today while i was trying to play that little bass interlude thinging (i dont know what to call it) in 311's you wouldnt believe i noticed my 32nd notes werent very consistant in the note values or at times seemed to lag a lot. so does anyone have suggestions on how to play them better, especially when theres two of em and there on different strings?
Pacman's right on the money. If you're trying to play something fast and it sounds sloppy or inconsistent, slow it down. You HAVE to be able to play it slow before you can play it fast. Gradually increase the tempo til your up to speed.
Something I shoul've added before: When I took lessons a few years ago, part of my teacher's lesson plan was styles (JT knows what I'm talking about here). The very first lesson was 8th note rock and I kind of laughed at it. My teacher suggested that unless I was sure I could make every 8th note exactly the same length, volume, attack and release the same as all the others, I shouldn't laugh. So I went home and tried it. It was much harder than I thought and I worked on it. With a metronome, and very slowly. It was quite a wake up call to me. Now I've been told by engineers that I've got the "best 16th notes in town". But you've got to start slow. Pay attention to each note individually. Are they the same? Are they the same length? (note length is the secret weapon of the groove)
thanks, i shouldve thought of slowing them down. would anyone happen to know how to count 32nd notes? (that helped me learn 16th notes on trumpet really good)
i would count them like 16ths - 1 e and a , etc. - and just speed up the count. what album is that 311 song you're talking about? i'd like to hear it.
um, i don't recall hearing any 32nd notes in that song... i'll listen again when i get home, i guess.
its on from caos the 32nd notes are in that little bass thing around 1:50 and they lead into the long note that that ends the first line of the riff and ends the rest of it.
Metronome. Metronome. Metronome. They're incredibly useful. I had a similiar dilemma when I was trying to play some very fast Metallica stuff. It may take a while, but gradually increase the bpm every three days, and sooner or later you'll have it.
My only comment I have to add, because HOW to play them has been covered well, is that that song has NO 32nds. None whatsoever. Grace/ghost notes, but absolutely 32nds. Maybe if you cut the tempo in half...