Is it not cool to use your fingers playing bass anymore? All the bands I'm seeing and playing with lately are all pick players. When I started playing in the 80's you were considered a pussy if you didn't use your fingers. I don't think that way now of coarse, but I'm wondering why I seem to be the only one out here fingering?
Been using a pick since I started in the mid 90s, love the attack from the pick and can never dig in as hard with my fingers. Play around the house with my fingers regularly all the same, good to be able for both but I don't have so much stamina in my fingers.
I can appreciate the attack from a pick, and can emulate it pretty well with my fingers. I am working on my picking skills just so I can do both. I'm just not seeing anyone out there using fingers.
Use fingers mostly but I can play with a pick just fine. I think its probably due to a lot of bass players are converted guitar players and might find learning fingerstyle daunting. It does take a bit to get good at it if you are already proficient on pick might not want to put the work in.
If you're playing fast music, it's extra hard to play with your fingers. Or you have to be extra good. You can skip that hurdle with a pick.
"Yeah, but I can play really fast with my fingers"
For 30 minutes straight? (live set). If so, go to the head of the class.
I learned all the maiden stuff when I was a kid and then on to metallica, so I can keep up pretty well even in my old age.
I've always played with my fingers and dig the way that sounds more than with a pick. Although I'm not opposed to using a pick form time to time.
The really weird thing is that most of my favorite bass players use a pick
I like a pick for thrashy or deathy stuff cause it gives me that attack but for the sort of music we play here (riffy stonerish) I highly prefer playing with my fingers. Just gives me a nice warm tone.
I'll be doing some fingering tonight
only fingers for me.
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Everything I need to do I can do with my fingers, it suits the way I play best.
I'm about 60/40 pick/fing...I hold a pick in my right hand w/ my ring & pinkie while fingerbangin' then bring the pick into play when my fingers puss out I need it..
I've always used my fingers. A select few things call for a pick, but I don't have one, I'll use my fingers there too. I've noticed that the pick attack can be simulated with long fingernails. As a result clipping my nails is a part of me pre-show 5 hour warm-up. I also make a tea out of a goats amnionic fluid and orphan tears. It really helps.
I've seen guys pinch their thumb/index together to form a pick shape, but only for select bits, not for a whole song (ouch).
I'll have to try that tea, sounds delish.
Quote from: Lumpy on December 04, 2011, 10:06:21 AM
I've seen guys pinch their thumb/index together to form a pick shape, but only for select bits, not for a whole song (ouch).
i do this as well for certain parts
Quote from: Pissy on December 04, 2011, 09:36:29 AM
I also make a tea out of a goats amnionic fluid and orphan tears. It really helps.
Fuck yeah, ever mix that with the blood of the homeless and whiskey?
Fingers, Dick, whoops, pick, whatever i gotta do.
Mostly pick. I started on guitar, got a bass and it just felt natural.
I've been playing with my tongue lately. I tried my teeth but My nose was too big, so I just stuck my tongue out and it actually sounds pretty good. Like fingerstyle but slippery.
Quote from: SpaceTrucker on December 04, 2011, 05:05:40 PM
I've been playing with my tongue lately. I tried my teeth but My nose was too big, so I just stuck my tongue out and it actually sounds pretty good. Like fingerstyle but slippery.
violin bows are also good. requires less saliva.
I like when my female bass player/finger picker friends refer to male bassists who use a pick as "pussies." ;)
I do the flamenco chord strum shit some times, rake down with all fingers at once.
FINGERS 4 LYFE
you have to be versitle..dont limit yourself..learn everything..
Quote from: SunnO))) on December 04, 2011, 10:27:46 PM
I do the flamenco chord strum shit some times, rake down with all fingers at once.
FINGERS 4 LYFE
Fav flamenco song.
I use both but can't sing+play at the same time unless I use a pick. Weird mental block or something so right now I use a pick almost all of the time. If I'm ever in a band where I don't sing I'll probably go back to fingers.
I play drums with my fists. People who use sticks are pussies. Fists give a way rounder, more solid sound. If something calls for the sound of sticks I just tell the rest of the band to fuck off.
I use fingers and pick. Depends on the sound I want for that tune.
Well Lemmy uses a pick and no one calls him a pussy. The late great Phil Lynott was a pick player too.
As long as you're playing well, in time and in tune and it fits the song use whatever.
I'd rather someone play solid with a pick than someone play sloppy with fingers just for the sake of not using a pick.
It does take a while to get a solid fingerstyle down.
Back on point, I was just wondering why I don't see many finger players in our type of music.
Quote from: bass sic on December 07, 2011, 10:22:11 PM
Back on point, I was just wondering why I don't see many finger players in our type of music.
Ah, there are quite a few. Weedeater, Mastodon, High on Fire, Graveyard, Kyuss, Sleep/Om... Yup.
Nick Oliveri used a pick pretty much the whole time Monday night
Pretty sure Reeder played with his fingerz though.
Yeah Reeder is all about the fingers.