How often do you use a pick?

[Bob_Ross]

None of the poll options seemed to describe my situation:

I think I have used a pic on bass twice in the last five years. However, back in the 1980s I would use a pick for at least 50% of a 40 minute set. I use a pick when the style necessitates it, and lately the styles of music I’ve been playing just don’t.

 

[Shenron]

Pratically never.

 

[Wanker_Joe]

I tried using a pick a bunch of times. I found it incredibly difficult to get a sound a rhythm I wanted out of one. How you pick monsters do it just baffles me. Kudos to those of you that shred the bass with a pick. It's harder than it looks.

 

[Greenman72]

^That's the way I feel about fingers.

 

[Ajsweet]

I've been trying to play with a pick the past few years as I believe it's best to know both pick and fingerstyle. But I totally suck eggs at it and get discouraged. BAH!

I use a pick every time I play bass.

For me, it was starting SUPER SLOW (with drum machine) and sounded like poopie for a LONG TIME.

It's the 1st thing I do when I pick up a bass, practice down strokes, upstrokes, an alternate picking on an open E & open A , muted/semi muted, at various speeds ( usually I start at 65bpm)

It will come to you with determination and time.

I have this idea that if a guitar player, using a pick, can sound f****** incredible, with insane technique , so can a bass player.

 

[lowfreqgeek]

I have this idea that if a guitar player, using a pick, can sound f****** incredible, with insane technique , so can a bass player.

His name is Anthony Jackson. And Bobby Vega, too.

 

[WG Plum]

5% - 10%

I rarely go for that sound.

 

[CoryB]

Every time. I’ve tried playing with fingers but my right hand got damaged a while back and I can’t feel my fingers properly to use them.

 

[cymbop]

I carry a pick in my left front pocket every day of my life. It's just there. To fiddle with it when my hands are in my pockets.

I use it about 0.5% of the time that I'm playing bass.

 

[LetItGrowTone]

I used one once, to verify that my Stingray with EB Group Flats sounded like Cliff Williams.
It really did, and I didn't need a finger transplant because I used his pick.

 

[Ajsweet]

I carry a pick in my left front pocket every day of my life. It's just there. To fiddle with it when my hands are in my pockets.

I use it about 0.5% of the time that I'm playing bass.

^^^I like this!!
Even tho I play with pick exclusively

 

[logdrum]

Palm muter and pick makes for interesting textures - even better with flats and foam

 

[Ajsweet]

I dunno if it's appropriate here, but I've been using a few different picks recently - a Jim Dunlop XL, which gave a great tone...for 2 weeks.

So I stumbled across these Taylor turtle shell? picks 1.5mm ...these are lasting super well, only the leading edge wear after 3 weeks (no real deforming of shape) The tone is monstrous.

The other pick I really like is the Dunlop Tortex Sharp Guitar Picks 1.5mm, however I can't get them here in NZ anymore. It was this pick (and possibly the time in my life) that really improved my bass picking. There is a funny story behind me getting this pick - I brought it only to get the music shop guy off my ass - he was so insistent that I get this pick...so I brought them to get out of the shop!

 

[SonnyBassPlayer]

Thinking in % I think I play fingerstyle about 2% of the time I play. I buy picks in 72pcs packages.
I started playing bass with punk and alternative rock and that's just the tone I like.