Guitarist asks a stupid question about bass

aja

Do bass players ever use picks? Or only their fingers?

If they use a plectrum, is it bigger?

Riaan

I'm not a bass player, but as far as I know both fingers and plectrum, depending on the sound you want. Fingered bass is more mellow while picked it's brighter and stands out more (for lack of a better terms!). Then there are other techniques also, such as slapping.

And I think the plectrum is bigger, I've seen Jimmy Page play acoustic guitar with an enormous plectrum which I guessed must have been a bass plectrum.

WantzChas

The plectrum is bigger and thicker. Many guys prefer bass picks for playing guitar, I can't play with anything stiffer than the the white shark fins.

DonovanB

aja wrote: If they use a plectrum, is it bigger?

I might use one that big, but I will NEVER use one with what looks like Willy Nelson on it...

Squonk

Willy Nelson Rocks, he doesn't do half too bad on that old Nylon of his ?

Dirk

Some use their fingers, some use plectrums, some uses both. Mike Percaro (Toto) sometimes uses his fingers and sometimes a plectrum. I only play with my fingers, 'cause I'm not crazy about the sound of the plectrum on bass. I can't see how a soft plectrum will work on a bass, as it won't play the string hard enough to get loud enough sound out of it.

cain

I dont see many players play with plectrums tho? I mostly see it when a guitarist tries to play a bass. There are exceptions tho!

DaFiz

I've been using a white sharkfin for years and recently I've started playing bass and can't separate myself from my plectrum. I do appreciate the fingering techniques I ought to be using on the bass guitar I just don't have them practised.
My alternative is my slightly longer fingernail which is not as bright as the plectrum, and easier to control. ?

iLLy

There are plectrums, some are harder and thicker than normal, with a different compound
then theres fingered
then theres FUNK FINGERS
the coolest looking stuff ever, and give a really funky sound [as suggested by the name]

WantzChas

DaFiz wrote: My alternative is my slightly longer fingernail which is not as bright as the plectrum, and easier to control. ?

I'm off of finger nail playing for a while. Had a tradegic loss of my finger nail a couple of years back when the string got between the nail and fleshy part of my finger and tore most of my nail off. It swore and it wasn't very pleasent. (Sorry for spelling oops, can't find my MS Word for spell check)

aja

WantzChas wrote:It swore and it wasn't very pleasent

I am sure profanities were shouted in spades at the time ?

Bob-Dubery

aja wrote:
WantzChas wrote:It swore and it wasn't very pleasent
I am sure profanities were shouted in spades at the time ?

I'd say. The use of a word like "f*ddl*st*cks" in such circumstances is not unimaginable.

WantzChas

I think I might even have used John Petrucci's name in vain. But seriously one of the worst pains I have had in the hand region.

DaFiz

Not looong fingernails like the receptionist's... :-[ just a couple of millimetres... I always just let the one nail (right index finger) grow a bit longer while the left hand's nails are kept short.

What I've never been comfortable with are those plectrums that fit on the fingertips like thimbles... one on each finger... eish :-\

doc-phil

The sickest style of bass playing I've ever seen is the bassist from Mudvayne - he plays slap bass, he pounds the fretboard and even does some tapping with his right hand which I've never seen any other bassist do... See their video 'Happy?' and you'll see what I mean.

Gareth

doc-phil wrote: The sickest style of bass playing I've ever seen is the bassist from Mudvayne - he plays slap bass, he pounds the fretboard and even does some tapping with his right hand which I've never seen any other bassist do... See their video 'Happy?' and you'll see what I mean.

You gotta check out Primus.

I use fingers on the bass about 90% of the time, I normally have a ~ 1.0 - 1.5mm plastic pick nearby somewhere incase, (save finger wear 'n tear + you can really dig in on some songs) I also sometimes use a brass pick, it's too bright for the bass, but can be cool on guitar, back to bass, I also had a felt pick at one stage, mellow tone (like fingers), got fluffier and mellower with age 'till the cat ate it.

Lastly while on about picks, in anther thread here someone mentioned punching a hole through to aid grip ... great idea, works a treat.

'till later ....

AlanRatcliffe

Billy Sheehan has been known to whip out the 8-finger tapping on many an occasion, as does Stuart Hamm. Or check out Michael Manring who does the Michael hedges solo guitar thing ...on a fretless bass. Jonas Hellborg has also done some fairly hectic solo stuff (Little Wing anyone?).

One time local boy Johan "YoYo" Buys (session and The Usual) was amazing with the two handed thing - could hold down bass, rhythm and melody simultaneously. He ended up playing Chapman Stick too and last I heard was backing Limahl (whose '80's band Kajagoogoo had Nick Ellis - one of the Stick pioneers - playing bass and stick).

Midinut

Practice makes perfect...you can basically do things as fast with fingers as a plectrum and it has more feeling to it after all. Alain Caron (ex-UZEB), Victor Wooten, Tetsuo Sakurai (ex-Casiopea) shows you how it's done with fingers only.... But then again, they only practice 8 hours every day of the week!

TomCat

Victor Wooten.......That guy is not well........Awesome Bass Player...... :applause: