Quote:
Originally Posted by latkingz781  Got any great speed exercises? I have been playing a ton of Muse tracks lately, but some of them are just a bit fast. I know practice makes perfect, but some of these songs are just fast, like Butterflies and Hurricanes. Got any good ideas or suggestions? Oh another thing is, my fore arm gets really tired sometimes playing this kind of stuff, what could i do to prevent this? I usually play with a thumb behind the neck (like you are supposed to). |
Speed comes from the reaction of all components of you hands ( fingers, joints, tendons, ligiments ) responding to the extendors and flexors in you forearms, thats why it tires.
You have two duties, to build up speed, one is stamina and the other is dexterity. These two duties require you to work away from the bass. Yes playing the bass will build stamina and dexterity, but not neccesarly speed.
Speed comes from the ability to react to what you want to do as a controlled reflex and it is this ability to react you must address. Its part of Plyometric exercise as used by athletes and in martial arts. But need need dexterity and the end of our movements not power.
1/ Warm you hands up with gentle stretches.
In this just open your hands and extend you fingers as far as you can. Now relax. notice that your fingers spring back to a slight curl towards the palm. This is the action you want to encourage, not a squeezing action, but the opening action.
Squeezing builds stamina and that will negate the dexterity.
Never and i mean never, pull or push at you hands or fingers at any point. This is not healthy and counter productive as you are using bigger muscle groups against tendons and ligiments, the big muscle groups will damage the smallers ones with ease.
2/ So here you go time your self over 15 seconds on how many times you can open your hands to the full stretch and return them. Note not to a fist but that natural curl they have.
Do this once and note the result. Now gentley stretch your hands and relax them.
Give yourself about 5mins and repeat again.
The idea is not about going for 20 or 30 seconds but to increase the amount you can do in 15 seconds.
After a week or so you should see a marked improvement in the amount you can do. someone who has never done this type of exercise or much playing, should in a few weeks double their first total.
I cannot stress enough the stretching, 15 seconds and twice is enough for this exercise. Doing it more will only work on your stamina and this will negate the dexterity and speed and different muscle groups will take over. If you have a headache one or two asprins will do the job, five or six won't, they will be counter productive and dangerous to your health.
Stamina and speed use different muscle groups and in this simple exercise you target the speed and reflex rather than the stamina.
As with all exercise time and patience is the key. You will notice a difference in days, so don't think if i do it more i will see more improvement, it does not work like that.
As usual your own personal conditions will come into play, day job, how much you use your hands away from the bass, other sports, diet, health etc, will all have a factor so use common sense and adjust to suit.
PS. post your results and thoughts.
Fergie.
