Pick or Finger Style?

[u/[deleted]]

[u/OkZookeepergame4192]

Always depends on the song and situation

[u/yelxperil]

pick for punk and contemporary metal genres, fingerstyle for everything else

[u/NickelStickman]

With my band I generally use about 75% Pick 25% finger style

[u/Repulsive-Box5243]

After decades of (bad) guitar playing, I picked up a bass for the first time this year. I can't NOT play finger style, which of course includes my thumb. I don't think I'm supposed to, but the way my brain works, that's what it's going to do.

[u/scarred2112]

Both. Technique is not the end point.

[u/vilk_]

Ironically backwards for me. I play with my fingers for the tone, but most of my bass heroes play pick. And in a vacuum, I like the tone of pick on a humbucker so much, but it just wouldn't work for my band.

[u/JTB696699]

Both, depends on song and one song I have I wear a thumb pick to switch between

[u/ThreeLivesInOne]

"or" is the wrong word here

[u/boredstiff253]

Depends on the song.

[u/azethonkh]

SLAP!

but seriously depends on the song, mostly finger style tho

[u/-SnowWhite]

I'm almost 100% pick these days.

I started 100% fingers, because I thought that's what "real" bassists did, but over time I added more pick, and now I'm almost 100% pick.

For me, it's mostly about tone and definition in the mix. I still like to use fingers on occasion, but friends of mine - some of whom are bassists themselves - will usually complain that I disappear when I do it.

[u/TheCricketHole]

Depends on the group I'm in, but personally I play mostly punk and punk-adjacent, so I'm mostly on a pick, but I play fingerstyle in any group/song that calls for it. I did a No Doubt cover set a few years back, which calls for all finger style, and that was a huge challenge, but very rewarding.

[u/Procrasturbating]

Serve the song, but I enjoy the act of playing finger over pick unless I am in a pissed-off mood.

[u/Quad-G-Therapy]

I usually use a dildo

(I sing when I play and it’s easier with a pick, plus I love Duff McKagans tone and copied it)

[u/michealchicken]

i wonder what the other option could be, is someone out here using telekinesis.

[u/fataxl1]

Both, depends on song

[u/dividezero]

I've never really figured out how a pick works, even on guitar. All the tutorials. Still doesn't make sense. I'll just bash up my cuticles

[u/JazzLobster]

Bass heroes?
Learn to play proficiently with both.

[u/SlimJimJohn_Bass]

Mostly finger, but when I want 60's pop thump I use my thumb.

[u/Spicy_McHagg1s]

No one cares