Is it OK to play bass with a pick?
You can use a pick on your bass guitar if you want to. Both finger plucking and using picks are perfectly normal ways to play the bass guitar. You can find plenty of examples of famous bassists who use either technique, and there is no harm to using a pick. It won’t damage your strings or create an inferior sound.
Why do some bass players play with a pick?
Most people like using a pick because they can develop speed more quickly. If you’re into styles of music that are speed intensive, a pick might make sense. You can develop the same speed with your fingers, but most people find it takes a little more time. You can get different tones with different types of picks.
What pick should I use for bass?
Picks are triangle-shaped, which will give you three picking points. Great for bass because they have a longer body that has a semi-rounded tip, which is great for bass playing. Bassists can expect a much brighter tone out of these, which can be perfect for solos or for certain genres of music.
Is bass or guitar harder to play?
So no, the bass isn’t necessarily easier to play than the electric guitar. If you can’t play the guitar, then just play bass. This is somewhat connected to the myth above. While there are some bass players who transitioned from guitar to bass, that doesn’t mean they failed as guitar players.
Does paul mccartney play bass with a pick?
There’s no such thing as a “right” or “wrong” sound on the instrument, and even what makes a given bass tone sound “good” is highly subjective. Paul played with a pick from his earliest days on the instrument, and continued this habit all throughout his career.
Do you have to play bass with fingers?
Long fingers can be helpful but are most definitely not a requirement, plenty of great bassists have short fingers and play full 34″ basses or even longer and/or with more strings. The stretches will get much easier and more comfortable if you keep at it, I promise.
How thick should my bass pick be?
1.17 mm
The average pick thickness for bass players is 1.17 mm, while for guitar players is 0.89 mm. Remember, bass strings are much thicker than guitar strings. Therefore, a thinner plectrum will give you much less control in comparison to a thicker plectrum.
Is it easier to play bass with a pick?
Not that one has to play that quickly on bass.With fewer strings, the damping of unused strings is easier with bass, so having fingers spare to dampen seems to work more easily than it does on guitar. Holding a pick limits the available fingers to dampen.
Do you use a pick or a finger to pluck bass strings?
Both are valid and common methods of plucking the bass strings. Each has its place and, ideally, you should be comfortable with either one. Many great players used picks and many others used their fingers.
What kind of strings do bass players use?
But when it comes to materials and construction, the bass strings you choose – not to mention the gauge, or thickness, of your strings – will have a huge impact on your tone and your playing experience.
Which is better to play guitar pick or fingerstyle?
Plus, you’ll never forget to bring your fingers to the gig or lose them. For most people playing fingerstyle takes a little more work to learn. But, the difference isn’t that big. Both methods share the same muting issues and technical obstacles. Most people like using a pick because they can develop speed more quickly.