I'm am just learning how to play a Bass guitar....should I use a pick or pluck with fingers?

Question

Brand new noob on Bass guitar...any good help is worth the time I will need to be a good player...

Answer 1

I'm a bass player of 25 plus years ! I usually use just my fingers .sometimes slapping and popping ,but then again some people can only use a pick ! You get a softer sound and feel when using your fingers verses using a pick .If using a pick,you get more "attack" ,a little louder ,but sometimes with pick noise !
That's the age old question though .Some prefer picks,and some prefer fingerstyle .Whatever feels most comfortable to you is what you should start out with .If using a pick seems to not be working,use your fingers to pluck .My fingers have never really been sore from playing , it seems like it's gonna hurt to begin with ,but it seems your fingertips will harden a little over time .No hurt fingers here !!!
Hope this helps you !! :o)

Answer 2

Yo, welcome to the wonderful world of bass playing. I bought my Fender Squier from a friend a bit less than a year ago, and have been teaching myself when I'm not busy with school and way too many other hobbies.

Picks and fingers can both be used. I use a heavy pick when my fingers are tired. (thinner ones can easily break on the thick bass strings)

There are a lot of different playing techniques and you just have to find what's comfortable. Sometimes I strum with my thumb (currently blistered from that), use my pointer for plucking (or both my pointer and middle for plucking or tapping the string for percussion effects), or use my pick to strum or pluck. They all sound slightly different and very from where on the string you play. Slap bass can also be played by whacking with your hand or side of thumb. Check out some books on playing from your library and experiment. Picks have a clearer tone (sometimes twangy) and fingers have a softer tone. Good luck!

Answer 3

Try a bunch of different songs the first time through with a pick and the second time through plucking/slapping and you will at least get an idea of which way is more comfortable for you. There even may be some songs that you prefer the pick while others you prefer to pluck and slap. Just keep playing and experimenting until you find your niche.

Good luck!

Answer 4

There are 3 techniques:
1. fingerpick with the fingers using upstrokes
2. pick with the thumb
3. use a pick
I believe most bassists use mostly the 1st technique.
If you really want to be versatile, master all 3 techniques. Use some techniques for some songs and the other techniques for other songs. Each picking style has its own sound.
On guitar, some songs are fingerpicked, while the same guitarist will pick other songs with a pick. You can even use a pick and fingerpick with your 2nd, 3rd, and 4th fingers together.

Answer 5

ALWAYS USE THE FINGERS i have recently gotten int bass and use a pick but it is only because i have been playing guitar for a long time and i am use to it so get use to fingers it is better in the long run and it looks cool to

Answer 6

start of with fingers... so you know how to control the tone and feel of the notes you play.... it's warmer too..

with a pick , i find that it's more metallic sounding...

so i guess you should start off with fingers to get a hang of playing the bass... then try with a pick...

Answer 7

to get good, you need to use your fingers, If you want to be average at best, use a pick. If you use your fingers, you will get very sore. Putting super glue on the tips of your fingers before practice helps alot.

Answer 8

I am also fairly new, but personally when I play I prefer to use my fingers it's easier to star out with your fingers, and it also sounds nicer, then if you start with your fingers you can switch from fingers to pick, if you start out with a pick you can't really do that.

Answer 9

A pick can limit how you play. You need to learn finger style and technique..You can express yourself better.You need to build up strength in your fingers also.Watch John Entwistle for one example.

Answer 10

My friend plays guitar, and she always gets better sound quality when using a pick, plus it doesn't hurt your fingers.