Why is it wrong to play bass with a pick?

[emu!]

I know only a few bass players, and they all play with their fingers. Sometimes I will switch with them and play a few bass lines while they try my guitar out. When I do this, I generally play with a heavy pick as that is what I am used to. They never fail to frown or say something about this. It sounds OK to me...maybe just a little more trebly than with fingers.

What's the deal?

 

[Telemarkman]

Sir Paul and Rick Danko use(d) a pick a lot ... But what do they know ... ?

 

[Tdub]

It's not wrong. There are certain things that need a pick.

 

[notdave]

Show them this.

http://www.studybass.com/lessons/bass-technique/pick-vs-fingers/

Tell them to broaden their right hand techniques

 

[vjf1968]

I know for fact that if you play bass in Dick Dale's band, you play with a pick and all downstrokes.

Remember it's called a BASS GUITAR.

 

[Del Pickup]

There's no such thing as a 'wrong' way to do anything. It's just what each player prefers to do.

I'm a guitar player who plays a bit of bass when I'm recording at home and initially I tried using a pick as it felt awkward using my fingers but eventually it felt more natural using my fingers in the more traditional way.

Another great bass player who used a pick most, if not all the time, is Gerry McAvoy who used to play with Rory Gallagher. He did some awesome bass solos using a pick.

 

[RomanS]

Nothing wrong with playing with a pick, it's really a matter of what tone you are going for, in some music styles (like punk rock or metal), most bass players us a pick, in others (funk, jazz) using a pick isn't very useful...

 

[Brad Pittiful]

dee dee ramone used a pick

 

[Big_Bend]

When I play bass, I always use a pick, and I'm always right.


And I pick my guitar with my nose too.

 

[mal paso]

I thought it was because picks were for sissies

 

[Nick Fanis]

What's the deal?

well obviously the bass players you know are not...very bright,are they?

 

[Metacaster]

Because it's 1936 and you're really playing upright bass in a jazz ensemble.

 

[andyfromdenver]

well obviously the bass players you know are not...very bright,are they?

Acknowledged

 

[waparker4]

Mike Gordon

 

[oramac7891]

I play with a pick, when I play bass

 

[Post Toastie]

Why is it right to play with a pick-because Lemmy does!

 

[Jackson Jackson]

John Paul Jones, Paul McCartney, Sting, Chris Squire, Rick Danko, Roger Waters, Jack Bruce...

All knew how and when to use a pick or their fingers.

I take my cues from them.

 

[Seasicksailor]

I also play the pick. As is suggested by the article, there are several reasons.

1. Bad technique. No shame in that. I'm a lot faster and a lot more accurate with a pick. As I was recruited by a band, I couldn't tell them "Wait for a couple of months for me to improve, and I'll get back to you!"
2. I love the sound. My favourite bass sound is that produced by Phil Lesh in the late 60s with that pick and the hollow-body. I have an Eb-3 with flatwounds on, and the pick is great for it. At times, I play with fingers, but that's in the slower tunes anyway where I want a more mellow sound anyway.

 

[TheGoodTexan]

A legitimate attempt to respond to the question:

(a) It's not "wrong" to play bass with a pick.

(b) But most people that I see play with a pick, only play with a pick. Playing bass with a pick certainly gives a very distinct sound, one that is desirable in some situations. But not all.

In the past few years, I've got a few young folks started on bass. I'm not a guitar teacher at all, but I always tell them to wait for a while before they begin to experiment with a pick. Otherwise, they'll start using a pick and never stop... cause yeah, it's a little easier on the fingers.

So the answer is... playing bass with a pick might become a "crutch" for some people. That doesn't mean that every bass player needs to avoid it, only that it they should learn to use it when the song or situation calls for it. Certainly you might be in a very specific band where you want that sound all the time... like Dee Dee.

 

[gitold]

Entwistle had the fastest fingers I ever saw and he used a pick on lots of songs.