fingers all the way!
I was taught by one of my best buddies to not use a pick, so I don't. I don't think I even CAN XD
I was taught by one of my best buddies to not use a pick, so I don't. I don't think I even CAN XD
Bass: Pick or no Pick?
- Thread starter Toasty Virus
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It depends on the sound you are going for. I usually use my fingers, because I only play bass sometimes. And those songs are not particularly punky, so fingerstyle works fine. But if a pick gives you the sound you are looking for, whatever.
Also, if you can be exceptionally dexterous while using a pick, you are awesome.
Also, if you can be exceptionally dexterous while using a pick, you are awesome.
I use finger picks! Typically they're used on a banjo. Since I have severe lupus (which can manifest in arthritis like symptoms) I've found it it helps a lot.
I would say finger style sounds much nicer and is more diverse as it is easier to go from finger style to the pop slap technique than it is to go from pick, however if you are playing faster music i would say using a pick is better to a certain point but when you have death metal bassists such as Alex Webster of Canibal Corpse and Steve Diggorgio of Death and other bands which use three fingers you can obviously see that finger style can do anything and even go faster than a pick, heck Geddy Lee of Rush and Steve Harris of Iron Maiden can beat most guitarists in speed only using two fingers with the former doing so while singing so yeah finger style all the way from me.
It all just comes down to preferred sound. Of course the genre you're playing will mostly use one style or the other, but that doesn't mean you have to follow the book. You say that you like to play punk, well the genre suggests you use a pick in order to get a thinner sound (if that makes sense) and to keep up to speed. But then again I also play punk with the band that I'm in and I use finger-style, but to get closer to that sound I play closer to the actions. It's not only the style and genre that determine the sound it's also the placement of the fingering (haha) / picking hand on the strings. Like I said you could use finger-style but place your hand closer to the actions or you could also palm-mute to mix it up.