squiresuzuki

Precisely. Those idiots on the internet, especially YouTube, think that pickers are loser bassists who are just guitarists who are trying to be cool, which is not true. Bassists who can distinguish between the sound of picking and fingering (and popping for that matter) are the truly talented ones, and they can use one of them in the situation that fits the music and style best. That is, fingering is for smoother, calmer, groovier, etc. styles, picking is for those punch, usually heaver styles.

What I find quite comical is when those trolls on YouTube post on bass covers of the band Tool "***GOT only PUSSIES use picks". HAHAHAHAHA. Well, turns out that the wonderful bassist Justin Chancellor of Tool uses a pick on almost all songs, look at how create that band sounds. Loser.

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TumorAttitude

I'm going to ask a very dumb question.
I have really freaking infantile hands. Small little baby hands better suited for piano, or typing, but I want to learn to play guitar or bass. I'm learning guitar and I'm proficient at it, but I'm wondering if I should switch to bass, because it would be easier and better suited for my freakish hands and short attention span.
So....me switchy bass?

GuitarBizarre

Hand size doesnt matter. Yngwie malmsteen has short stubby fingers because hes fat. Steve vai has crazy alien hands. Both of them pwn face.

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littleknowitall

Finger style bass can have no limits and there's no book of rules when it comes to playing, I've seen bassists utilize the thumb with the first three fingers as a style of playing and they've sounded incredible. I'd say just do what you feel comfortable with and if you feel like adding a finger in or mixing it up a bit go for it. No harm. You don't have to abide by any particular technique.

mr dave

look at Flea's hands - puny.

i wouldn't recommend switching for the reasons you mention though. it's a common misconception that playing bass is easier than playing guitar, they're distinct instruments with distinct roles within a band setting. small hands might actually cause a bit of a hassle early on but if you're willing to work at it there's no reason you can't find a way to compensate. where someone with big hands might just be moving their fingers around a pattern you might have to move your entire hand back and forth across the neck.

also i'd think a short attention span would make playing bass harder as you generally have to zone out and stick to playing the groove as opposed to more random licks and riffs. on the other hand it might help you develop concentration skills.

i'm not saying don't play bass, but it would likely be more beneficial to just try it out first. see if you can borrow one from a friend or rent one for a month from a music store. approach the instrument because you like the low end and like making people shake their low ends, remember that in most band settings the bass is something that is felt far more often than heard. it's not normally a 'look at me!' instrument.

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