Added: 4 years ago
From: expertvillage
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  • Gene Simmons was the first bass player i saw use a pick. The good ol 70's.

  • i feel like if your going to play bass, you have to either slap or use fingers, pick is for guitar

  • @ryanbassigamilessons Yeah it's a 'GUITAR' pick, & this instrument is called a bass 'GUITAR'. So picks arent just for guitar it can be used for bass and mandolins.

  • how the hell did that help me at all??

  • guys what do you expect its expert village

  • Only explained why. Title said "how".

  • fair enough people play with picks, but why would you want to? you have so much more control and you can get so much more out of the bass if playing with your fingers. why would you limit yourself? i know bassists who just play rock/ metal etc. and their skills never progressed past a certain point simply because their not challenging themselves. so stop being a pussy, man up and use your fingers!

  • @jamdavallblue i can bass with a pick and fingers, but when its really fast, instead of my normal two i try using 3 fingers but thats not really working out for me, and i cant find a really usefull or good tutorial.

  • @jamdavallblue You have just contradicted yourself, their is nothing wrong with playing with a pick, i would much rather play with a pick then my fingers, and pretty much every band i listen to plays with a pick, everyones entitled to their opinions, there was mine.

  • @jamdavallblue You're kidding, right? There's no rule that says you can't get better by using a pick. And those who only use their fingers miss out on the kind of tone they could get wit a pick. I play with my fingers, but I also use a pick, and sometimes slap. I think a bassist should learn all 3, and choose the right style for a particular song (or even section of a song); I have tunes where I'll use all 3.

  • @Ryoku1989 And, then advance into tapping. It can add alot to certain parts of a song, if it is done correctly.

  • @MrThathurt That's certainly next on my list

  • @Ryoku1989 Yeah, as all types should be on a good bassist's list. I'm still learning to tap, but it will be worth learning it so I can be even more versatile in my playing.

  • It's funny that my cousin was just teaching me how to play bass with fingers today, and I decide to check out how to play bass with a pick and this dude making the video looks EXACTLY like my cousin.

    I'm kinda scared right now...

  • @94calump don't use one. If you must though. Practice practice practice!

  • Why are people hating on Bass Players who use picks? A LOT of bass players now adays are using picks. A lot of metal and rock bass players use picks. I play bass so I should know.

  • @MrMiniKnowsALot because who use picks suck. You don't see alot of metal bassists with mad bass skills. Most of the time they just follow along anf hide behind the guitar.

  • @MrRoostyr I only use picks on songs played lower than Drop D, because it sounds really muted when I play songs in Drop C with my fingers.

  • @MrRoostyr very true. If I can't hear you your not a good bass player. A bass deserves to be heard like any other intrument.

  • @MrMiniKnowsA Lot ude alot of them suck too

  • of that.

  • @94calump Practice :P

    Choose a bassline that represents what you want to be able to do with a pick. Play it so slowly that you can play it perfectly. Practice it out of time, don't use a metronome. Slow down on the hard bits.

    As it becomes more natural you will be able to play it quicker and in time automatically.

    Precision is key, speed and groove will follow.

  • I prefer a pick. I like the tone of it. A very driving beat. Thats why I use it but I do mainly play metal. Best to know both styles though. To me the fingers was easier to use but now I would much rather play with a pick. Also 2 times having carpal tunnel surgery taught me that moving my index and middle finger repeatively can cause injury. Sucks wearing arm braces at night to sleep. Hope others can look past what others think and just know it's about getting the music out. Cant do that hurt.

  • You suck!!!

  • im just going to point out the same "high gain sound" can be achieved with your fingers if you play near the bridge as apposed to at the base of the neck where a lot of people play. also there is no need to play with a pick if you learn the simple double slap technique which impresses people a whole lot more any way.

  • @boooyahh Playing fingerstyle near the bridge will never have the same zingy attack as a pick, and double thumbing seems too inconsistent. Besides my favourite thing about pick playing is the slight, grunty scrape you get just before the note.

  • i must admit, i thought that playing with a pick was just because the player wasn't skilled enough to use fingers. but when i used a pick on the bass i noticed the tone was different.

    a good bassist knows when and how to use their finger OR a plectrum.

    but in all honesty, it is much harder to play bass well with fingers (assuming it's with 5 digits). but because of the big gauge of most basses the string are harder to play in a technical way with a pick.

