How do I learn to play faster?

Evil Undead · #1 03-13-2010, 05:30 AM

Hi

I really want to increase the speed of my playing, so I can play these really fast jazz and funk licks, but my fingers won't let me!

Is it just a matter of practice practice practice, or are there certain exercises I can do to get faster?

Thanks!

Moonbot · #2 03-13-2010, 05:37 AM

Have you tried working with a metronome to build speed?
Start at a reasonable tempo and slowly speed it up once your comfortable with the new speed, go again, and the following day start a few bpm slower than your previous best and keep going.
I find this works well.

Moonbot · #3 03-13-2010, 05:47 AM

It may be worth adding that if your experiencing pain from this then you might want to change your technique.

Gawd · #4 03-13-2010, 05:53 AM

A description of your right/left hand technique will help us understand what the problem may be.

In general, the key to playing fast is usually a lot of practicing slowly. You have to build up a comfort level at slow speeds before playing fast will become less strenuous. If you're struggling than you won't be able to relax, and if you can't relax you won't be in control.

FromBeyond · #5 03-13-2010, 06:06 AM

Well, by learning to play slowly, really. And then build up speed, preferably using a metronome.

ausf · #6 03-13-2010, 06:47 AM

Just takes time and practice dude. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it.

Key is: push, but stay in control.

Gord_oh · #7 03-13-2010, 06:55 AM

play slow to start, that will improve technique.
once that is down, slowly start playing the same riffs faster.
using a metronome always helped me to stay consistant.
building off those riffs, improv a little bit by adding to it.
take songs and try playing some at different tempos, fast and slow.

once your technique is good slow, it will be better once you start getting faster.

+1
control is key.

Evil Undead · #8 03-13-2010, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moonbot

It may be worth adding that if your experiencing pain from this then you might want to change your technique.

It makes me have cramp! Is that a technique problem or just needing to build up strength in my hands?

grifff · #9 03-13-2010, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evil Undead

It makes me have cramp! Is that a technique problem or just needing to build up strength in my hands?

Most likely a technique problem. I never have any pain in my hands because I stay relaxed and avoid extreme angles at any of my joints.

atheos · #10 03-13-2010, 01:13 PM

Yup, practice, practice and more practice. Learn a lick, play it as fast as you can play it perfectly (usually not fast at all) and then start learning to play it perfectly faster and faster. Metronome is really good, I usually go with 5bpm steps. Just give yourself absolutely no mercy - if your performance at certain tempo is even a tiny bit sloppy you should not allow yourself to even try it faster.

Playing should involve no pain at all. Your technique may not be optimal, too much muscular tension is the most common mistake when playing fast, I believe. It kills speed quickly and causes cramps. Learn to relax your arms and hands.

JTE · #11 03-13-2010, 02:11 PM

Like the others say, practice. And more of it. Then more. And the "secret" to playing fast, is to practice slow. Be precise so that as you speed up, it stays the same, only faster. The difference between fast and sloppy vs. fast and clean is that the clean comes from being exact with your performance. And make sure you're using the most efficient technique. It's difficult to play fast when your fingers are flailing around off the neck, or your digging in harder than you need to, or your plucking hand is pulling the strings too hard.

So, start very slowly with something, use a metronome (NOT a drum machine unless you're only setting it to one click) to measure your accuracy, and only move the tempo up when you've got it nailed. Make sure you're not hurting yourself. Practice with your whole mind engaged (i.e. playing scales while watching TV ain't gonna help you get real speed).

John

Akshat · #12 03-13-2010, 02:19 PM

on improving you general speed.

play 1-2-3-4 with the left fingers

i-m-r-m or i-m-r-i with right or any other combination that you are comfortable with.

another extremly important way that i read was right hand practice without the bass.practice right hand speed picking on a table or any other surface,when you are idle.This will greatly improve your speed.This is how Steve DiGiorgio reached the speed he is able to play.I myself can do single 16th note runs at 250 bpm

oh and dont forget USE A METRONOME

Troutdog · #13 03-13-2010, 02:20 PM

There's a good training book I've used called "Bass Fitness" that is designed to improve finger strength and speed. You can find it on Amazon.

Andrew Jones · #14 03-13-2010, 02:41 PM

IMHO the Key,,,,

Google Madame Chaloff.

Relax! Breath!!!

How do you learn to relax,,,, Breath,,,,,?????????

Google Madame Chaloff.

Deliberately Doing it!!!!

How many People set a metronome and play to it but also make a conscious effort to breath at a certain time? Or to completely relax?

Google Madame Chaloff.

You'll never do it while your trying something that's new to you,,,so

Practice,,,Practice,,,Slow,,Slow

Google Madame Chaloff.

Aj

Gawd · #15 03-13-2010, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evil Undead

It makes me have cramp! Is that a technique problem or just needing to build up strength in my hands?

That would be a technique problem.
What is your technique like? (where do you wear the bass, which hand is cramping, how do you position the hands, etc)

**butchblack** · #16 03-13-2010, 03:26 PM

+ 1 on the start slowly and work with a metronome. The other part is that you may not have the finger coordination to play really fast. This is my problem. Back in the 80's it used to bug me that try as I might and practice a lot there were songs I just couldn't play at speed, Robert Palmer's sneakin Sally through the alley comes to mind. In the early 90's I took the Johnson O'connor series of aptitude tests. While my music aptitudes were all very high, my finger and tweezer aptitudes were VERY low. I had my answer, unfortunately it was that I was never going to be good at playing fast runs, so I stopped beating myself up for that.

Find a good teacher, work on your technique, learn your fretboard and you can maximize what you can do.

Evil Undead · #17 03-13-2010, 04:11 PM

Ah ok. So basically I need to slow it way down first and get the riffs perfect at the slow speeds before I even try to speed up...

About the technique problem... it's my fretting hand that cramps up... does the same when I play a lot of octaves as well. Hotel California kills me lol!
How can I fix this? I don't want to be getting injuries etc

Evil Undead · #18 03-14-2010, 07:16 AM

Thanks for all the advice
It's a bit of a bummer that I might not have the coordination to play fast though

any way of developing this?
Also, how can I relax my hand and arm more?

Moonbot · #19 03-14-2010, 07:57 AM

If it's your fretting hand that cramps up, perhaps all you need is to shorten your guitar strap, or change the angle you hold your bass at.
Does your fretting hand get as sore when your sitting down playing?

Coordination can be learned and improved. for example children have poor coordination but they learn and grow up to be surgeons etc.

geeza · #20 03-14-2010, 10:40 AM

One reason you may be having pain is because you're pushing down on the string too hard. Practice will help you increase your finger strength and dexterity. Loosen up your grip... you don't have to strangle the neck.
Also, is your bass set up properly? If your action and string tension aren't right, it'll make it harder to play as well.