Developing speed - my way

[sokolasty]

As many of us - I struggle to play fast.

For years I have been using "start slowly and accurate and be speeding up" with mediocre results.

And one day an idea came up.
From driving expierience.
If you think 100mph is fast and you feel uncomfortable with it, accelarate to 120mph and then slow down to 100mph. You'll see how easy driving becomes.

And it worked on bass as well! Suddenly developing speed became easy, when I forced my muscles do develop over necessary limit.

Mind blown!

I could not resist myself to post it


And second trick: a thumbrest over lowest string helps. It gives a landing for plucking fingers so I don't need to use energy to deccelarate and stop them. They just simply stop on thumbrest and all the energy is dissipated.

 

[WrapRough]

This is a very common method in many endeavours. In fact I always set Amazing Slow Downer to 103% once I have learned the song.

In strength training with clients I always used to add more than I knew they could lift when going for a 1RM, and then scale it back slightly.

The snooker player Ronnie O'Sullivan has a practice table with pockets slightly smaller than official size.

Boxers sometimes use heavier gloves in training

These are all effectively the same principle and it definitely works

 

[TOOL460002]

This is a very common method in many endeavours. In fact I always set Amazing Slow Downer to 103% once I have learned the song.

In strength training with clients I always used to add more than I knew they could lift when going for a 1RM, and then scale it back slightly.

The snooker player Ronnie O'Sullivan has a practice table with pockets slightly smaller than official size.

Boxers sometimes use heavier gloves in training

These are all effectively the same principle and it definitely works

So, would this be considered silly or practical?

I'm not sure how this is superior to duct taping rocks to your hand. Style, yes. I've never used those hand grippy things but D'Addario makes one. Or has a logo on one, so they must be usable.

 

[WrapRough]

So, would this be considered silly or practical?
View attachment 4491473
I'm not sure how this is superior to duct taping rocks to your hand. Style, yes. I've never used those hand grippy things but D'Addario makes one. Or has a logo on one, so they must be usable.

I actually have no idea what that is

 

[sokolasty]

So, would this be considered silly or practical?
View attachment 4491473
I'm not sure how this is superior to duct taping rocks to your hand. Style, yes. I've never used those hand grippy things but D'Addario makes one. Or has a logo on one, so they must be usable.

I exercise since few days my fingers with load (both bending and straightening) and this looks to me kinda interesting, though I'd prefer rubber strings for continuous load, and here we have high when disengaging magnets and the immediately no load at all. Duct tape and rocks to fingers sounds more sane : )

 

[WrapRough]

I exercise since few days my fingers with load (both bending and straightening) and this looks to me kinda interesting, though I'd prefer rubber strings for continuous load, and here we have high when disengaging magnets and the immediately no load at all. Duct tape and rocks to fingers sounds more sane : )

What's the goal? Stronger fingers? For what?

 

[sokolasty]

More strength benefits with higher speed and better stamina

EDIT
It's actually about forearm muscle. Whenever I play close to my limits, my forearm starts to hurt (either on top side, from straightening fingers, or bottom side, from bending them).
Conclusion: muscle is not sufficiently developed.
Solution: muscle exercise.

I might be special case : )

 

[fearceol]

What's the goal? Stronger fingers? For what?

+100.

Agility and stamina rather than strength is what's required. Excess strength is not required to play the bass. We have enough from an early age with which to fret a note clearly. It is the act of lifting the fingers OFF the fretboard, while swiftly placing them where they are required, that may need to be developed. This would involve developing the tendons that open the hand, rather that those used for gripping.

 

[WrapRough]

Just play more bass

 

[fearceol]

I've never used those hand grippy things

Just as well...because they are useless from a bass playing aspect.

 

[SteveCS]

What's the goal? Stronger fingers? For what?

Agility and stamina rather than strength is what's required. Excess strength is not required to play the bass.

This ^^

...
...
It is the act of lifting the fingers OFF the fretboard, while swiftly placing them where they are required, that may need to be developed. This would involve developing the tendons that open the hand, rather that those used for gripping.
...

By way of illustration, try holding your stopping hand palm up and tapping an even rhythm on the front edge of a desk with the backs of the fingernails...

 

[fearceol]

OP: Rather than using grip devices or the useless (for bass playing) thing shown in post number 3, get yourself some simple rubber bands. Use light bands to start and increase their resistance by degrees. Place the band around your fingers at the finger nails with the hand closed. Then slowly expand the hand and fingers, close again and repeat. Do this for about one or two minutes before a practice session. I think there is also a commodity called "Hand X Band" (check Youtube) which does the same thing. However an ordinary rubber band works fine.

As with all such exercises...over use can do as much harm as good. So, don't over do things, and remember, no exercise for bass playing is better then...well...playing the bass.

 

[Wannabebass]

I have recently been following a popular instructor who claims the issue holding back most peoples speed is the plucking hand finger crossing speed, not fretting hand limitations. Of course for me both are slow. Any thoughts?

 

[fearceol]

I have recently been following a popular instructor who claims the issue holding back most peoples speed is the plucking hand finger crossing speed, not fretting hand limitations. Of course for me both are slow. Any thoughts?

Yes, this is a possibility. As both hands have to work smoothly in tandem with each other, it is important that they are both equally efficient at their particular job. A good teacher should be able to spot which hand needs attention and what to do about it.

 

[el murdoque]

I found that it is as much about technique as it is about strength, stamina and agility.

When you have none of the above, they tend to come in equal measures when you exercise by playing bass.

OP, when you use the thumb rest as a stopper for your fingers, what do you do when you play other strings than the E?

 

[sokolasty]

OP, when you use the thumb rest as a stopper for your fingers, what do you do when you play other strings than the E?

Other strings
E for A
A for D
D for G

 

[chris_b]

I'd still build up to "120 mph" slowly. Trying to force speed when your tendons aren't used to it could start RSI and other problems.

 

[Wannabebass]

Other strings
E for A
A for D
D for G

That’s my chosen method ( I’m a novice). I do have to be careful to not just jam that thumb down on the lower string (which feels nice and solid when pumping out 1/16 or1/8 notes) and instead keep it lightly resting so it can be easily moved for string crossings. “Moveable anchor” vs “floating thumb” I guess.

 

[micguy]

I have a tune that I play to develop "fast endurance" - not the ability to play the absolute fastest licks, but the ability to play a whole fast tune cleanly all the way through. It's loaded in Anytune, and I run through it at normal speed, 10% faster, 15% faster, 20% faster, etc.....playing it normal speed you end up "waiting" for the next note.

 

[WrapRough]

Other strings
E for A
A for D
D for G

Wow really? I only ever sit on the pickup or the E.