I already know the answer that I should learn fingerstyle first. And ideally both. But I just keep gravitating towards the pick. I like the sound better, and (most) of my favorite bass players are pick players. I’m ready to be shamed in the comments.
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Whatever blows yer goat and gets you playing
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Nothing to be ashamed of. Nothing wrong with playing with a pick.
That said, I do agree with Josh that you should focus on fingerstyle first. Playing with a pick is covered later in the course (assuming you’re enrolled in the B2B program here).
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I did my first time through B2B using fingers, then second time through using a pick.
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Nothing wrong with a pick. You can always come back and do it again with fingers.
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I went through the course on my third-go-round using a pick. (Octaves presented a challenge.)
I played finger style the first time and finger style on a fretless the second time.
I am nearly finished with my fourth-go-round, this time on the new and improved version of the course. I find that I keep learning more each time.
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I think finger style is way easier than playing with a pick. I have a lot of trouble muting with a pick since my plucking hand typically does most of the muting. I would recommend learning both - sometimes you just need that extra attack your fingers can’t deliver.
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I use a pick even if I’m just putting on a set of strings…won’t leave the house without a pick, just in case I stop at Guitar Center to check out some basses.
Do I care what other bassists think about it?
Of course not.
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For the genres I like, picks sound better. They simply do.
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You should learn both.
I would not learn pick before finger style. But learning them simultaneously seems like a good idea.
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I played guitar(very, very badly) when I was young. So I knew how to use a pick coming in to bass. I’m glad I did finger style my first go through, and I’d suggest it even if you plan on primarily playing with a pick eventually. Most songs that I play, I get the fretting down using fingers and switch to pick after that. I feel like I have an easier time memorizing bass lines that way.
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