Pick or fingers?

ChrisMusic · October 2013

ICBM said: ... my family, which may be related...

I do hope they are

ICBM · October 2013

ChrisMusic said:

I do hope they are

Sadly I'm sure they are. I'm starting to catch myself doing things like my dad...

(Although the left-handedness isn't from his side.)

jpfamps · October 2013

ICBM said:

jpfamps said:

Are you left handed?
No - although I'm quite ambidextrous. I am actually right-handed, but not very strongly. There is a lot of left-handedness in my family, which may be related...

I'd never thought about that as a possible reason for my unusual playing style, but it might make sense.

I only asked because Wilko Johnson said his playing style came about because he is left handed and found holding a pick hard.

ICBM · October 2013

jpfamps said:
I only asked because Wilko Johnson said his playing style came about because he is left handed and found holding a pick hard.

Ah... Wilko

. I never realised quite how much I play like him until I saw myself on video for the first time - not the manic stage antics, I don't do anything like that at all - just the way he attacks the guitar. Same sort of hand movements.

You may be right!

maw4neu · January 2014

Ive just got into playing bass and Im loving it . . . Ive also struggled with the same question . . . !!!

I use a pick all the time with my Telecaster, I use a pick or finger style on my Acoustic but the finger / plucking action used by

real Bass Players is a little alien to me at the moment. I need to practice more untill it becomes second nature I suppose !

Dave_Mc · January 2014

I think I prefer fingers for most things.

I'm probably better with a pick though since I only took it up recently and use a pick with guitar.

I just use whichever is more appropriate for the type of tone I'm going for.

topomorto · January 2014

Dick if she seems clean, otherwise fingers.

Lev · January 2014

I bought my first bass about 18 months ago and made the decision that I would learn with fingers only, mainly because it suited the type of music I like. It was definitely tough to get the fluidity into my playing and I'm still struggling with stamina - after 2 songs my right hand starts to struggle to keep in the groove.

However one major benefit has been that my right hand technique for playing guitar has greatly improved. I've started using much more hybrid picking thanks to the additional strength and dexterity in my fingers from practicing bass. This has opened up new musical territories for me as a guitarist like country and bluegrass that I would always have struggled with using just a pick.

tauzero · January 2014

I started playing bass after playing guitar for two or three years, both with a plectrum and classical style fingerpicking. I mainly play with fingers but play a few songs with a plectrum, sometimes for tone and sometimes because I find a particular piece of right-hand work easier with a plectrum.

Kebabkid · January 2014

I've recently switched to bass and use a pick. I also introduce the pick and fingers for octaves and 5ths/chordal stuff.

I'd like to use the fingers too but I haven't developed the strength to hit the notes and produce a uniform volume. Ironically, I can now slap n' pop but before that, I was getting a similar effect by doing the John Entwistle thing of fretting the note and tapping high up toward the end of the fretboard. I liked the sound rather than trying to look flash.

frankus · January 2014

Fingers only. Mostly Gary Willis three finger technique at all times.

ICBM · January 2014

I may have to change my mind and use one of the evil little things again. I wore a groove in my fingernail trying to play a fast picked part without one at band practice last night...

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Pick or fingers?

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