instrument) Picks or fingers, doesn't matter to me as long as it sounds good. although, I play 99% fingers and use a pick just for the "Lizzie" stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 [quote name='acidbass' post='679802' date='Dec 10 2009, 12:57 AM']I'm more impressed than a nice groove and feel from a bass player, rather than being concerned about how he physically plays it. A great line is as great if it's played on a cheapo Encore copy with a pick, as it is on a Fodera with fingers IMO. Danny[/quote] +1 Also another thread reminded me of Gabriel Nelson, bass player for Cake, excellent player who changes between pick and fingers depending on what the song needs. ALWAYS writes great basslines regardless how he's playing it! Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eude Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 [quote name='Sibob' post='679813' date='Dec 10 2009, 01:10 AM']+1 Also another thread reminded me of Gabriel Nelson, bass player for Cake, excellent player who changes between pick and fingers depending on what the song needs. ALWAYS writes great basslines regardless how he's playing it! Si[/quote] +1 too, and another +1 from the man from Cake, brilliant bass player! I think every technique has its own merits, as they have they're own sounds and their own suitability depending on where and what you're playing. A good bass line is a good bass line. You could be playing your bass with a shoe standing on your head, but as long as it suits the music, it's in the pocket and it feels right, it'll make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up regardless Cheers, Eude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 i don't watch....i listen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah5string Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 (edited) [quote name='Sibob' post='679795' date='Dec 10 2009, 12:43 AM']The only pick player that has ever genuinely impressed me from a Bass playing perspective (as opposed to just being a solid part of the band) is Justin Chancellor from Tool. He's incredibly musical and really makes the most of his pick tone!. Si[/quote] +1 I use a mixture of both pick and fingerstyle depending on what I'm playing and what tone I want. I can't slap for sh*t though. lol I don't mind what other bass players do, but I'm easily bored by the 'never wandering off the root note' players. Edited December 10, 2009 by Sarah5string Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxrossell Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 Personally to me slapping is the least impressive form of bass playing. I like pickstyle and fingerstyle, I think picking works in a kind of punk rock way, whereas fingerstyle has more feel and variety, but both work really well. Nah, slapping, tapping and all tha stuff is for the birds, it doesn't interest me at all. It doesn't ever do anything intersting musically or melodically and just makes it all about the bassist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thepurpleblob Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 I can only play fingerstyle therefore pick players impress me....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baixo Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 Hi, For me all methods are valid, as I think that all depends on song, style and sound, etc... So, I am more impressed with creativity, musicality and versatility, than any specific technique. The breakdown for me: Fingers - 50% Pick - 40% Slap - 5% (not good at it really... but can be fun) Others - 5% (Ebow, playing chords and arpeggios finger picking/classical guitar style, occasional tapping, etc...) Also, I think that depends on the EFX that you are using. I always prefer to use a pick when using any form of Overdrive, Distortion or Fuzz with the bass. I am also considering getting a upright/cello bow, as I saw the guy from the The Airborne Toxic Event using a bow on a P bass to great effect a few weeks ago, and this as given me a few ideas.... Cheers, Joao Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu-khag Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 (edited) use the old finger method but then also use my index finger and thumb together as pick when needed if that makes sense. this used to cause havoc with my nails when I was gigging all the time. Edited December 10, 2009 by Stu-khag 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iamapirate Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 ooh, I'd say the breakdown for me would be more like: fingerstyle: 70 % slap: 10% pick: 10% Tapping/chords: 9% mental freak out rave psychedelic foot-playing: 1% Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 Technique is irrelevant if you don't use it sympathetically to the music. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Goatreich Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 I play with a pick with my band as it's all super fast stuff which my fingers aren't up to. When I'm just messing around in the house I play fingers though. I'm always impressed when an extreme metal bass player plays with his fingers, although often I wish I could hear it on it's own so I can see just how tight they are playing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon1964 Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 [quote name='LukeFRC' post='679762' date='Dec 10 2009, 12:00 AM']the polically correct thing to say is that it's horses for courses.... but bass played with a pick has to be doing something amazing before i'm interested. For some things it sounds great but something about how your hand moves means it gets into a steady up down rhythm, much like guitar players. Thats good for some types of music but for me the interesting bits of a bass line are where rhythmically its being pushed and pulled about.[/quote] I understand where you're coming from here, but I think there are loads of examples of great lines played with a pick which don't fall into the trap of a steady up and down rhythm (if that is a trap!). Good examples: Down in the Tube Station - Bruce Foxton Hangin Around (or pretty much anything by the Stranglers) - JJ Burnel Somebody told Me (the chorus bit, which sounds almost like slap/pop) - the guy from the Killers whose name escapes me! Sweet Child o mine (the bass line under the intro) - Duff Come Together (and lots of other Beatles lines) - McCartney Personally I play about 50% pick and 50% fingerstyle. It really depends which is easier and/or more appropriate tone wise for the song. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bumfrog Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 use whatever you need and what sounds good. Anybody who says the one is "better" than the other in that respect is just being a snob and can kiss my ring Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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