Bass- finger or plectrum

[pk]

Monaco was another of Hook's bands.

Pretty similar sounding, bass prominent, watered down New Order TBH...

 

[ViolentPanda]

I had the great youthful fortune (in my opinion anyway, I know a lot of folk hate the Subs) to have Paul Slack teach me to play the "Warhead" bassline when me and a mate bunked off school and went round Charlie Harper's place off Clapham Common to get our records signed.
Ah, them was the days!

 

[ViolentPanda]

I use both for different songs - plectrum for the fast, harder-sounding songs, and fingers for the slower, softer songs. This is only because the other band members want me to use a plectrum, though - I really, really, really, really, really, really hate it. It feels so wrong that I'm sure the torture must show on my face sometimes. But they insist that I do it. Guess I'll get used to it eventually.

If you want to really fuck them off, invest in a set of plastic or metal finger-picks and play close to the neck. They won't know what the fuck's going on!

 

[chooch]

fingers. partly sound (i like a good bassy sound down by the neck) and partly cos my plectrum technique is terrible. I fingerpick guitar and mandolin too, like a gimp.

 

[DandysRuleOK]

Doesn't Kim Deal use a pick?

Yeah, the green Jim Dunlop 2mm with the picture of a turtle on the back are her favourites.

Ummm........

 

[Solareyes]

It has to be the fingers. There's only one good bass player in the universe who uses a pick:

What about the coolest motherfucker on the planet.

 

[lights.out.london]

Monaco was another of Hook's bands.

Pretty similar sounding, bass prominent, watered down New Order TBH...

That's it. I have a copy of Monaco's album somewhere. Think I played it twice. I may give it to Chessypoof.

I had the great youthful fortune (in my opinion anyway, I know a lot of folk hate the Subs) to have Paul Slack teach me to play the "Warhead" bassline when me and a mate bunked off school and went round Charlie Harper's place off Clapham Common to get our records signed.
Ah, them was the days!

I love tales like this, and I like the Subs. (((punk & Oi! people in the 80s))).

One the things which struck me as a lad, was the metal bands I liked were "unobtainable" and thought they were gods, with the exception of Motorhead. A punk band, you could knock on their door, or scrounge a can of beer from them...just like your mates!

 

[ViolentPanda]

I love tales like this, and I like the Subs. (((punk & Oi! people in the 80s))).

Now I'm feeling old.
This would have been 1978-79 rather than the 80s, and I know that because the album I got signed was "Live Kicks", which had only just reached the shops.

One the things which struck me as a lad, was the metal bands I liked were "unobtainable" and thought they were gods, with the exception of Motorhead. A punk band, you could knock on their door, or scrounge a can of beer from them...just like your mates!

That's one of the things I loved about punk and new wave. You used to see Keith Levene round Brixton, most of the members of 999 in Streatham, the Slits round Stockwell and Brixton, plus loads of other long-forgotten luminaries, and none of them would cold-shoulder you if you went and introduced yourself, asked for an autograph, or told them that the production on their newest single sucked elephant cock (sorry, Mr. Cash, sir. ).

 

[Louis MacNeice]

 

[lights.out.london]

Now I'm feeling old.
This would have been 1978-79 rather than the 80s, and I know that because the album I got signed was "Live Kicks", which had only just reached the shops.

That's one of the things I loved about punk and new wave. You used to see Keith Levene round Brixton, most of the members of 999 in Streatham, the Slits round Stockwell and Brixton, plus loads of other long-forgotten luminaries, and none of them would cold-shoulder you if you went and introduced yourself, asked for an autograph, or told them that the production on their newest single sucked elephant cock (sorry, Mr. Cash, sir. ).

Yes.

I remember as a kid waiting outside to meet the Sabs and getting a whack from a bouncer at the stage door, as did a few fans, who didn't move quick away enough for Mr Osbourne and Ms Arden.

When my fave punk bands came to town (smaller venues or pubs, which caused me problems with my mum ), I could just walk up to these folk and mumble 'hello' and they'd talk to me! Me! They talked to me! It was a revelation, it really was. And for a socially inept teenage (and latterly adult) it meant a huge amount. And at 41, those memories of nervously approaching **insert punk** are still fond ones.

 

[berniedicters]

Fingers, though I quite like the "hard" sound that using a pick gives from time to time.

I go through periods of playing it, then not playing for ages, and it's definitely true that bass strings are hard on the fingers. But once they're toughened up, it's definitely the way to go.

 

[rorymac]

Play it anyhow you like so long as it isn't fretless .. there's no excuse for them imo

 

[chooch]

Play it anyhow you like so long as it isn't fretless .. there's no excuse for them imo

Aye. And count the strings. Any more than four and you need to buy some pliers.

 

[marksims68]

fingers and thumb for me.

Three fingers as well, for the galloping Iron Maiden sound.

Try playing The Trooper with a pick, no chance!!!

 

[longdog]

It has to be the fingers. There's only one good bass player in the universe who uses a pick: