Paul's fingerstyle bass playing

[nukebass]

I think McCartney used his fingers on "And I Love Her." He's also shown playing that way in the movie.

I was listening to Past Masters the other day and I thought I heard a couple of notes in Old Brown Shoe that made me wonder if McCartney was playing the Fender VI. I think it is quite possible the Harrison wrote the bassline (or at least most of it) and McCartney played it on the final recording.

[revolver323]

I think McCartney used his fingers on "And I Love Her." He's also shown playing that way in the movie.

In "A Hard Day's Night, Paul uses a pick for "And I Love Her." Whether he did in the studio, who knows?

[bottom4]

I seem to remember him saying that he’ll pluck with his fingers in the studio, but is more comfortable playing with a pick, because, as we know, he started out as a guitar player, so that’s why he mainly uses a pick on stage or in public for that matter...

[revolver323]

For what it's woth, I saw Paul in DC in August and he played with a pick all night except for fingerpicking guitar acoustic. He used different picks for guitar and bass -- heavier for bass is my guess.

[rickboy88]

I'm pretty sure I'd read an interview where he noted that he uses Fender "Heavy" picks for bass.

[iamthebassman]

Ronn, when The Eggmen play the softer songs, do you use your fingers?

Something else I noticed: in the "I Am the Walrus" video, the 4001S' selector switch was pulled up rather than flipped down. That bassline sounds rather trebly, but then again, I don't know if a cap on the horseshoe would sound like that. Maybe both pickups?

I never use my fingers, but I did know McCartney did on a few tunes. I've been playing bass since 1976 and have never ever played a song without a pick.

Let me see if I've got this right, are you referring to the position of a switch on an unplugged(thus unheard) electric bass being "played" along with a recording of "I Am The Walrus"?

[iamthebassman]

I think McCartney used his fingers on "And I Love Her." He's also shown playing that way in the movie.

I was listening to Past Masters the other day and I thought I heard a couple of notes in Old Brown Shoe that made me wonder if McCartney was playing the Fender VI.

Why would he use a righty bass?

[nukebass]

I figured he strung it upside down, if he used it. I was just thinking...

[nukebass]

I think McCartney used his fingers on "And I Love Her." He's also shown playing that way in the movie.

In "A Hard Day's Night, Paul uses a pick for "And I Love Her." Whether he did in the studio, who knows?

Yep, wrong on that one! Wonder what I was thinking...

[FretlessOnly]

I've been playing bass since 1976 and have never ever played a song without a pick.

I've been playing bass since 1980, and I've never ever played a song with a pick.

Vive la difference!

[rickboy88]

I started playing in the late 70's with fingers only, then went to mostly pick a few years ago when I started playing again. I think it is best to get decent at both. For the longest time I was more fluid with the fingers due to the long timeline, but I'm sounding smoother with the pick over time. As I've gotten older, I've gravitated more to the harsher attack of the pick, including the "hint" of attack in McCartney's classic pick bass playing. Felt picks are my favorite, and I rarely use plastic/nylon variants.

[iamthebassman]

I started playing in the late 70's with fingers only, then went to mostly pick a few years ago when I started playing again. I think it is best to get decent at both.

I'm sure you mean it's best for YOU to get decent at both 'cause to make blanket statements about EVERYBODY would just be silly.
Now as for me, it's best to get even better with a pick.
To each his own, of course.

[iamthebassman]

I figured he strung it upside down, if he used it. I was just thinking...

As someone who's restrung literally countless guitars/basses, I can assure you that restring a bass, especially a bass with a Fender-style headstock where one string travels a short distance from the nut to the tuner and another has a long way to go to get to the tuner, not to mention dealing with the nut and intonation, is a pretty big undertaking, and I dont see McCartney even considering it. IMO.

[rickboy88]

No, I said what I meant Ronn. For maximum range of tone and playing in different syles (types of music, etc.) I think it is a good idea to be versed & comfortable with pick and "fingers" playing, as McCartney was.

You can stick with pick only (which is how I play most of the time now - when I play), but that is your choice - and it is free country.

[iamthebassman]

I guess Stanley Clarke should get to work on his picking then!