Which famous bass players use a pick? (2023)

Do some bassists use a pick?

Bass players generally use thicker picks. The thickness improves the bass playing control, and the overall tone of the string. The average pick thickness for bass players is 1.17 mm, while for guitar players is 0.89 mm. Remember, bass strings are much thicker than guitar strings.

Does paul McCartney use a pick to play bass?

Paul played with a pick from his earliest days on the instrument, and continued this habit all throughout his career. It's rare to find a Beatles where he plays with his fingers instead. Using a pick has a number of tonal advantages, particularly with the violin-style basses that Paul liked to use.

Who was the first bassist to use a pick?

Joe Osborn was playing bass with a pick before he got his new Jazz bass in late '59.

Why do bassists not use a pick?

They don't like the sound: Picks produce a treble-heavy, defined sound. Although this sound compliments certain genres, some bassists are traditionalists, believing a pick takes away from an authentic sound.

Does Metallica bassist use a pick?

Although at times Trujillo has been known to use a pick, he prefers to use his fingers, like the early Metallica bassist Cliff Burton, but unlike Trujillo's predecessor Jason Newsted (who used a pick almost exclusively).

Does Geddy Lee use a pick?

Geddy has never used a pick.

Did John Lennon play guitar with a pick?

John Lennon was a rhythm guitarist and also used a pick on occasion, but was mostly known for his strumming style. Ringo Starr was an incredible drummer and helped to define the sound of the band. While the Beatles did use picks on occasion, they were mostly known for their innovative and creative playing style.

Does Sting play bass with a pick?

“I play bass with my fingers and with a pick. I often used a pick in the Police. A pick was good because we were only a trio, and I needed the bassline to be very clear, rather than rumbling and vague, so playing with a pick low down near the bridge helped the band.

Is it hard to play 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.

Did Van Halen use a pick?

The Long Story. The graphic artwork on these picks is sourced from arguably the most widely recognized guitar in the world, Eddie Van Halen's "Frankenstein." This is the exact pick that Eddie used, a Dunlop Max-Grip . 60mm gauge pick.

Does Eric Clapton use a pick?

Eric Clapton uses heavy picks supplied to him by Ernie Ball, a manufacturer of guitar strings, picks and related items.

Did Jimi Hendrix use a pick?

Hendrix's use of a guitar pick was one of the defining aspects of his playing style. Hendrix favored thin picks, which he used to create a range of sounds and textures. Hendrix's use of a pick allowed him to create a range of new sounds and techniques that had never been heard before.

Is bass for failed guitarists?

So no, the bass isn't necessarily easier to play than the electric guitar. If you can't play the guitar, then just play bass. This is somewhat connected to the myth above. While there are some bass players who transitioned from guitar to bass, that doesn't mean they failed as guitar players.

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

Most people like using a pick because they can develop speed more quickly. If you're into styles of music that are speed intensive, a pick might make sense. You can develop the same speed with your fingers, but most people find it takes a little more time. You can get different tones with different types of picks.

Did Roger Waters use a pick?

He often plays bass using a pick but is also known to play fingerstyle. Not only a bassist and vocalist, Waters has experimented with the EMS Synthi A and VCS 3 synthesisers and has played electric rhythm and acoustic guitars in recordings and in concert.

Does Robert Trujillo use a pick?

Robert prefers to play with his fingers instead of picks and mainly uses Warwick, Nash and Zon bass guitars - all strung with his signature Dunlop bass strings.

Does Nikki Sixx play bass with a pick?

“I feel my spot is somewhere between a bass player and a rhythm guitar player," he said. "I play with a pick. I play very aggressively. I always have a distortion pedal in line, and I play less melodies and do more stuff against the guitars that create melodies.”

Does Jason Newsted use a pick?

He plays with a pick. Metallica, 100 million records sold. The Black Album is one out of four all-time that's been on the Billboard charts 500 weeks or more. So this guy played with a pick, too.”

Does John Mayer use a pick?

Possibly the technique that most defines Mayer's sound is his decision to use his fingers to pluck his strings rather than using a pick (plectrum). Of course, Mayer does use a pick for some of his songs and performances, but often, you will see him use his fingers instead.

Does Dave Matthews use a pick?

Dave Matthews uses Tortex^® Picks, the MXR^® Carbon Copy^® Analog Delay, and MXR^® Bass Envelope Filter to write, record, and perform his music worldwide.

Does Taylor Swift Use a pick?

Swift has used a variety of guitar picks over the years, but she is most commonly seen using a Dunlop Tortex Standard 0.88 mm pick. She has said that she likes the feel of this pick and that it helps her play the guitar the way she wants to.

