Bass: pick or fingers?

[Emmi]

I tried to play bass with my fingers, but it ruined my fingers. I did get callosity (?) on my fingertips, but that would fall off when playing again After many weeks of sore and oftne bleeding fingers, I decided to give up on that.

So now I use a pick and so far it works fine with me.

However, I read that it is often best to pluck after all. But why? At least in the rock scene, most bass players use picks.

Any thoughts one this? Thanks!

[SamDrummerBoy]

Being mainly a drummer.....I usually only play with my fingers. That is always when I am recording. I did once jam on bass for about an hour. I got huge blisters that eventually popped while I was still playing. I guess that my opinion on this is.....If your fingers can't take it use a pick. I think at least for me, finger tend to sound better. But what do I know I'm just a drummer?

[1undread]

Real bass players use fingers!
Cliff Burtan
Steve Harris
ect.

Picks get in the way and cramp up your hands.
I like to slap and pop when I feel the urge too.
The pick limits you so much.

Yes I know that all my music here is electronic but I do play bass and upright bass and have done so for about 19 years.

[Reconsiderate]

[mlr_pa]

Fingers, Fingers, FINGERS!!!!

Anything that can be done with a pick, I can do 5 times better and faster with my fingers! For speed, sounds, and overall technique, you gotta use fingers!

Most beginning bassplayers tend to overstrike the string, use too much force on it. Hence the bleeding blisters. Yes, at first, you will have blisters, and develope callous'. It's the nature of the beast. But when you learn to develope a lighter touch, no more problems. I played bass for nearly 20 years before switching to guitar. After the first couple of weeks, the blisters stopped, and I've never had them re-appear. On guitar, I use a pick IF I have one. If not, fingers. Bass, NEVER a pick!! Evil things they are!

[Emmi]

And yet there are a lot of famous (and brilliant) bassplayers who use picks (at least from time to time) as well!

For instance: Sir Paul McCartney, John Entwistle, John Paul Jones, Blur's Alex James, Franz Ferdinand's Bob Hardy and Supergrass' Mick Quinn.

My experience is that when I play with my fingers, I get a much softer and less clear sound. But that might be because I haven't picked up the right technique yet.

Btw, Paul McCartney never uses slap. (just an interesting fact)

I'm playing Fly Away (Lenny Kravitz) with my band and that bassist uses slap and fingers, but I'm playing it with a pick and without slap and it sounds fine to me. (at least as far as it goes without an effect device)

Anyways, thanks for all the feedback. I'm considering to give it a go with my fingers again.

[JeraldHenry]

[hollidogs]

fingers all the f**kin way...

way better tones, better range of styles, better control.. everything better...

and i dont know what everyone is on about.. bleeding calloused fingers? blistered aswell?

wat strings are u using? the new D'Addario Razor Wires? if ur playing harder to get a louder noise, just turn it up.. much better... the only time i've got blisters was when i was slapping and popping for like 6 hours straight at a mates jamming.. and those were on my index and middle fingertips from the pop...

but ye... for sure fingers.. unless ur not fast enough...

[yourockradio]

After playing bass with my fingers, I started playing guitar the same way...

Definitely more expressive, no doubt!

[freddiethebassist]

Fingers all the way, picks are only to be used to get the sound if you really msut. but slapping/fingering owns

[simplesim4]

Personaily I switch. After Ive played till in cant stand it with my fingers and some, I'll switch and grab a pick. I think too it depends on what music you play. most punk bass players use a pick even though most suck their are the few that are good.(Matt Freeman from Rancid, and Chris #2 from Anti-flag). Most in metal use their fingers, but arent that good. Still their are a lot of great and clasic players in metal, like Steve Harris, Cliff Burton, Geezer Butler, etc. But theres good players both ways, so it really just depends on what you like to use, but i still stand by useing your fingers gives you a more earthy sound.