Question for those who know about Bass Guitars

[Swag1138]

yeah, Ive been continuing to fool around with my Bass, and went to the Our Lady Peace concert. The opening band, American Hi-Fi, is kind of a punky/rocky type band, and I noticed that the Bassist used a pick. I then started watching closer, and it seems that if the bass line is pretty fast, then the bassist uses a pic in EVERY band I watch closely in videos/live shows/etc....

My question is this, and it may be a stupid question, but, hey, I would look silly going into a store and asking this question. I can only look like a bunch of words asking it here , but back to the question, do you need a special type of Pick? or will plain old guitar picks work?

 

[KaBudokan]

<< do you need a special type of Pick? or will plain old guitar picks work? >>



Make sure you get a &quot;tube pick&quot; for that vintage tone.



Any old pick will work.

 

[Jittles]

Any pick works but I prefer a thumb pick.

If you haven't seen those, they fit around your thumb so you can pluck and pick with fingers free.

 

[Swag1138]

Kickin A!

This means that I will be bidding on that Weezer pick now

Ill have to mess around with different picks though, see which I like best. Ill have to check into that thumb pick, it sounds like it would work out best, that way if I need to pluck, then I can just pull my thumb away, and vice versa.


Thanks guys.

 

[ABiohazard]

Make sure the pick is nylon. If you get a fender or a gibson pick they will break. Usually the dunlop types are good. The guage is up to you. A medium usually does the trick.

SJ

 

[BoberFett]

Not everyone uses a pick. Most do. Many do a combination. It depends on the sound you want. Finger picking gives a warmer tone.

 

[Swag1138]

Ive just been messing around for a while, trying to get this song down, but I just cant get my fingers goin fast enough. I think kinda pieced two and two together, when I saw the bassist from the band using a pick

BTW: Its a punk band, New Found Glory. Ive got the fingerings down pat, its the picking/plucking that Im having trouble with. Hopefully, once I get the pick that will be rectified

 

[yellowperil]

I usually use heavy gauge. Picks are good for fast/punk songs, but for most songs it's better to play with fingers. Less scraping/popping noise.

 

[Nutdotnet]

I personally like using my fingers, don't have to worry about losing all your picks .

Anyways, get what ever pick you like. When I do use a pick my personal favorite is the Plain Fender Heavy &quot;Triangle&quot; Pick. It is a large triange pick and it gives me a lot of control and think it sounds better with the heavy strings that basses have.

Oh the other Hand for Acoustic 6-Sting Guitar I use a real light (.38-.46) Dunlop Nylon Pick.

 

[BoberFett]

I've used those big triangles before. Didn't care for them personally. My favorite is a heavy nylon Jim Dunlop pick.

Yep, when you play something like punk, a pick is preferable. It sounds better for the type of music, and allows you to play faster.

 

[Nutdotnet]

I don't know if it really allows you to play faster, I can play with my fingers much faster than with a pick. But that is just me.

 

[BoberFett]

You must have fingers of iron. :Q

 

[Swag1138]

I can get my fingers goin fast, but I cant get the power behind them to set off the strings good. With a Pick Ill be able to get my whole arm into the action

Thanks for all the help guys

 

[Scabilian]

i'm a bass player and i prefer using my fingers because it's dull and it has more bass than if you used a pick. if i use a pick on my bass it because i want a &quot;snappier&quot; sound.

if you buy a pick get a thick one.. i use old credit cards. i even used my old drivers liscense(i cut out the part of my face. its pretty funny looking[no, not the picture])

finger strength will come with time.. i've been play 4 years and within the last year and a half i noticed my fingers getting &quot;stronger&quot;

 

[BigSmooth]

I definitely wouldn't get one of those thin picks that are really flexible. I'm sure it would be tough to play a bass with one of those.