Speed Exercises

[chjohnst]

I have been working on a song where the chorus is extremely fast and requires alot of skill to get right. In my mind I have already pretty much worked out every conceptual note I want to play but the rhythm needs to be really fast. What sort of exercises can I work on to speed up my fretting and fingerpicking for accuracy?

I use a drum machine for practice (pretty much as metronome for keeping a groove), but would like to focus on exercises to help speed up the accuracy of my fretting and fingerpicking. Playing scales gets kind of boring of course but I do spend about 20 mins each practice session running through them if not longer, but I focus on accuracy there not so much speed.

[Infernal Affair]

Try any of these exercises in the Exercise Sticky in Technique:

Excercise sticky

Accuracy and speed should go hand in hand, and the only way to develop both is to start slow then slowly get faster. Using a drum machine to keep time is a good start.

[ldarbz_bassman]

Just a question do you stretch your fingers ect. before u play cause i used 2 get real bad cramps and i found a real good exercise to stop it. and it makes it a lot easier to get that extra and consistent bit of speed u might be looking 4!!!

[DocBop]

Practice slow and perfectly and gradually increase tempo. Force yourself to tempo too quickly you will be playing sloppy that will take even longer to clean up.

[slybass3000]

I like scales and arpeggios but here is another one:

Play the chromatic scale from the lowest note to the highest one by staying in the first position by using the open strings and then go up on the G string and come back. I do this several times non-stop and then increase the tempo and the number of repetition as well. So you're working on your speed AND endurance.

Write down your fastest tempo and the number of times you did the exercice and the next day try to go faster by increasing the BPM by 1 only or play it longer.

Sly

[Oraflora]

I agree with an above poster.
If the part you want to play is fast....say 200 BPM.
Try playing the part exactly the same way, but at 50 BPM.
It should be just as difficult at the slower speed as the faster, but it helps to imprint on your brain the right notes and technique.
After playing at the slow tempo for about five minutes, increase by 10 -20 BPM. Repeat until you are up to speeds where smaller increases are necessary.

I wouldn't expect to get up to top speed on your first few sessions, but once you do, it'll be like riding a bike with that part.

[DocBop]

I've said many time that practicing sightreadering is practicing multiple skills at one time. Try to build chops is the same thing multiple skills and should be treated as such.

First skill is learn the scale, bass line, riff, etc. That is developing the dexterity and muscle memory depending on difficulty of passage. Then physical aspect of slowing working up to speed. Too many approach it as one thing and haven't got the first part down so they keep making the same mistakes over and over. They also don't see things that might help them optimize the hand/finger movements. Start learning something new SLOW a snails pace if necessary. Get the movement down perfectly first. Then once you know it perfectly then time to start bumping up the metronome little by little. Do it that way the mind and body won't know a wrong way to do it.

Amateurs practice to get it right, professionals practice so they never get it wrong.

[chjohnst]

What do you mean by chops? I have heard other bass players say this but not sure what that means.

[Oraflora]

Originally Posted by chjohnst

What do you mean by chops? I have heard other bass players say this but not sure what that means.

Good question.
I would guess that most players mean your ability to play trickier parts with skill.
Ex. - Flea has good chops when slapping and popping.

[DocBop]

Originally Posted by chjohnst

What do you mean by chops? I have heard other bass players say this but not sure what that means.

Slang for technique. Such as... He's got great chops. I need to work on my chops. Here's some good chop building exercises.

[chicagodoubler]

It ain't about what you practice. It's HOW you practice that matters.

Keep track of your metronome markings and gradually inch up both your endurance tempo, as well as your ability to play short bursts.

Moving past 16ths at 90 can literally take some people years.