  • i think the only reason any bassist should use a pick is 4 tone, and if thatz not the reason then they suck

  • i think playing with a pick is alot easyer but thats probably coz i use to play guitar

  • it s easier to play with fingers for me too..but if u wnat to get the same sound of bass in a song with pick... u have to use a pick not always but sometimes

  • fuck you prick im a finger bassist and it isnt easier neither is pick pick is just another way of playing you pathetic moron i 100 percent bet your not a musician and if you are you sher as hell arent a good one

  • don't be ridiculous man. First of all u've shown us that u know nothing about the music, and secondly: u said bassist that use picks are not good enough for playing with fingers. Tell u what. I know tons of bassist saying the same shit opposite. It works in both sides as many bassist are like 'aw u know i can't play with pick, dunno how to hold it, how to gallop with it, etc.' so they play with fingers. No rule for using this or that. Ur comment was veeeeeerrry moronic.

  • im sorry do you play bass what gives you the right douchebag

  • your obviously not a bass player a real bass player would no picks are sometimes needed

  • mushroom are you a retard?

    Punk and stuff, using your fingers makes it so fucking sore man. And playing with a pick has a whole different sound so please come fucking back when you've learned how to play the fucking bass you ass hole.

  • ive been playing bass for a year and i learned using my fingers and i'm not that great. i prefer playing with my fingers because to me, it's easier.

  • picking should only be used for fast complicated songs that are harder to do with fingers yes it makes a grunchy sound but if your just up there playing the smae note at a slow speed you need your fingers and the reason why most people have picks is because three guitar players will join a band and then get into a argument about who should be lead or rhtym so the third whuss will go "ILL PLAY BASS!" and there you have it a simple bass line with a pick

  • Picking is just another technique. It sounds and feels different that playing with fingers and it's up to the bass player what to use.

  • are you saying bass players are just former guitar players who switched to bass because thier band needed one????

  • Are you P-nut?

  • i think he's stoned

  • Alright... now where's the part where you show us the pick technique!? All this guy did was say what kinds of bands use the pick

  • idiot lame gay ultra hyper gay and lame

  • are you that dude from 311?

  • Steve DiGiorgio, Antoine Lapointe, Sean Malone, Tony Choy, Roger Patterson, Robert Trujillo, Jeroen Paul Thesseling, they all do NOT use a pick.

  • a bass doesn't have to sound like more like its in the background if you pluck the strings real motherfucking hard like Steve Harris

  • about bands like pink floyd because i like to play their music and i don't know wheather to use a pick or not

  • who dey!

  • hhhhmmmmm, Wow , a professional Bass Instructor. Professional Tool came to mind.

  • your right...dunno why you got so many thumbs down...

  • damn youre a noob for saying that

  • Respect to you for mentioning rancid. Matt freeman is a god.

  • Except he doesn't know what's his name lol

    .. but anyway respect for Freeman

  • if you want your bass sound to be more "present", and "not in the background", using a pick won't really help. if a bassist wants to be appreciated, then play fusion music!

  • *sigh* fist half of your comment is really true...listen to flea and tell me hes not present with his finger style...but it doesnt have to be fusion music *rolleyes*

  • yeah sure, of course not. i admit my mistake it doesn't have to be fusion music. but for every flea in rock n' roll, there's a pete wentz and robert trujillo, so in rock and/or metal, the chances of a bassist being the focal point is pretty slim.

  • yeah youre absolutely right...sorry for being rude about fusion music *lol*

  • So wait, what do you do with the pick? I'm confused please explain so I can have a signature bass sound. Where can I get these picks?

  • umm theyre called guitar picks go to a music store theyll have them

  • ..this is not a turorial....just talking talking talking....

  • i prefer fingerpicking, but sometimes i have to use picks for tone quality.

  • Yeah I use the pick for tone, I enjoy fingerpicking more though :)

  • usually only use a pick for Love Buzz and Six Pack. or if i'm just lazy. :)

  • that guy said 5 times "you know"

    and cool i still don't now how to position my hand or s***

  • AAAH! I know! More details please mr. expert village bass guy!

  • i can't even get that tone off my bass, fuckin non active pickups on a les paul bass, it's just not metal

  • sometimes i use my pick playing my bass

    other times i play with my fingers.but i would not make a lesson out of it.i think if it sounds good you should play the way you want to..

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  • so you do, why on earth make that known?

    keep you ideas to yourself. if they dont pertain to the immediate subject. If this were DO YOU LIKE TO USE A PICK WITH THE BASS? then you may, but not here.

  • God.. People like you make me so tired, im going to try to put my wasted energy into my comment..

    I made this known cuz i saw this little comment box? Can you still follow me? I gave my opinion about playing with pick.

    Now please go bother someone else cuz the subject isnt "Annoy captainp00face with a annoying comment"

  • CaptainP00face: "an" annoying comment, no "a" annoying comment

  • Omg i tried to care so much i almost fainted

  • fuck grammar police

  • this video is retarded, it's called how to play the bass guitar using a pick and all he does is talk about bands that use picks and why they use picks but not how to play with a pick.. not that it needs much explaining, but he could have shown some techniques.

  • @crazeddemon Well he's from Expertvillage, so it shouldn't be surprising that it's retarded

  • @crazeddemon His different video talks about holding the pick if you want.

  • @crazeddemon dude it says how to play a bass guitar :::::::::: using a pick those little dots mean its saying how to play a bass guitar as a topic not a complete sentance

  • CARSON PALMER!!

    haha

  • Hdidnt mean to disrespect players who use "hands". Its just that with a pick you produce a more "treble" sound which can be heard more.

  • Dude, you were obligated to say at this video! this = nothing!

  • i know nothing about notes or bass guitars but i have one and wanna learn where do i friggin start- notes are all confusing i dont know whats what and ur vids arent in any sort of order...!

  • i wouldnt suggest doing this then go to a bass teaching website not youtube

  • is this guy on lithium?

  • thats probably the largest name ive seen on youtube

  • I play with my index and middle finger. I've never played with thumb or pick. I thought pick just kinda was for people that couldn't finger fast enough. I might have to try out a pick now.

  • Is it normal to use only your thumb to pick? I'm only good when I play like that.

  • Yeah, if it works for you, then it's.. Your thing.

  • Honestly it's pretty rare for a bassist. But that's called slap bass when you use only your thumb for picking, it's an amazing technique once honed. Some of the most mind blowing solos are from people playing slap bass.

  • i definately wouldnt do it. like if your slapping thats a different story but thats what most people do when they first start playing and dont know how to play is use there thumb and its a really bad habit i reccomend getting out of it

  • Opinions opinions. To "ihadagayname" and "iownastrat2", get a life! Nobody freakin' cares whether there's a rule about playing the bass or not. All I know is, we're here to expand our knowledge in playing the bass. So stop posting your dumb opinions and go watch something else if you think this vid's not for you. PERIOD!

  • i use thumb or pick

  • I can use a pick. I just prefer to use my thumb, because that was what I used when I first learned to play.

  • i use a pick or my thumb

  • Also, as shown in this clip, when you use a pick you can play tremelo on your bass which you cant do (at least without a lot of difficulty) when playing without a pick.

    I personally dont need to play tremelo for the style of music I like playing and I preffer the sound of not using a pick AND being able to seamlessly transition from normal playing to slap so I dont use a pick... It's all about how you feel comfortable and what you want to play with your instrument

  • My standpoint is that if you want to play with a pick, play with a pick. If you want to play without one, do that. Who really cares!?

    PERSONALLY I cant stand using a pick with my bass because, unless you use a finger pick, it makes it extremely hard to switch from playing normal to playing slap in the middle of a song.

    BUT it has some advantages. Like, playing with a pick gives the bass a more metalic sound (great for metal bands) and will make it much easier for you to play guitar later..

  • why r u fuckin faggots arguing over whether a pick should or should not be used.

    get a fucking life and start spending more time playing the electric bass and less time trying to learn some shit from gay mother fuckers like that stupid pin-dick on the video.

    grow up and stop JUST using fenders, there are plenty of other brands out there that are just as good!!!!!!

  • allright all you closed minded idoits out there--I play a vintage fender P-bass and a fender 5 string jazz and I use a fender medium 3 corner PICK and currently my amp of choice is a mesa big block with 4-10"s and 2-12"s. I have played large and small stages with the best and others. I am 53yo and have been playing bass with a PICK since age 14. I have developed my own style and tone. BASS PLAYERS ROCK! THERE ARE NO RULES! PICK OR NO PICK!

  • Nice Bengals jersey! Cincinnati RULEZ!

  • Amazing lesson. I can now play everything from beatles to tool.

  • you!!

    matt freeman is known to be the best bass player USING pick.

    That song Fall Back Down is the only song in which matt uses his fingrs.

    Pliz listen to the maxwell urders bass solo or to any other song he USES as fucking pick.

    MATT IS THE KING OF THE PICK

  • What a dumbass, Matt Freeman of Rancid is known for being one of the best punk bass players who DOESNT use a pick.

    Watch their video FALL BACK DOWN

    Dumbass.

  • actually dude,matt freeman IS using a pick in that video,if you look real hard.He's using his fingers and picks at the same time,which is a phenomenal skill to have as a bassist.

  • picks suck

  • every way of playing bass is fine. nothing is playing like a noob. whoever thinks that has a 3 inch dick

  • Dude don't you strum by the bridge?

  • wtf? so you have to play with a pick to stand out? lol. wtf dude, all you have to do is turn the treble up if you want it up, playing bass with a pic is for noobs.

  • so your saying that nick oliveri, paulo gregoletto are noob bassist's

  • im saying that you cant do as much with a pick as you can with your fingers. im sure that somebody can play great with a pic but you cant get the different sounds that you can with your fingers.

