When you started out playing the bass, did you start with your thumb?

The reason why i'm asking is because i notice my grandson using just his thumb, when he fiddle with his....[he's a beginner...5 yrs. old]

I started out, as well with just my thumb, and realize, it wasn't working for me.

Every now and then, i use my thumb, but it's mainly fingers.

just an observation.

[Edited 4/5/17 8:37am]

I did..

I thought Thumpin' and Pluckin' looked cool and my uncle used to play bass in a legendary Funk band..

Sly played Bass with his thumb.. here's shuggie otis discussing it.

"it sounds like he’s playing with a pick on the bass, but this guy told me it was his thumb. And the sound was so cold."

http://www.waxpoetics.com/blog/features/articles/prodigal-sun/

MD431Madcat said:

I did..

I thought Thumpin' and Pluckin' looked cool and my uncle used to play bass in a legendary Funk band..

Sly played Bass with his thumb.. here's shuggie otis discussing it.

"it sounds like he’s playing with a pick on the bass, but this guy told me it was his thumb. And the sound was so cold."

http://www.waxpoetics.com/blog/features/articles/prodigal-sun/

i slap occasionally, but only on rare occasion pick or strum with thumb, usually in more of a chicken pickin thumb/finger combination. i clearly didnt start there. but i would think, especially for someone that young, the thumb may be the easiest way to do it until you start learning the finger coordination.

[Edited 4/6/17 7:24am]

Since I started out on guitar and was used to a pick, I started playing bass with a pick. I need to practice more with my fingers, though. I think it's the best way to play the bass.

There's a video of Prince playing the bass to "Dear Mr. Man" and then segueing into "If You Want Me To Stay". If you watch closely, you'll see Prince play most parts with a pick, but slap some of the changes during "If you Want Me To Stay". So freaking awesome!

Larry invented the thumb.