Fingers versus picks...

[andrew]

Hey, anybody remember felt picks? before I learned to play fingerstyle, I started out as a pick player and wanted a sound closer to fingerstyle so I used felt picks. What a mess they were. By the end of a set, you'd have felt fuzz particles all over your pickguard, strings, etc. And they'd wear down to nothing pretty quickly too.

I had one when I was a kid that was this big oval thing almost as long as my thumb that I bought because this old country plucker I knew raved about their sound so I got it as a lark and that's about as much use as I found for it. I still have it in a box at my parents house back east.

[Basshappi]

As for you 100% fingerstyle players, does anyone employ their fingernails to add more attack and bite to your attack like a pick? I've always wanted to be that kind of player, but my nails have never been strong enough and I prefer to keep my nails short because they sometimes accidentally snag on the strings. But the nice thing about being a fingerstyle player with strong nails is you can get the best of both worlds depending on how you pluck the string without having to use a pick.

Yes, in fact this is usually the way I get a pick tone. However, the way I do this is to pinch my first finger and thumb together, almost the way you would when holding a pick (except that my fingers can't curl), and use the top of the nail on my first finger. The drawback is that I can only use downstrokes so I tend to use this technique most often for chords.

[bassmonster]

used to play with a pick all the time but now prefer finger style, still use a pick now and again

[bassman]

Hey there..new guy here.I used to play with fingers..but i had an injury in my left hand.I didnt treat it the way i should have so i didnt really heal.Whenever i tried to play..i got really tired within a few minutes.I tried doctors..therapies..exercises..nothing!And one day a friend of mine gave me a pick.I tried playing and beside the fact that i loved the sound..i can play with a pick for at least 3 or 4 hours without having any problems.

P.S. Off topic comment..that bass u have up there..is exactly like mine!!!

[andrew]

P.S. Off topic comment..that bass u have up there..is exactly like mine!!!

Do you mean my old P-Bass at the top of the page?

[bassman]

Yeap!Exactly the same pickguard and the color of the body.Only mine is a Fender J Bass(Japan).Anyway..the color combined to the pickguard really kicks ass!!!

[bassman]

Speaking of bass and pick..does anyone know any really good pick bassist?
I like Jason Newsted's style(metallica)..and Gerry Mc aVoy(Rory Gallagher).

Whenever i run out of ideas i try to find something new..because i cant play any notes..l learned everything myself.

[pjmuck]

Speaking of bass and pick..does anyone know any really good pick bassist?
I like Jason Newsted's style(metallica)..and Gerry Mc aVoy(Rory Gallagher).

Whenever i run out of ideas i try to find something new..because i cant play any notes..l learned everything myself.

Welcome aboard, bassman.

Good pick bassists? Hmm. Ever heard of Paul McCartney or Chris Squire. I'd also add Andy Rourke of The Smiths and Steve Swallow.

[MysticBoo]

Speaking of bass and pick..does anyone know any really good pick bassist?
I like Jason Newsted's style(metallica)..and Gerry Mc aVoy(Rory Gallagher).

I'm a pickstyle nut.

Here are some of my favorites:

David Ellefson (Megadeth)
Justin Chancellor (Tool)
Paul D'Amour (Tool)
Matt Freeman (Operation Ivy / Rancid)
Klaus Flouride (Dead Kennedys)
Duff McKagan (Guns 'n' Roses / Velvet Revolver)

Whenever i run out of ideas i try to find something new..because i cant play any notes...

Huh?

[andrew]

For old school funk/r'n'b/groove stuff with a pick check out Bobby Vega. For breakneck speed punk check out Matt Freeman from Rancid.

Some of my favorite pick players are Joe Lally in Fugazi, Eric Avery in Jane's Addiction, David Simms in Jesus Lizard, Bob Weston in Shellac and Peter Hook in Joy Division/New Order.

[baalroo]

...Whenever i run out of ideas i try to find something new..because i cant play any notes..l learned everything myself.

This is the strangest, yet most awesome, thing I've read in awhile.

[bassman]

What i mean is this.There are bassists out there who have studied music..and some of them are still studying.As result they always have something new to learn..so they evolve as musicians.

If you are learning a music instrument by yourself it is much harder.You can still be a great musician..but it is much easier when someone teaches you stuff..like new scales or new approaches.

That's what i meant.Finding different bassists with different styles really inspires me and helps me.It shows me new stuff..and that keeps me going


P.S.:Geez..i just realized what i wrote.I meant i can't read notes not i cant play..

[baalroo]

What i mean is this.There are bassists out there who have studied music..and some of them are still studying.As result they always have something new to learn..so they evolve as musicians.

If you are learning a music instrument by yourself it is much harder.You can still be a great musician..but it is much easier when someone teaches you stuff..like new scales or new approaches.

That's what i meant.Finding different bassists with different styles really inspires me and helps me.It shows me new stuff..and that keeps me going


P.S.:Geez..i just realized what i wrote.I meant i can't read notes not i cant play..

Awwww, but it sounded like you were some awesomely whacky trancendentalist or something the other way! I'm just gonna pretend like you didn't write this last post and imagine you bald with an orange robe sitting indian style at your computer.

[bassman]

Well you got the bald thing right...lol