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2.29am
Reviewers
1 November 2013
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I play bass, and I’ve noticed that Paul uses a pick for his bass, a rather unorthodox approach, so I tried it, and it’s great.
I’m probably losing valuable skills because I can’t even play with just my fingers anymore, actually.
I was wondering if anyone else does this, or notices a difference. Thanks!
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2.41am
6 August 2013
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I’m not musically inclined at all, but I don’t hear a difference between bass guitar with a pick and bass without one. Bass sounds like bass to me. Is there any clear differences between the two? Is it just a matter of preference for bassists on pick/no pick?
"There's no such thing as bad student... only bad teacher."
2.47am
Reviewers
1 November 2013
Offline wetsroosa said
I’m not musically inclined at all, but I don’t hear a difference between bass guitar with a pick and bass without one. Bass sounds like bass to me. Is there any clear differences between the two? Is it just a matter of preference for bassists on pick/no pick?
Yeah, I don’t actually hear much difference, if any.
I think it’s a matter of preference. Me and Paul appear to prefer using a pick. Some people don’t, I know that.
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3.10am
17 January 2014
Offline I forget what late night show it was, but Paul also mention that when his nail gets worn down on tour he goes and gets a fake one put on. He said Nancy suggested it. I believe it was either 2012 or 2013. Anyone have any insight?
3.17am
18 January 2014
Offline I’m better with my fingers than a pick, but I find that using a pick gives the notes a slightly louder, harsher attack on each note. I actually prefer the sound I get when I use a pick, but I don’t really play anymore so it’s kind of a moot point.
3.17am
Reviewers
1 November 2013
Offline kezron9 said
I forget what late night show it was, but Paul also mention that when his nail gets worn down on tour he goes and gets a fake one put on. He said Nancy suggested it. I believe it was either 2012 or 2013. Anyone have any insight?
Hmm… I know he uses a pick at least sometimes. Maybe the fake nail basically functions as a pick attached to the finger? It’s certainly interesting.
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3.18am
Reviewers
1 November 2013
Offline 4or5Magicians said
I’m better with my fingers than a pick, but I find that using a pick gives the notes a slightly louder, harsher attack on each note. I actually prefer the sound I get when I use a pick, but I don’t really play anymore so it’s kind of a moot point.
I’ve actually got to the point where I’m better with a pick. I feel like my fingers are moving better. I just learned Come Together today, it’s actually easier than you might think from listening to it
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12.47pm
Reviewers
16 December 2013
Offline Being primarily a guitar player, the few times I’ve picked up bass came naturally with a pick.
For louder songs, like Come Together , it’s of course easier for you to play it with a pick, because finger playing reduces the sharpness that’s essential. It’s much easier to keep the rhythm that way and you don’t need to focus as much.
On the other hand, though, on softer, quieter songs, I prefer finger playing as it’s easier to bring out the emotional side that way (to me, at least.)
But what is most important of all is to not limit yourself to either. Practice both, imitate other bass players and then, the best part, – improvise 
Good luck on your playing
7.08pm
26 March 2012
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I always used to play bass with my fingers until I got into the Beatles – now I far prefer playing with a pick (which in turn has improved my guitar playing immeasurably). I think it does alter the sound a bit. For instance the thick, chugging sound of Paul’s bass on the White Album would be impossible to attain playing fingerstyle.
SHUT UP - Paulie's talkin'
8.24pm
3 May 2012
Offline kezron9 said
I forget what late night show it was, but Paul also mention that when his nail gets worn down on tour he goes and gets a fake one put on. He said Nancy suggested it. I believe it was either 2012 or 2013. Anyone have any insight?
Yeah, he wears it on his ”little” finger, doesn’t he? I wondered what that was all about the first time I saw it.
Moving along in our God given ways, safety is sat by the fire/Sanctuary from these feverish smiles, left with a mark on the door.
(Passover - I. Curtis)
9.32pm
Reviewers
1 November 2013
Offline Ben Ramon said
I always used to play bass with my fingers until I got into the Beatles – now I far prefer playing with a pick (which in turn has improved my guitar playing immeasurably). I think it does alter the sound a bit. For instance the thick, chugging sound of Paul’s bass on the White Album would be impossible to attain playing fingerstyle.