What guitarist uses a coin as a pick?

Most guitarists use a pick or their fingers when playing the guitar. Queen guitarist Brian May uses a sixpence coin.

Which Beatle was best at guitar?

In many respects Paul McCartney was the group's most rounded musician, and possibly even its best guitarist. It was he that devised many of the riffs and even played some of the most memorable solos, such as on Taxman (Revolver), Ticket To Ride and his killer Epiphone Casino (opens in new tab) riff on Paperback Writer.

What kind of pick did George Harrison use?

As a Beatle, the three guitar playing members used a few different style of pick. But, they were most famous for using a home plate (American baseball reference) shaped pick. It looked like a standard pick, but the sides were cut a bit differently.

Does the Iron Maiden bassist use a pick?

With the bass now in hand, Harris has the option of playing with a pick or using his fingers. He was told to learn acoustic guitar first, so he was familiar with using a pick, but found it easier to move around the strings with his fingers.

Does Arctic Monkeys bassist use a pick?

Dunlop Tortex Standard 1.14mm Guitar Picks

Nick O'Malley uses these picks while playing for the Arctic Monkeys.

Does the Muse bassist use a pick?

On “Resistance” and “Stockholm” it's fingers. “Assassins” is a pick. But unless the pick offers a sound that's different, I generally play with fingers because I just don't like the sound of a pick that often. You lose a lot of bottom end and fatness with it.

Is picking faster than fingerstyle?

Generally, it's easier to play faster with a pick than with fingerstyle. However, many guitarists can play extremely fast with their fingers, so it may be a matter of putting in more practice to build up your speed.

Did Chris Squire use a pick?

Squire played with a pick, but judiciously let his fingers hit the strings, too, clipping the notes. He wired the Rickenbacker to run in stereo, through a guitar amplifier and a bass amplifier.

Did Kurt Cobain use a pick?

The guitar picks he used the most frequently were Dunlop Tortex Standard . 60mm picks, in orange.

Does Steve Vai use a pick?

Steve likes a 1mm plectrum, in the normal shape, and made out of Delrin. Steve's picks are made by Ibanez, but we are going to go out on a limb here and say that the shape, thickness and material of the pick is more important than the brand.

What pick did Jimmy Page use?

The paper that the picks and signatures are written on is the back of the silver paper from Jimmy's empty Marlboro cigarette pack. These are two of Jimmy's used picks. On the left, a Gibson and on the right, a Herco Flex 75, a pick that Jimmy is renowned to use.

Does Luke Combs use a pick?

Luke Combs showing off his InTune guitar picks. Luke uses our Celluloid in a medium gauge.

What pick did Stevie Ray Vaughan use?

Stevie usually used Fender medium picks, and he played with the “fat” end. There are 17 verified variations of Stevie's custom picks, but he also used plain Fender picks, and freebies he picked up from guitar shops.

Does Zakk Wylde use a pick?

Zakk Wylde uses Dunlop Tortex picks.

What pick does Bob Dylan use?

Bob Dylan's first decent guitar was a 1949 Martin 00-17 all-maganade guitar. Dylan used Fender, Telecaster, and Gibson Les Paul guitars, as well as SG guitars. His preferred pick is a nylon guitar pick that has a softer, mellower sound.

Why did Van Halen use thin picks?

He was looking for a way to create a more aggressive sound. He found that metal picks gave him the sound he was looking for. Eddie Van Halen was one of the first guitarists to use metal picks. Metal guitar picks are now used by many guitarists.

Does Pete Townshend use a pick?

1996 – present – Custom-printed picks

Beginning in 1996, Pete began to use custom-printed picks, often imprinted for the particular show. He also used Ernie Ball and Fender picks, also often custom-printed.

Is bass easy to pick up if you play guitar?

It isn't hard to go from guitar to bass because many of the techniques and skills you know apply to bass as well. There are new techniques and skills you need to learn when going from guitar to bass, but most guitarists find it an easy transition.

Why do punk bassists use picks?

While some punk bassists play with their fingers, it is significantly more common to use a pick. Punk bassists commonly opt to use a pick so that they can pick the strings with a noticeable attack and to make fast basslines easier to play.

Why dont bassists change their strings?

They purposely don't change the strings because they don't want to lose “that sound” or because they're superstitious or nostalgic about the instrument. There's nothing wrong with any of these approaches.

Is bass better with pick or fingers?

Generally, playing bass with your fingers is the best – you could play fast and be flexible enough to perform techniques like slapping or muting. Playing bass with pick is also fast and gives you a sharper tone but it's tricky to perform techniques like slapping or muting.