[Mr. Lahey]

Hoping some seasoned players can chime in on this one...

Has anyone else noticed that Sinclair almost plays exclusively with a pic and strums his bass like a 6 string? The only song I can think of where he reverts to finger picking is Grace Too, and maybe a couple others. He seemed to start this with the release of NFPA and has adopted this on most songs both new and old since.

What I'm wondering is why would he do this? Is it easier or simpler to play that way? Could he have an injury preventing him from finger picking full time? Do bass players consider one method more approved than the other? It just appears lazy. Would love to hear others' thoughts.

[Escape@Hand]

I noticed he started using a pick on the NFPA tour as well, but it was part way through. The first show I saw in Rochester he was using his fingers, but then I noticed he switched to a pick one week later in Syracuse. I wouldn't say it's being lazy, as using a pick gives a different tone than the fingers, but I found it a bit strange for him to just suddenly switch over to the pick, especially part way through a tour. I wondered at the time if there was something wrong and he had to switch to a pick, but I suppose if he is still using it that he's just decided he likes to play that way now.

[The Horrible Esthete]

Some people just have a personal preference based on how they've learned and developed as players.

Sometimes there are 'chords' being played on the bass, where often a pick is used.

Picks add a sharper dynamic to the front-end of the note, and can produce more of 'twangy' tone. So it's often a style choice which best suits to the desired tone for the tune. But maybe he had a blister on a fingertip or two, and it was more comfortable to use a pick? Doubt that was the reason though. Most likely, the songs are dictating the choice (and can almost guarantee that "laziness" has nothing to do with it).