Yeah, I've kind of been on both sides. I've jokingly given some buddies a hard time about using a pik for some faster riffs in songs. lol


Has anyone else had a hard time adjusting to using a plectrum for bass?
my biggest obstacle to playing with a pick was that i couldn't figure out how to mute the lower strings while doing it, aside from palm muting
 
Come hither all ye plectrum holders! A home away from the haters where we can freely discuss our piks and share pik pics.

I'm surprised there hasn't been one of these. I admit that I don't use one regularly but, sometimes they're great! They can change up the attack, add different textures and tones.

If you haven't experimented piking yet, give it a shot. There are plenty out there to choose from. Many different thicknesses, shapes, materials, etc. It may be a bit of a learning curve but, they're a good tool and skill to have.

Let's discuss different techniques, use cases, favorite brands and designs... And whatever else.

Mention if you want a number.
The ongoing list of members will be on my Listography as I'm pretty sure I'll only be eable to edited this post for a brief period of time.


Here's my personal collection. Every one of those is different, except the AttakPik brand limited edition Eclipse and Mecha Glow ones are the same base with a different print. The Dope pik is from a limited bundle of their album Blood Money, Vol. 0.


View attachment 6992267
?
Official Pick Bassists Club
 
  • Like
Reactions: woodyng2
I almost always play with a pick. I find it suits the music my band plays better --- lots of songs with fast continuous 8th note bass lines --- and at this point my gear and tone is adjusted for that, and my sound is a bit too soft and dark with fingers.

My favorites are these Jazz III XL nylon ones:

They are grippy, tight and precise, and don't have a clicky sound which I don't like.
 
got some picks from ernie ball for a change, instead of my usual dunlop 😅 i like them! very grippy, 2mm
 

Attachments

  • 20240810_170056.jpg
    20240810_170056.jpg
    3.6 MB · Views: 4
  • Like
Reactions: woodyng2
I actually started out playing bass with a pick, and did so for many years, but in recent year I by far most of the time I use my fingers, index and middle finger, stroking the strings with the outmost tip of my fingers/nails, in a slight inward light slapping motion, rather then plucking, pulling or striking the strings, this gives me a richer piano like tone with a somewhat bell like attack., and plenty of room for dynamics.
Occasionally I'll incorporate the ring finger or thumb as well, or utilize flamenco guitar style index and/or middle and/or ring finger flicking technique.
But occasionally I still do use a pick too.

I like the Dunlop .60mm Tortex, Dunlop .73mm regular Nylon and Dunlop .060mm Max Grip Nylon (tip or round corner) picks, depending. But also use a 3.1mm Soft Wedgie rubber pick, if it's that sound I am going for.

I prefer the tone I get from using my fingers, but if I need a softer/warmer, more mellow, tone that Wedgie pick is great, and if I need that specific aggressive snappy emphasis of the attack that you can only get from using a pick the .60mm Tortex is perfect, the Nylons if I want less click in the attack, or need to strum fast or whole chords.

Both when using my fingers and playing with pick I prefer the tone I get from picking the strings just about over the bridge J pickup, or just about the spot where such would be.

Currently I am back to mainly playing pick.
And mainly the Dunlop .60mm Tortex.

Nothing beats the power of a pick, roundwounds, a reverse P pickup, and then overdrive.
Glorious grindy punch, snap and bite.
 
  • Like
Reactions: woodyng2
When I started out, my left hand had trouble not getting ahead of my right: I could fret the notes faster than I could pluck them.

But . . . with a pick, somehow, I could play just fine. Over time, I went to playing slow tunes with fingers, and used the pick for busier, faster stuff.

After a little over a year, I could play everything either way. Nowadays, I still use the pick where I need that sharper attack.

I use the big Fender 355 Heavy triangles, or the identical and often easier to find D'Andreas.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mister_GothFrak
Love playing with a pic! Best suggestion: buy two or three of the "multi-pack" offerings to gather dozens of options -- thickness, material, size, shape, etc. Play all of them to find which you prefer. I did this, and after an interesting two or three month period of trying those options, I found the Fender Heavy pick worked best for me. YMMV of course!

Picks - Fender and Cool.JPG
 
Love playing with a pic! Best suggestion: buy two or three of the "multi-pack" offerings to gather dozens of options -- thickness, material, size, shape, etc. Play all of them to find which you prefer. I did this, and after an interesting two or three month period of trying those options, I found the Fender Heavy pick worked best for me. YMMV of course!

View attachment 7015401
i often add a multi pack of picks into the cart whenever im ordering something from sweetwater. ive pretty much found my favorite pick, but i like the variation. i have some 3mm big stubby picks coming with my envelope filter, i really like the 2mm version a lot
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mister_GothFrak
i often add a multi pack of picks into the cart whenever im ordering something from sweetwater. ive pretty much found my favorite pick, but i like the variation. i have some 3mm big stubby picks coming with my envelope filter, i really like the 2mm version a lot

The important lesson is to ignore what anybody else says you "should" play. Doesn't matter one whit what other players prefer. Try a big variety for yourself, on your instruments, with your amps, and with your technique and musical requirements. The pick you select will be one of the most important choices you make if you want to effectively use that technique with bass guitar.
 
I don't use one regularly but, sometimes they're great!

^^^My feelings exactly.

I'll be honest, it has probably been over 30 years since I used a pick on bass. But back in the 1980s, when bands like The Police were popular and influential, it seemed like every original rock band I was in benefitted from the sound/articulation of pick on bass. And in the 1970s, when then-teenaged me worshipped at the alter of Chris Squire and Jon Camp, using a pick was simply a given.

It would be disingenuous to call myself a "pick player" these days. But I do consider myself a consumate professional with an ear for detail...so, if I ever find myself in a situation where I once again need the sound/articulation of pick on bass, I know how to get it.