This is nice ...

[4stringer77]

Playing with a pick is fine but playing a T bird with a clip on tuner at a performance I can't abide. C'mon Martin Turner.
I think some of the anti pick attitude is just an inferiority complex from bass players who don't want to seem like they're wishing they were guitar players.
Good stuff Uwe btw.

[slinkp]

I think some anti-pick bias is also thinly disguised genre bias. Specifically against hard rock, metal, punk, and the thousands of offshoots from them, where pick playing dominates.

This takes a couple forms. One is dismissing music that is simple, as if simplicity is a failing and "real" musicians are only found in more difficult styles.  Snobbery again.

And that doesn't fly as a bias against a lot of metal groups of course, which can get into extremely difficult music..Just to pick one ...  I'm not a Megadeth fan per se, but I do find them worth an occasional listen and it takes a really intense level of dedicated musicianship to play like Elefson, and it would be absurd to say that his playing would be improved by losing the pick when he's built his whole sound and approach around it. I've read comments of people on YouTube saying he's not really playing bass, he's playing rhythm guitar. To which I say, this is a problem how exactly? His parts fit the music, and if that's what you want to call it, then I'd say he's a better rhythm guitarist than most guitarists.

[westen44]

I think some anti-pick bias is also thinly disguised genre bias. Specifically against hard rock, metal, punk, and the thousands of offshoots from them, where pick playing dominates.

This takes a couple forms. One is dismissing music that is simple, as if simplicity is a failing and "real" musicians are only found in more difficult styles.  Snobbery again.

And that doesn't fly as a bias against a lot of metal groups of course, which can get into extremely difficult music..Just to pick one ...  I'm not a Megadeth fan per se, but I do find them worth an occasional listen and it takes a really intense level of dedicated musicianship to play like Elefson, and it would be absurd to say that his playing would be improved by losing the pick when he's built his whole sound and approach around it. I've read comments of people on YouTube saying he's not really playing bass, he's playing rhythm guitar. To which I say, this is a problem how exactly? His parts fit the music, and if that's what you want to call it, then I'd say he's a better rhythm guitarist than most guitarists.

In other words, some of the best genres are ones that tend to call for bass playing with a pick--the way I look at it at least.  Hard rock to me is the most interesting kind of rock and some metal is also good. 

[Dave W]

I believe that some of the bias came from upright bassists who refused to recognize electric bass guitar as legitimate. They looked down on guitarists who started playing electric bass, and resented losing gigs when it caught on.

[Rob]

I believe that some of the bias came from upright bassists who refused to recognize electric bass guitar as legitimate. They looked down on guitarists who started playing electric bass, and resented losing gigs when it caught on.

I agree!  Anthony Jackson said "it's whatever it takes to make the song sound right".

[gearHed289]

I believe that some of the bias came from upright bassists who refused to recognize electric bass guitar as legitimate. They looked down on guitarists who started playing electric bass, and resented losing gigs when it caught on.

I don't ever bother getting into any debates about it, but I often ask the question - "Would you tell an upright player they can't use a bow?".  And what about guitarists playing finger-style? 

[slinkp]

I believe that some of the bias came from upright bassists who refused to recognize electric bass guitar as legitimate. They looked down on guitarists who started playing electric bass, and resented losing gigs when it caught on.

That's a good point. Is it possible that younger generations who never even touched or listened to upright have inherited this without even knowing why?

[TBird1958]

All pick players are crap, sound the same and are generally an unmusical bunch.

Isn't that Scott's bass that Jimmy Lea is playing?

[uwe]

At least of the same make.

[uwe]

Playing with a pick is fine but playing a T bird with a clip on tuner at a performance I can't abide.

I'll tell him to take it off when I'm in Cologne to see him end of this month! 

[uwe]

I think some anti-pick bias is also thinly disguised genre bias. Specifically against hard rock, metal, punk, and the thousands of offshoots from them, where pick playing dominates.

Does it actually? I agree that pick playing is more popular in those genres, but does it really constitute the majority? Geezer Butler, Gary Thain, Cliff Burton, Trevor Bolder, Steve Dawson, Neil Murray, Rudy Sarzo, Steve Harris, Geddy Lee, Robert Trujillo, Dusty Hill, Marco Mendoza, Rob Grange - there are plenty of finger playing rockers.

I sometimes think that pick playing is probably most popular in prog music - lots of notes played fast with a bright sound and a quick attack. Chris Squire, John Wetton, Roger Waters, Greg Lake, Dougie Thomson (Supertramp), Ray Shulman (Gentle Giant), Michael Rutherford, almost all Jethro Tull bassists (and there have been a few) ...

[TBird1958]

At least of the same make.

I'm thinking that's Scott's, IIRC Lea signed it.

[Dave W]

I don't ever bother getting into any debates about it, but I often ask the question - "Would you tell an upright player they can't use a bow?".  And what about guitarists playing finger-style? 

Real bassists play arco!

(ducking for cover) 

[doombass]

I'm thinking that's Scott's, IIRC Lea signed it.

Yes he signed it, but I'm pretty sure Scott got a new replica of that bass.

[gearHed289]

Real bassists play arco!

(ducking for cover) 

I'm getting T-shirts made with that slogan!