Can you play bass without a pick?

Truthfully, there is no right or wrong way to play a bass guitar. There isn’t even a preferred way. Any method you use to get sound out of the thing—fingers, pick, thumb, those weird stick things Tony Levin uses, telekinesis, whatever—works just fine. It’s purely a matter of personal preference.

Can you play guitar with long fingernails?

In general, any fingernail that is longer than the actual flesh on your finger will be considered a “long nail” for playing guitar. While it’s not impossible to play with these, you may need to make serious changes to your playing style or only keep the long nails on one hand.

Should I cut my nails to play bass?

For bassists, it really comes down to whether you like the extra pick-like click of the nail when you strike a note or not. Most bassists I know train their nails to be very short (i.e.: keep cutting them a little too short until they get them where they want them – out of the way – and then keep them there).

Why do bassists not use picks?

Bassists who have a problem with picking tend to hold one or both of the following beliefs: 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.

Is bass or guitar harder to play?

The bass is easier to play than the guitar. The bass may only have four strings compared with the electric guitar’s six, but that doesn’t make it any easier to learn to play properly. Playing the bass requires a different knowledge base and skill set, so to speak.

Can bass players have long nails?

Re: Long fingernails and playing bass I keep my nails just long enough so I can use them for fingerstyle playing but short enough to not be a problem on the bass. This owrks because your right hand attacks the strings differently on bass than on guitar. Usually.

Can you play bass with small hands?

The easiest way to play bass if you have small hands is to simply use a short-scale bass. If you can’t invest in a short-scale bass, stretch your fingers out regularly and always warm-up before playing. Using your pinkie finger more often will also make playing bass easier over time.

Do professional bass players use picks?

So, do bassists use picks? Yes; bassists who perform fast-paced, aggressive-sounding music are more-likely to use picks. This is because picks produce a more treble-heavy and ‘snappy’ sound than fingerstyle playing does.

Can you play guitar with long nails?

Well, actually no. Unless your nails are nine-inch long (pun intended), you’re absolutely fine. It turns out that in some cases long nails are rather a blessing, than a curse. Before we learn how to play guitar with long nails, let’s take a look at the…

Should you use a pick or fingerpick when playing guitar?

If you plan on using the pick in the future, you’ll have to choose the side: either you’re switching to fingerpicking/strumming or you’re still playing with a plectrum. Long nails on your picking hand fingers mess up with your ability to hold the pick properly as they tend to touch the strings when you strum.

Can you play guitar with your fingers flat?

While it is harder to achieve a clear sound when you’re not directly on your fingertips, you can still fret your chords and notes with the flat part of your fingers. You just have to press them onto your fretboard at a low angle, keeping the edge of your nails far from the string.

Can you fret a string with your nails?

You can’t fret a string with your nails because it’s just too unstable and uncomfortable. The anatomy of a human fingernail suggests that whenever you press your fingertip against some hard surface (like fretboard), your nail will always be protruding unless you cut it short.