Fingers Vs. Pick

80stingray · Post by **80stingray** » Thu Apr 01, 2004 1:02 pm

Hello Everyone. I'm a new member here and having a blast reading all the posts.From what I can see there is a very strong brother and sisterhood of Rick's going on and rightly so. I have always loved Rick basses and have owned and also sold about 10 of them during the last 15 years.(for which I'm now kicking myself).Reasons being everything from not knowing about the rear pickup cap,to not stringing older 4001's with standard gague strings. Now, because of this forum,I've learned a whole lot and fallen in love with my current '71' 4001. The question I have for everyone is how many of you out there play your Ricks with fingers and how many with picks,(or both). I'm a big fan of the 60's and also 70's progressive rock and it strikes me funny that bassists from the biggest bands of the day,(mostly english) were essentially guitarists who ended up playing mostly bass with a pick. Paul McCartney(Rick user),Mike Rutherford(Rick user),Roger Waters(Rick user),Greg Lake,Chris Squire(He has his own catagory),Dave Hope(Kansas),John Entwistle(sometimes pick).Walter Becker (Early Steeley Dan). Any Thoughts?

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Thu Apr 01, 2004 1:33 pm

I am a big fan of using a pick on a Ric bass ... and I am a big fan of finger playing ...

when I first started playing I was taught to pluck with my thumb, then I learned to pluck with my fingers and use a pick ... then I learned to thumb whack and finger pop funk style ... and then I learned the John Entwhistle/Geddy Lee typewriter finger whacking method ...

So these days I use all of the above depending on the song ...

Ric's and picks go together nicely ... but Geddy played the heck out of his Ric without a pick and it sounded great.

There are certain tones and sounds that are unique to each method ...

I can do certain things with a pick like playing clean 32nd and 64th notes that I can't do without a pick .... also there are certain things I can do without a pick that come out better ...

I am also a fan of no capaciter, and big fat heavy gauge round wound strings and low action

I grew up on classic rock listening to McCartney and Squire and Entwhistle and Geddy ... Now I play mostly modern Rock and Nu-metal ...

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Thu Apr 01, 2004 2:05 pm

Hey, Joseph, tell us more about your 1971 4001. How about some pics?

ken_james · Post by **ken_james** » Thu Apr 01, 2004 2:07 pm

Since I'm an amputee I use my hook, it's the best pick in the world because you never drop or lose it!

jps · Post by **jps** » Thu Apr 01, 2004 2:58 pm

When I started out playing in the Riccassic Era, I used a pick, but I use my fingers these days, except for guitar, when I am not fingerpicking.

dead_in_okc · Post by **dead_in_okc** » Thu Apr 01, 2004 3:07 pm

I like both....

jeff_ulmer · Post by **jeff_ulmer** » Thu Apr 01, 2004 4:11 pm

I use whatever works in the track. I prefer playing with fingers, but it doesn't always work the best, especially in very intricate sections. I find it easier to be consistent with a pick, but like the tones I can get with flesh better.

marc61 · Post by **marc61** » Thu Apr 01, 2004 4:13 pm

I've been using a felt pick. Gives you that pick consistancy with more of a finger sound.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Thu Apr 01, 2004 4:57 pm

The pick gives you consistancy and it is fast and clean ... but the fingers give more warmth and character ...

The pick is really nice for studio work ...

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Thu Apr 01, 2004 6:13 pm

I'm a picker, I'm a grinner, I'm a lover, and I'm a sinner...I play my Rickenbackers in the sun...
(I use Jim Dunlop grey .80's)

khementi · Post by **khementi** » Thu Apr 01, 2004 7:25 pm

I use both, playing live when my pickin hand gets tired i throw my pick away and use my fingers!
heh kidding. really depends on what sound you want, i find playing above the neck pickup on my 4003 gives a real groovy bassy tone. if its growl your lookin for however, pick all the way.

rickde · Post by **rickde** » Thu Apr 01, 2004 7:41 pm

The only thing I use a pick on is my 8 string. 4 and 5 string basses are strickly fingers for me.

ilan · Post by **ilan** » Thu Apr 01, 2004 8:55 pm

I've always played with a pick. My first influences were Roger Glover, the Beach Boys (now I know it was Carol Kaye), and Chris Squire, so there really was no question. I think Rics sound especially nice with a pick.

I use Carol Kaye's signature extra-heavy picks. If you have a chance, give them a try.

marc61 · Post by **marc61** » Thu Apr 01, 2004 9:26 pm

One bassist who defied the rules was John Entwhistle.I'm still mad at him for ending his life too early with drugs but anyway, his style of hitting the strings with the front and back of both his fingers at times sounded like he was playing with two picks.

ilan · Post by **ilan** » Thu Apr 01, 2004 11:24 pm

I have read somewhere a long time ago that Geddy Lee used a similar technique with his fingernails, describing it as alternating two picks. I have tried it with banjo picks but it was too difficult for me.