  • no, the electric bass is for people who are playing a different genre. I assure you i could learn how to play an upright very fast. the're are different kinds of basses for different genres. and another thing, if your finger nails are kindof like it sounds a lot like a pick. plus, who cares, who sits around trying to sound like your playing with a pick anyways.

  • honestly i am gonna repeat what some others have said,learn all styles of playing there is NO proper style of playing,lots of people from diff bands use picks and they sound awesome,the Interpol Bassist,INcubus,and then those like wooten,it's the style of music and personal preference,as for me,i learnt both

  • dude im just glad youre wearing a carson palmer jersey...go bengals

  • I'm so sorry the Bengals sucked this year.

  • rock sounds better with picks imho.. mostly alternative or punk.

  • so all you people who are against picks say that they should not be used is this the same with the bow on a double bass 90% of people that play bass couldn't use a pick or get the same sound from slapping

  • yea i totally hear u dude. ive been practicing with my fingers but i still sound better with a pick. but i dnt disagree at all u probly do get a better bass sound with ure fingers. for lyk punk n stuf tho dnt they use picks?

  • Jason Newsted?, Chris Squiere

    If you don't know that picks are perfectly acceptable, then you're not a bassist, or you're a really ignorant cunt.

  • thxs for the video......BTW Go Raiders!!!!!

  • it is so UNcool to play with a pick! if you want i stronger sound just slap or pluck =)

  • i dont mean to tell u who u should be, but u shouldnt use a pick if ur just starting out. really, it defeats the learning process. just a little advice!

  • when to use a pick to play bass guitar? NEVER!!!!! it is a horrible sound.

  • very very true, the bass guitar is meant to be played with fingers not picks, picks are for guitar, a lot of people only use a pick because they can't manage using their fingers, maybe because it's to hard for them

  • I think it's fine if it fits the music. some things do sound better with a pick. just a drummers observation.

  • um... what? wow do they just pull these guys off the street to make a youtube video or what? this guy prob fixes toilets like the last guitarist who made a video about Sweep picking he was a chef! LMAO

  • welshrock101 is just a moron flamer.

  • im ataccking welshrock...

  • Mall-punk;if you want REAL punk,go listen to Minor Threat or the Misfits.

  • and what the fuck do u know about the bass? you don't even know if u want to play with bass or p ick so stfu

  • 6 String bass. That's all I'm saying.

  • wtf is this video lol

  • Thanx dude - my topic of the day. - Can i use a pic.

    They have these hard rubber picks as well - as a guitarist who has to do his own bass work - its very difficult ... and I want to push the bass back. But the pick drives it forward. Thanx for the vid -

  • lol Green Day's not punk

  • no one asked you, he just said mike dirnt used picks

  • what is greenday thjan ??

  • gay?

  • a suck ass liberal douchebag band. any questions??

  • i only use picks when i play fast stuff that is hard to play with fingers

  • I feel that fingers can get a harder, stronger attack than a pick. I "hammer" my fingers against the strings and it gives me a great aggressive tone especially through an a high gain amp like the mesa 400+ or a Warwick Protube IX

  • yeah like geezer butlers style

  • to be a bass instructor... shouldn't you have to be at least... what? 20 years old? How can this guy be teaching already at... what? 16 years old?

  • How can this be from a company called Expert Village?

  • "If you're just using your fingers, the bass is in the background." Yeah, I can barely hear Steve Harris on all those Iron Maiden recordings :rolls eyes:

  • Damn...fucking...straight!

    Personally, if Maiden was without guitars, the bass would more than make up for it.

  • i dunn think he means it like that...like...the bass becomes more of the like...anchor kinda if your using fingers...and if youre using pick it becomes like kinda another like harmonizing part sorta...if that makes sense :P

  • steve harris is the best anyways

  • i ll tell you when to use a pick with a bass NEVER!!!!!

    idiots

  • why not?

  • This guy needs to think more before he talks.

  • Like he said, its more of the genre of music you play on the bass. Like jazz bassist dont use pick most of the time.

  • I don't necessarily agree that the bass ends up more in the background when you play with your fingers. If the attack is aggressive enough, you can still have a lot of bite, but with a much beafier tone. EQ it right and you'll cut through the mix like a knife through butter. With a pick, you lose that fatness. To each his own though, picks are great too. And some songs are just way too fast for most fingerplayers, so yeah. Go for it.

  • picking is for sharper tone, fingers softer, both have distinct advantages

  • a basslesson?

  • ya man bc lions jersey

  • hes basically saying that picking makes the sound higher pitched, wich it does.

  • this guy just plays little riffs between vague statements about people who have used picks. this may be the most useless video of all time