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It's funny how we become so accustomed to a certain technique and often find ourselves unwilling to change. Change can be a good thing and makes for brand new challenges.

I have been part of starting a new band that will be doing some classic rock covers. This will include quite a few Beatles tunes. Since McCartney was a picker, I decided to do what I could to emulate the feel and tone of his style. This meant taking up a pick for some tunes.

I have to say that I've enjoyed using a pick on the Beatles songs. I Feel Fine, Help!, and A Day in the Life all sound great when flatpicked. My next step will be to get some flatwounds on a bass and try picking that.

So yes, I chose to adapt and learn some picking to expand my horizons, so to speak, and pick up (pun intended) on some new things.

Bo

Low B, or not low B? Does it really matter?!

Pete, you traitor!

Just kidding. As you no doubt are aware, I am generally against pick usage on bass, but the reason for this is that I don't want young bass players to be just like all the guitar players out there who think they can play bass. Many bass players are discouraged guitar players, (I know, that's a dirty little secret) and if they don't learn finger technique from the start, they probably never will.

I can actually use a pick quite well, but please don't tell anyone! I almost never do, however, and in fact I think the last time I used a pick on bass was over twenty years ago. One guitar technique I have carried over to bass is borrowed from flamenco technique, and involves alternating the thumb with two or even three fingers, depending upon the rhythm I'm trying to accomplish. It's called "tremelo" and I find it very useful in executing fast and difficult plucking rhythms. With a little practice, you can even emulate the Rocco stuff, although he does it with two fingers.

I always carry a handful of picks in my gigbag, but this is because I got fed up with guitar players who would show up to gigs without a pick.

My personal pick preference? I like the yellow .73s, just like our host. I see no reason why a "bass pick" should be one of those huge, fat, unwieldy things that are stereotypical.

Kelly

Even though I play with my fingers 75% of the time, I like to use picks every now and then to get different tones.Thinnest is the Jim Dunlop @ bottom right(0.38 mm). Thickest is the Tectrum Foam,the white pick middle right (4.00mm). Most used is the Clayton 0.40mm- 5th row from front/ middle.

Geoff :-)

About a year after I started playing bass, I was in a fairly bad dirt bike accident. I broke all 4 fingers, and three other bones in my right hand alone. (Luckly my fret hand survived the ordeal.) While recovering, the only way I could play at all was to play with a pick. Now I have arthrits in my hand from the accident, and have no choice but to play with a pick. I prefer Dunlop Tortex 1.14mm (purple with a picture of a turtle on it) picks. When I buy new picks, the first thing I do is cut the surface I hold, on both sides, in multiple directions. This makes it easier to hold the pick, and reduces the amount of pain I will suffer through.

Any time I play with a new band, I have to explain why it is not possible to play with my fingers.