Is it OK to play a bass with a pick?

Is it OK to play a 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.

How can I improve my bass picking?

First of all, just hold a very loose fist with the fingers bent at the middle knuckle and rest the thumb up against the side of the index finger. Next, just place the pick in there between the thumb and index finger. It should be pointing out at a right angle to the thumb.

Does paul mccartney always 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.

How hard should you pick bass?

That being said, a good bass player should be comfortable plucking both soft and hard depending on the tone s/he’s trying to get. While it’s generally not necessary to pluck hard, being able to dig in is important. Tone, rather than volume, is what determines how hard you need to play.

Is it easier to play bass with a pick or fingers?

Strumming chords is more effective with a pick. That doesn’t often happen on bass. The flesh of fingers gives a better sound on bass, as often it’s a smoother sound that’s required. If it needs to be punchier, there’s always the option to slap and pop.

Why do some bassists use picks?

So, do bassists use picks? Yes; bassists who perform fast-paced, aggressive-sounding music are more-likely to use picks. This is because picks produce a more treble-heavy and ‘snappy’ sound than fingerstyle playing does.

Do you need short nails to play bass?

For bassists, it really comes down to whether you like the extra pick-like click of the nail when you strike a note or not. Most bassists I know train their nails to be very short (i.e.: keep cutting them a little too short until they get them where they want them – out of the way – and then keep them there).

Do you play bass with pick, or fingers?

In broad terms, when you play bass with your fingers, you are “pulling” the string with the soft flesh of your curved fingertips. That lends itself to warm, round notes with a soft attack. When you play bass with a pick, you are “striking” the string, which means a stronger attack and edge, often more definition.

Can you play a bass guitar with a guitar pick?

If you want to play the bass with a pick, use a heavy gauge guitar pick. Hold the pick between your thumb and index finger, and strum the pick downward then up to “pluck” the string with the pick. You can also do repeated downstrokes for a heavier, more accented sound.

What kind of pick do you use for bass guitar?

Bass guitar players should use heavy picks due to the big strings found on bass guitars. Thin picks are good for chord strumming. Light gauge picks work well on nylon string guitars but can break on the acoustic steel string guitars/electric guitars. Guitar picks are available in many different thicknesses.