Fingers Vs. Pick

[loendmaestro]

Picks all the way with me. There's nothing quite like the tone of a 4001/3 with a pick! Even with other basses...I just like the attack that it gives you. I catch a lot of (good natured) grief from people about it, but it's definitely the tone for me.
Sure, I use my fingers on a couple of songs here & there...ballads mostly, but 98% of the time it's a Dunlop Tortex .73.

[lshaia]

This is a good opportunity to thank whoever it was about a year ago who described the difference in sound he found when using his guitarist's medium pick instead of his own heavy. I had been using Stubbies up to that point and tried a Fender medium, much brighter and cleaner sounding. Now using Dunlop .88s but have started trying Herco Heavies, which are thinner (.75 I think) but stiffer. Easy for big fingers to hold as well.

Alas, no clue how to use fingers except to form a flesh pick when the real one is dropped.

[ojobob2]

I have used a pick from day one - can do fingerstyle fine if i want but on stage it doesnt feel or sound right. i use dunlop delrin 1.5mm heavy picks

[keb]

All fingers & thumbs for me. Much of the time it's the Geddy/Entwhistle thwack-clank style, using a lighter touch when called for (especially on fretless), and some slap here and there to mix things up.

[beatlefan]

I just started playing bass a little over a year ago. I was told to go with fingers to start, so I started with a single finger, then when that became too cumbersome, I went with 2 fingers and when THAT wasn't enough, I went with the 3rd finger.....plus I tap with the fingering hand. When I use a pick, I use a Fender medium and hold it like Macca (of course)....

[henry5]

Picks on Ricks for me. I do play fingerstyle as well, in fact some of my basses demand it, but gimme a Rick and the pick comes out (Gibson heavy). I find it strange the amount of abuse some players get for using a pick; some "purists" seem to think it's either sacrilige, means you can't play, or both. Interestingly whenever I've been into a shop and started playing a bass with a pick (which I'm much quicker and more accurate with), I've had assistants coming up saying "How the hell are you playing that?". I then just show them the pick. Never had any comments about my fingerstyle though; I guess that sucks

[m_cuffa]

I play with all four fingers, my thumb, and the back of my hand, but I don't ever use a pick.

[rickaddict]

I've been playing Bass for 24 years now (Ricks for 22). I play fingerstyle with two fingers and a thumb. I like the sound of a pick but when I try it, its like I might as well be playing with a drumstick!

[iamthebassman]

Pick only, ever. Since 1976.

[bear]

Thin, medium, heavy and extra heavy plectrums of all various shapes, sizes, colors and materials.
Also fingers, thumb, fingernails and an E-bow.
It really just depends on the song, my mood, or what the engineer/producer wants.
So I would consider myself an equal opportunity Rickenbacker Plucker.
or is that RickenPlucker? (o;}

[wormdiet]

pickenbacker?

Don;t own a rick bass yet, only a 330, (And a f*nder mexi-jazz) but when I have played them picks seem more comfy. I like picks in general for more punkish, quick tunes and fingers for more melodic stuff.

[blueflamerick]

I pluck the strings with my right index & middle fingers, but I cut off the tip of my index finger in a deli slicer, so when I play it sounds like I'm playing with a pick, then finger, then pick, etc.

[gt40graham]

I use both depending on what sound I'm after. I was absolutely amazed the first time I saw Rush and realised that Geddy didn't use a pick, from the sounds that he was getting, I would have put money on him using a pick.

[robj]

It depends on the sound I want. Sometimes it's the index and middle fingers alone and other times I use all including my thumb and play like a classical guitarist. I'm not a slapper at all, but I've picked up Entwistle's typewriter style over the years and use that when I want a percussive attack to the notes. I was a pickgrinder for a number of years so I have that option though I don't use it much. I've also been known to use a modified drumstick a'la Tony Levin's funk fingers.

[henry5]

Geddy says he plays extremely hard; he also says he doesn't have a low action, which I found surprising. Great player though, however he plays!