{"id":412,"date":"2020-08-22T15:13:57","date_gmt":"2020-08-22T15:13:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/groovewiz.com\/?p=412"},"modified":"2020-08-24T14:02:11","modified_gmt":"2020-08-24T14:02:11","slug":"bass-pick-vs-fingers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/groovewiz.com\/bass-pick-vs-fingers\/","title":{"rendered":"Bass Pick vs Fingers: Which Technique Is Better?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

While new bass players generally learn to play using right-hand finger plucking techniques, many bassists choose to play the bass with a pick. As a newer bass player, or as an intermediate one joining a new band or getting into a new musical style, you may be wondering which approach to choose. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether to play with fingers or a pick depends on the tone and rhythmic feel you want to achieve. A pick gives you a sharper, more percussive and driving tone and allows you to play faster 8th\/16th notes on a single string. Finger plucking gives you a rounder sound and is better for a pocket feel and frequent string changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Playing with a pick generally produces a more aggressive and articulate tone which helps the bass<\/a> cut into the mix as a rhythm instrument. The ability to alternate up and down strokes at a very rapid pace (aka tremolo picking) lets you play super-fast patterns on one or two strings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most bassists prefer to use finger plucking for laying down a foundational groove with a larger tone. The attack produced by a pick is not as appropriate for this goal. Finger plucking gives you better control over the strings and produces a more fluid and mellow kind of tone compared to a pick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fingers playing on the bass also makes skipping strings easier and lets you play two notes at the same time spanning more than 2 strings (e.g. for a 10th double stop). Playing with the fingers also allows you to easily swap to slapping and back during a piece.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both pick and finger plucking have their advantages and limitations and should both be part of a good bass player’s toolkit. Choosing the right-hand technique for a groove is akin to selecting the right pickup, the right bass, and the right plucking position for achieving the desired sound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n