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Thread: When you play bass, bassist or not...

  1. #1
    Forum Member ch willie's Avatar
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    When you play bass, bassist or not...

    I've been playing bass with a pick since 1976, but about a year ago, I started playing more bass again, and I felt it more natural to use my fingers, which I prefer now. Years of playing guitar with a combination of pick and fingers seem to have helped my bass fingers as well.

    I don't think using fingers is better, just different, and some songs call for one, some the other. So I don't feel like a snob about it either way.

    Do you use fingers and picks or just one or the other?
    Last edited by ch willie; 02-12-2014 at 05:12 PM.
    If we'd known we were going to be the Beatles, we'd have tried harder.--George Harrison

  2. #2
    Forum Member dirtdog's Avatar
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    Re: When you play bass, bassist or not...

    I've played bass fingerstyle for most of my bass playing life (30+ years).

    In the last five years, playing bass and singing lead vox in my band, I can't play fingerstyle to save my life. Pickstyle all the way, but I find myself palm muting quite a bit.

    When I pick up a bass to jam without singing, I go right back to fingerstyle.

  3. #3
    Forum Member ch willie's Avatar
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    Re: When you play bass, bassist or not...

    Yeah, it is harder to sing and play with fingers, rather than picks. I haven't had a playing and singing bass gig in a long time. I might do all right with a bit of practice, but it is harder to me.
    If we'd known we were going to be the Beatles, we'd have tried harder.--George Harrison

  4. #4
    Gravity Jim
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    Re: When you play bass, bassist or not...

    Fingers 90% of the time, a stiff pick when I need that hard-rock edge.

  5. #5
    Forum Member Don's Avatar
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    Re: When you play bass, bassist or not...

    I seldom play bass, but when I do, it's with my fingers.

  6. #6
    Forum Member ch willie's Avatar
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    Re: When you play bass, bassist or not...

    If we'd known we were going to be the Beatles, we'd have tried harder.--George Harrison

  7. #7
    Forum Member chuckocaster's Avatar
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    Re: When you play bass, bassist or not...

    It's probably 70/30 picks to fingers for me, I let the song dictate what I use. My bass idols are Sir Paul, Dusty Hill, and guys like that. While most don't use a pick the guys from the alternative bands I listened to in the 90's used picks a lot...
    "don't worry, i'm a professional!"

  8. #8
    Forum Member dirtdog's Avatar
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    Re: When you play bass, bassist or not...

    Gene Simmons Transformer/Terminator?

    Quote Originally Posted by ch willie View Post

  9. #9
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    Re: When you play bass, bassist or not...

    I never could use a pick for bass.

  10. #10
    Forum Member ch willie's Avatar
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    Re: When you play bass, bassist or not...

    I have no idea what that picture is, but it substantiates my theory that most robots prefer fingers to picks.
    If we'd known we were going to be the Beatles, we'd have tried harder.--George Harrison

  11. #11
    Forum Member refin's Avatar
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    Re: When you play bass, bassist or not...

    It depends on the tune.Sometimes fingers,sometimes a pick with a slight palm mute.
    "My flesh and my heart fail...but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
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  12. #12
    Forum Member jrgtr42's Avatar
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    Re: When you play bass, bassist or not...

    For a long time I would only play bass with a pick. Oddly, the past couple years, it feels more and more uncomfortable to.
    I can't figure out why.
    I do have an 8-string that I need to play with a pick, just to get those octaves ringing at the same time.
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