Getting older

[IamGroot]

I practice daily with increasingly complex music but speed, per se, is not an objective. I reached for some violin exercise mostly 16ths and found i couldn't do it anymore at the penciled in 120 bpm. I was at 90 bpm tops playing clean

Does speed disappear with old age?

 

[buldog5151bass]

Eventually we all start regressing physically. Are you having difficulty with other physical activities?

 

[Groove Doctor]

Yes and No. It takes more time & effort to maintain what you once did easily. Use it or lose it.

 

[two fingers]

You kidn? I'm even answering this question more slowly than I would have 20 years ago!

 

[Mata Leao]

I practice daily with increasingly complex music but speed, per se, is not an objective. I reached for some violin exercise mostly 16ths and found i couldn't do it anymore at the penciled in 120 bpm. I was at 90 bpm tops playing clean

Does speed disappear with old age?

Ask Steve Harris.

 

[FatStringer52]

I would guess it all depends on the individual. For me, that has been the case. Late 60s and the fingers just don't move as fast as they used too. Minor joint issues (mild arthritis) is part of the issue as well as age. I find myself having to figure out which notes to creatively omit and yet maintain the basic form of some fast riffs.

 

[btmpancake]

I would guess it all depends on the individual. For me, that has been the case. Late 60s and the fingers just don't move as fast as they used too. Minor joint issues (mild arthritis) is part of the issue as well as age. I find myself having to figure out which notes to creatively omit and yet maintain the basic form of some fast riffs.

Me, right there^^^.

 

[IamGroot]

My issue is my right hand plucking has slowed down. I can handle small bursts of speed. Long stretches or 12 tuplets, nope.

Starting remedial metronome work today.

 

[dramatwist]

...arthritis, peripheral neuropathy... do what you can do... I just move my fingers as best I can on any given day...

 

[Steve]

Does speed disappear with old age?

Everything else does...




but seriously..at 60..yeah. Things are harder, especially at the limits

 

[JRA]

Does speed disappear with old age?

"i may not be as fast as i used to be...but i'm not as slow as i once was." j.s.carter

 

[IamGroot]

Ask Steve Harris.

Whats going down with Steve?

Btw, I am over 65, and have no joint or tendon issues whatsoever. I had some horrific right shoulder pain that vanished as soon as I quit playing a jazz bass. I had to hike my shoulder a tiny bit and that landed me in the chiroptracter and doctor offices.

 

[bholder]

I was never very fast to begin with, but now that I'm older, I'm half-fast.

 

[kevindahl]

It's a difficult to answer and I believe it's individual based. Was I faster in my 20's? Heck ya but I practiced many hours a day. If I get 5 hours of individual practice a week I'm doing well. I don't include learning songs or playing along to songs as practice. What bugs more is that my vocal range has dwindled. I used to be able to sing an A in first voice and now an E a fourth below is a struggle.*sigh*

 

[bassliner50]

Late 60's here. *Nothing* is the same as it was. No reason to stop though.

 

[Sandman64]

Ask Lars!

 

[JoeWPgh]

I can't play as fast as I used to, but I also don't have the time to invest in a lot of practice. But in a way, I think I play better than before, as I can easily resist the urge to overplay something

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

I'm not made for speed, but comfort

 

[bonespatrol]

Everything else does...




but seriously..at 60..yeah. Things are harder, especially at the limits

or softer...

 

[Groove Doctor]

My issue is my right hand plucking has slowed down. I can handle small bursts of speed. Long stretches or 12 tuplets, nope.

Starting remedial metronome work today.

If you can play fast but you’re fatiguing, it’s a muscular endurance issue. It’ll come back with the right exercises.