Is it OK to use a pick on bass?
You can use a pick on your bass guitar if you want to. Both finger plucking and using picks are perfectly normal ways to play the bass guitar. You can find plenty of examples of famous bassists who use either technique, and there is no harm to using a pick.
Do professional bass players use picks?
Yes; bassists who perform fast-paced, aggressive-sounding music are more-likely to use picks. This is because picks produce a more treble-heavy and ‘snappy’ sound than fingerstyle playing does.
Does paul mccartney play bass with a pick?
Paul played with a pick from his earliest days on the instrument, and continued this habit all throughout his career. It’s rare to find a Beatles where he plays with his fingers instead. Using a pick has a number of tonal advantages, particularly with the violin-style basses that Paul liked to use.
Why do bass players not use picks?
Bassists who have a problem with picking tend to hold one or both of the following beliefs: They don’t like the sound: Picks produce a treble-heavy, defined sound. Although this sound compliments certain genres, some bassists are traditionalists, believing a pick takes away from an authentic sound.
Is it better to play bass with fingers or pick?
Truthfully, there is no right or wrong way to play a bass guitar. There isn’t even a preferred way. Any method you use to get sound out of the thing—fingers, pick, thumb, those weird stick things Tony Levin uses, telekinesis, whatever—works just fine. It’s purely a matter of personal preference.
Is it better to play bass with a pick or fingers?
What picks are best for bass?
How To Find The Best Picks For Bass (& Top 3 Choices!)
- Jim Dunlop Gator Grips.
- Jim Dunlop Max-Grips.
- Clayton Triangle Picks.
What pick is best for bass?
Bass players generally use thicker picks. The thickness improves the bass playing control, and the overall tone of the string. The average pick thickness for bass players is 1.17 mm, while for guitar players is 0.89 mm. Remember, bass strings are much thicker than guitar strings.
Why do bass players play with their fingers?
The flesh of fingers gives a better sound on bass, as often it’s a smoother sound that’s required. If it needs to be punchier, there’s always the option to slap and pop.
Who plays bass with a pick?
Paul McCartney, Chris Squire, Roger Glover, Mike Dirnt, Matt Freeman and many others are admired for their powerful pick playing. Plenty of bassists use both methods—John Entwistle, John Paul Jones, Sting, Roger Waters and Adam Clayton all leap to mind.
What makes good bassist?
Generally, the bassist does that by being a solid bridge between the drummer and the rest of the band. It’s more about time, tone and feel than anything. They have the right sound, they play at a volume that puts the bass right in there with the kick drum and/or balances well with the drummer’s volume.