How fast can you play 16th notes?

[IamGroot]

How fast can you pluck and how do you do it.

For example, i can play sustained 16th notes at 95 BPM, with bursts to 120. Doesnt matter if its single note or scale. My plucking hand is my constraint in playing fast.
I use index and middle finger.

 

[socialleper]

I have never measured my exact speed.
I can use a 3 finger playing style but it isn't completely even over long stretches. In quick bursts I like to think my plucking hand is pretty fast.

 

[Stumbo]

With my pick, how fast do you need me to go? Save your fingers.

 

[Stevorebob]

With my pick, how fast do you need me to go?

I’m with Stumbo.

 

[dr doofie]

My fastest for a few bars before breaking down is the mid section of Metallica’s “Disposable Heroes” approx 220, using three fingers; Alternating two fingers cleanly and accurately no faster than 105 or so. I think

 

[dr doofie]

How fast can you pluck and how do you do it.

For example, i can play sustained 16th notes at 95 BPM, with bursts to 120. Doesnt matter if its single note or scale. My plucking hand is my constraint in playing fast.
I use index and middle finger.

That’s pretty awesome that moving around the fretboard doesn’t decrease your speed.

 

[Marcus Willett]

Fast enough that it’s not the limiting factor in me executing lines or solos that I want to execute.

 

[dr doofie]

I have never measured my exact speed.
I can use a 3 finger playing style but it isn't completely even over long stretches. In quick bursts I like to think my plucking hand is pretty fast.

My three finger 16ths quickly becomes sloppy triplet-like nonsense... like a galloping bassline on a lame horse...

 

[Matty Koff]

About 120 bpm is about my limit for playing 16ths finger style using only fingers 1 and 2. Probably much faster with a pick but I've maybe used a pick like twice with bass since picking it up years ago.

I could probably go faster but there's nothing I'm playing that really calls for having all that speed.

 

[RustyAxe]

Speed kills. I can't imagine where I'd ever be playing 16ths at 100+ bpm. In my world, I let the drummer do it.

 

[socialleper]

My three finger 16ths quickly becomes sloppy triplet-like nonsense... like a galloping bassline on a lame horse...

It is hard to keep even if you have very different length fingers. My middle and ring are closer in length than my middle and index. The trick is to bend your middle finger more to shorten it. The count is also weird. I tend not to think too hard about my plucking hand. It knows what to do. It is my fretting hand that makes a mess of things.

 

[5StringBlues]

Too fast for love.

 

[voodoobassist]

Twice as fast as I can play eighth notes.

 

[MtManiac]

Assuming what time signature? What’s a beat?

 

[juancaminos]

At my age I can barely play at all.

 

[lermgalieu]

IDC

 

[MakoMan]

I draw the line at 8th notes. If the band wants 16th notes we've either gotta find another bassist or another singer

 

[dr doofie]

It is hard to keep even if you have very different length fingers. My middle and ring are closer in length than my middle and index. The trick is to bend your middle finger more to shorten it. The count is also weird. I tend not to think too hard about my plucking hand. It knows what to do. It is my fretting hand that makes a mess of things.

You certainly are right about not thinking about it and letting it ride out...
The second I think, “I’m going fast and the fingers are all uniform!!”... Psssst...

 

[ThinCrappyTone]

I can play 16th note at any bpm, as long as I only have to play one

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I'm pretty consistent at 4 per beat.