Head game with running eighths

ogrossman · #1 07-14-2006, 03:47 PM

I'm learning a BLS tune called "Bored to Tears" that has a ton of running eights at a 165 bpm tempo. What makes it a bit more challenging is that the eights come in a 16 note pattern with the notes grouped 3-3-3-3-2-2. I'm playing it finger style with two fingers continulally alternating through the whole pattern.

I can play the pattern up to tempo just fine UNTIL I start thinking stupid things like 'which finger am I starting the pattern on' or dumb stuff like that. It's totally a head game.

One thing I'm doing that helps is to accent the first note of each three or two note group but the mind still wants to wander. Does anyone else have this kind of problem and/or suggestions about how to deal with it?

Thanks

paintballjunkie · #2 07-14-2006, 05:08 PM

EADG mx · #3 07-14-2006, 06:40 PM

I'd play it with my ring.. like this:

3 2 1 - 3 2 1 - 3 2 1 - 3 2 1 - 2 1 2 1

Or just dont think about what fingers you're using.

scourge · #4 07-15-2006, 10:40 AM

just keep playing it. You'll come around.

**BurningSkies** · #5 07-15-2006, 11:02 AM

Muscle memory is a wonderful thing. Just keep playing it.

Alec W. Conway · #6 07-15-2006, 09:12 PM

I had the same problem when I started playing 2 fingers. Now with practice i can run along at 180 when I'm warmed up.

The next after that was to get the shorter index finger to reach out for string skipping. Since the middle finger is longer, you'll naturally try to do the skips with that one.

Just keep practicing that too. There's no secret recipe.

Well having a good sense of beat DOES help a bit... hehe...