A bass guitar pick significantly impacts the player’s technique and the tone of the sound a bass produces. By choosing the right pick, a bassist can achieve a wide range of tones, from bright and punchy to warm and mellow, and it can be especially handy when playing fast or complex lines. A well-crafted pick made from durable materials such as celluloid or Delrin ensures longevity, while the thickness of the pick allows tailoring the sound to your liking. Let’s take a closer look at the 7 best picks for bass guitar on the market with all the qualities you can want in a pick and be confident with the purchase.
See Also: 5 Best Tuner Pedal For Bass In 2023
- List of the best picks for bass guitar
- 1. Fender Premium Celluloid Guitar Picks (Best overall)
- 2. Dunlop Big Stubby Picks (Best thickness)
- 3. Fender Premium Picks Sampler (Best variety)
- 4. Ernie Ball Prodigy Guitar Picks (Best premium)
- 5. Dunlop Pick Variety Pack (Best texture)
- 6. D'Addario Celluloid Guitar Picks (Best smooth surface)
- 7. Pick Geek Guitar Picks
- How To Choose The Best Picks For Bass Guitar?
- Final Words
List of the best picks for bass guitar
1. Fender Premium Celluloid Guitar Picks (Best overall)
Specifications
- Pack: 12-Pack
- Thickness: Thick
- Style: Heavy
- Item Weight: 0.48 ounces
- Product Dimensions: 11.42 x 7.48 x 3.54 inches
Fender Premium Guitar Picks are made from high-quality celluloid material that offers a smooth and natural feel in your hand. With its heavy thickness and traditional 351-type shape, it gives a warm and round tone ideal for a wide range of playing styles. Plus, the sleek, classic design is a nod to Fender’s iconic heritage. You’ll surely fall for its smooth, rounded edges that don’t slip or slide around. Whether strumming chords or picking out intricate leads, these picks will allow you to achieve extraordinary expressiveness. Moreover, they come in a pack of twelve, so you never have to worry about running out of pick mid-gig or recording sessions. However, if you’re used to playing with thin or lightweight picks, you may need to adjust with this pick. Overall, the quality material, versatility, heavy gauge and classic look make it the best pick on my list of best picks for bass guitar.
Pros
- High-quality material
- Suitable for a wide range of playing styles
- Comfortable grip
- Heavy gauge
- Classic design
- Variety of 12 picks
Cons
- Heavy gauge may take some time to adjust
2. Dunlop Big Stubby Picks (Best thickness)
Specifications
- 2. Dunlop Big Stubby Picks (Best thickness)
- Specs:
- Pack: 6-pack
- Size: 3.0 mm
- Thickness: Extra-thick
- Item Weight: 0.03 ounces
- Product Dimensions: 6.92 x 3.77 x 1.33 inches
Dunlop Big Stubby Picks is a high-quality extra-thick pick that can handle intense playing and provide excellent control and precision. These picks are made of high-quality polycarbonate material and feature a unique tip design for precise picking and articulation. Moreover, these picks are slightly larger than most standard picks, and the extra thickness allows for a more solid grip, reducing the likelihood of the pick slipping from your fingers during fast or intense playing. If you play a lot of fast and heavy riffs with these picks, you can play with more precision and accuracy easily. However, the thickness of these picks may take some getting used to, especially if you’re used to playing with thin or medium-gauge picks. But once you adjust, the benefits will outweigh any potential drawbacks.
Pros
- High-quality material
- Thick and sturdy
- Smooth release with a positive attack
- Comfortable grip
- Excellent control and precision
- Unique tip design
Cons
- Extra-thickness takes a longer time to adjust
3. Fender Premium Picks Sampler (Best variety)
Specifications
- Pack: 24-Pack
- Thickness: Thin, Medium, Thick
- Item Weight: 0.634 ounces
- Product Dimensions: 9 x 1 x 8 inches
Fender Sampler is a harmonious collection of 24 guitar picks crafted from quality celluloid material. Each pick orchestrates a unique playing experience, allowing you to find the perfect pick for your style and sound. What sets this pick set apart from other pick sets is its variety; with the thin to heavy thickness and different shapes and sizes, Fender Sampler has something for every type of player. The picks are also precision-cut, ensuring they have a smooth edge and no rough spots to interfere with your playing. You’ll particularly enjoy playing with the jazz III style pick.
Pros
- High-quality durable material
- Suitable for a wide range of playing styles
- Smooth edges
- Thin to heavy gauge
- Classic design
- Variety of 24 picks
Cons
- Expensive
4. Ernie Ball Prodigy Guitar Picks (Best premium)
Specifications
- Pack: 6-pack
- Size: 1.5mm
- Style: Teardrop
- Item Weight: 0.387 ounces
- Product Dimensions: 2.5 x 0.5 x 4.25 inches
These picks are made from a unique material called Delrin, which provides a great balance of flexibility and durability. With a heavy gauge sleek design and a sharp point for maximum articulation, these picks are designed to deliver exceptional performance. The Prodigy picks also come with a comfortable grip that’s easy to hold, even during extended playing sessions. What really sets them apart is their beveled edge, which allows for smooth, precise picking with minimal string noise. Another thing you’ll be must be impressed with is its Matte black finish. The teardrop size and the color give this pick a touch of elegance.
Pros
- High-quality material
- Thick and sturdy
- Comfortable grip
- Beveled edge
- Excellent control and precision
- Ergonomic design
Cons
- A bit pricey
5. Dunlop Pick Variety Pack (Best texture)
Specifications
- Pack: 12-Pack
- Thickness: Medium/Heavy
- Style: Medium/Heavy
- Item Weight: 0.352 ounces
- Product Dimensions: 2 x 4 x 0.3 inches
Dunlop Variety Pack includes 12 different picks with medium thickness, and each pick is crafted with precision and care. Each pick is made from high-quality materials and features Dunlop’s signature grip texture, so they are easy to hold even in the most intense playing sessions. The best thing about this pack is the variety it provides. Depending on the style of music you play, you can switch between different picks to achieve the desired tone and feel. But it’s not just the variety; it’s also the durability that offers a reliable playing experience.
Pros
- High-quality material
- Wide range of shape
- Suitable for a wide range of playing styles
- Quality grip
- Variety of 12 picks
Cons
- The sturdiness is a bit low
6. D’Addario Celluloid Guitar Picks (Best smooth surface)
Specifications
- Pack: 10-Pack
- Thickness: Medium
- Item Weight: 0.208 ounces
- Product Dimensions: 5 x 3 x 1 inches
The D’Addario Celluloid Guitar Picks are made from high-quality celluloid material that provides a warm and balanced tone with a medium thickness. One thing that’ll catch your attention is the smoothness of the pick. It has a smooth surface that allows for easy gliding over the strings while providing enough grip to prevent slipping. On top of it, with the standard shape and size, you’ll have a comfortable playing experience. One drawback of this pick is that some guitarists may find the smooth surface difficult to grip, especially if they’re used to a more textured pick.
Pros
- High-quality material
- Versatility for different playing styles
- Smooth edge
- Easy gliding across strings
- Variety of 10-picks
Cons
- Lack of texture isn’t preferred by everyone
7. Pick Geek Guitar Picks
Specifications
- Pack: 16-Pack
- Thickness: Medium
- Item Weight: 0.917 ounces
- Product Dimensions: 2.24 x 2.24 x 0.79 inches
Pick Geek Guitar Picks are made of high-quality celluloid materials that ensure longevity, durability, and a great sound. The set includes 16 picks, each with a different thickness (thin to heavy) and color, so you can experiment and find the perfect pick for your playing style. This pick set’s meticulous attention to detail ensures impressive grip, preventing slips, while the smooth edges guarantee a seamless playing experience for you. Besides, this pick set comes in a convenient and stylish carrying case. One downside of this pick set is the resistance on the picks is a bit low, so while fast playing, it may slip sometime.
Pros
- High-quality material
- Versatility for different playing styles
- Thin to heavy gauge
- Variety of 16 picks
- Handy carrying case
Cons
- Color may wear out after heavy use
How To Choose The Best Picks For Bass Guitar?
Here are the things you should consider while choosing the best picks for bass guitar to get the best sound and variety.
Material:
When choosing the best picks for bass guitar, consider the material it is made of.
- Plastic picks are the most popular and affordable.
- Nylon picks are a bit softer and offer a warmer tone.
- Celluloid picks are a great choice for a warm, vintage tone, and they are also lightweight.
Are celluloid picks durable?
Despite being lightweight, celluloid picks can withstand the demands of regular playing. Celluloid is a sturdy celluloid material resistant to chipping and breaking, so it is a reliable choice for guitarists and bass players. With proper care and maintenance, celluloid picks can last long without worrying about frequent replacements.
Thickness:
Thicker picks provide a more pronounced attack and a fuller sound, while thinner picks offer a softer attack and a more subtle tone. As a bass guitarist, you’ll want to choose a pick with a medium-heavy range thickness.
How does the thickness of a pick affect the sound?
The increased thickness of a pick allows for greater resistance against the strings, resulting in a stronger presence in the mix. It is particularly beneficial in rock or metal, where a powerful and aggressive sound is desired. On the other hand, thinner picks tend to glide across the strings with less resistance, producing a smoother sound with less emphasis on the attack. This can be advantageous in jazz or softer ballads, where a gentler touch and more delicate tone are preferred.
Shape:
There are a variety of pick shapes available: standard, teardrop, and jazz. Standard and teardrop picks are the most common and offer a versatile playing experience. Smaller jazz picks provide more precision and control for intricate playing styles.
Which pick shape is the best for a beginner?
For a beginner bass guitarist, starting with a standard or teardrop pick shape is recommended. These shapes are the most common and offer a versatile playing experience, which can benefit those still exploring different playing styles and techniques.
Size:
Generally, bass guitar picks are larger than typical guitar picks to accommodate the larger strings and wider neck of the bass guitar. However, while choosing the pick size, consider the size of your hand and the length of your fingers. So simply, a larger pick will feel more comfortable if you have large hands, while a smaller pick will be more suitable if you have small hands.
What are the advantages of using a large pick?
Firstly, a larger pick provides a more substantial surface area to hold onto, allowing for a more secure grip and better control. Secondly, increased pick size can result in a wider contact area with the strings, producing a fuller and more resonant tone. Additionally, larger picks can provide added comfort for players with larger hands, as they can fit more naturally within the palm and fingers.
Final Words
Choosing the right pick is crucial to improve your tone, control, comfort, and versatility. With a quality pick in hand, you can easily achieve your bass’s desired sound and style. Whether you prefer a bright, crisp sound or a warm, full tone, there’s something on the list of 7 best picks for bass for everyone.