Get Back has that too. Just relentless. I just learned that recently.
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10.57pm
1 November 2012
Offline I’ve been a finger-picker all my life (sounds like the title of a country song…)
While I think Paul is easily among the top 5 bassists of all time, I still tend to prefer the finger-bassists — two of whom I rank in some ways higher than Paul: Peter Cetera (of Chicago fame) and Paul Jackson (mostly known for his work with Herbie Hancock).
Faded flowers, wait in a jar, till the evening is complete... complete... complete... complete...
6.02pm
14 December 2009
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The few times I’ve picked up a borrowed bass and messed around with it, my instinct was to use a pick, but I hated the way it felt flimsly in my fingers when striking those thick strings. So I was satisfied with using my index fingernail as a pick and playing it that way. I tried plucking with alternating thumb index finger but could only manage that as long as I was simultaneously alternating between two bass strings. And I found using any fingers past the middle is even more confusing.
Paul: Yeah well… first of all, we’re bringing out a ‘Stamp Out Detroit’ campaign.
7.20pm
1 November 2012
Offline I’ve been playing acoustic guitar for years, fingerpicking (no pick), yet I’ve always had a dream to buy and practice an electric bass (but that means buying a speaker and some kind of converter so I can jam using headphones that are mixed with the music I’m playing along with, and the cost and research have put me off doing it).
If I had an electric bass in addition to my acoustic guitar, that would present an immediate ongoing physical problem for me: I need my right hand’s fingernails to be long, but I could not play the electric bass with fingernails — I would need to clip my nails down all the way for the style of fingering I want. Once I do that, however, I can’t play the acoustic guitar for my pleasure, since I absolutely need the nails.
It would be an ongoing dilemma; the only way to solve it would be to alternate: Spring/Summer for acoustic guitar playing, Fall/Winter for bass playing — with the intermediate week or two while my nails are regrowing every end of Winter consigned to scraping my guiro.
Faded flowers, wait in a jar, till the evening is complete... complete... complete... complete...
9.40pm
Reviewers
1 November 2013
Offline Von Bontee said
The few times I’ve picked up a borrowed bass and messed around with it, my instinct was to use a pick, but I hated the way it felt flimsly in my fingers when striking those thick strings. So I was satisfied with using my index fingernail as a pick and playing it that way. I tried plucking with alternating thumb index finger but could only manage that as long as I was simultaneously alternating between two bass strings. And I found using any fingers past the middle is even more confusing.
I have to use a Heavy pick, Fender’s work well.
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8.45am
15 May 2014
Offline 4or5Magicians said
I’m better with my fingers than a pick, but I find that using a pick gives the notes a slightly louder, harsher attack on each note.
Couldn’t agree more. Same thing happens when you play guitar.
“Forsan et haec olim meminisse juvabit” (“Perhaps one day it will be a pleasure to look back on even this”; Virgil, The Aeneid, Book 1, line 203, where Aeneas says this to his men after the shipwreck that put them on the shores of Africa)
11.16am
19 September 2014
Offline I’ve learned to play the bass both ways, with and without a pick. It was after watching Mark Knopfler once many years ago I started playing lead guitar both ways. I’ve even gotten to where I can do pinch harmonics easley by using just my fingers. Whether it be the guitar or the bass I think it creates some very interesting nuances.
Professor of Sound Engineering SUNY Broome, Broadcast host for NCG
2.08pm
Reviewers
4 February 2014
Offline @BobGreaves Welcome to the forum! Mark Knopfler is part of why I use a pick to play guitar less too.
You can introduce yourself to the forum here if you want to!
11.54pm
15 May 2014
Offline Mark has influenced many of us. Another guitarist that didn’t use a pick was Robbie Krieger (The Doors). At this stage I like their style better than Clapton’s. And welcome Bob.
“Forsan et haec olim meminisse juvabit” (“Perhaps one day it will be a pleasure to look back on even this”; Virgil, The Aeneid, Book 1, line 203, where Aeneas says this to his men after the shipwreck that put them on the shores of Africa)
2.17am
22 December 2013
Offline Using a pick to play is like using a condom, something between you and your lover that just shouldn’t be there (safety issues aside), it’s all about becoming one, isn’t it?…:-)
The following people thank Billy Rhythm for this post:
Oudis, Meowson
