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How fast can you play?

#101
bullshark said:
And you are what, 14 now? And you still can't read? You should work on that.
Click to expand...

Trust me , my reading is fine. :smug:

The point of my post...When I was younger, and had a "problem" such as this one, I tended to ask people questions like this, rather than for advice on how to overcome the "problem", which in retrospect would have maybe gotten me somewhat further than looking at the others' speedometer.
Technique to me is a means to an end.
I would have probably asked for advice on how to improve my technique.

I , for one, tend to work on that speed thing, rather slowly and by breaking up the difficult passages into shorter fractions.
Then I put those back together.
That tends to get me there.

And what is your problem , bullshark?
-no need for that kind of tone.
 
#102
My problem? Well, first, like many other I'm sure, I don't like to be insulted and adding "no disrespect" to an insult is still an insult.

Then I didn't ask for help in improving my technique because that's not what I need right now. I have a fairly comprehensive practice schedule that I established with my teacher, taking into account info I read here, in book, videos and my own bass teacher experience. I'm sure it's not perfect, but it is pretty good.

What I need is a timeframe, so that when I'm asked to play a certain song, I can say for example: "well, I can't at the original tempo right now, but I should get there within 3 months (or a year, 2 year or never)". if peoples had answered the question as asked, it would be easy to establish: take out the extreme, sort the average by time/tempo, add my own progression from the last 2 years and extract an average from that. Bingo, I'll know approximately where I'll be in a year, two year etc.
 
#103
bullshark said:
What I need is a timeframe, so that when I'm asked to play a certain song, I can say for example: "well, I can't at the original tempo right now, but I should get there within 3 months (or a year, 2 year or never)". if peoples had answered the question as asked, it would be easy to establish: take out the extreme, sort the average by time/tempo, add my own progression from the last 2 years and extract an average from that. Bingo, I'll know approximately where I'll be in a year, two year etc.
Click to expand...

I see where your going with your question. You basically want to set some what of a "formula" for your progress with speed?

Good idea, not for everyone though. Sort of like weight loss, if you focus on numbers, you'll get caught up in water weight fluctuations and bowel movements which can easily throw off your exact weight and be anywhere from 1-12lbs off. Just like if you test your speed and have a bad day or are hungover and lose 10 ticks on the metronome, you'll get a bit discouraged.

But then again, if it's been working for you, don't fix what ain't broke.
 
#105
bullshark said:
What I need is a timeframe, so that when I'm asked to play a certain song, I can say for example: "well, I can't at the original tempo right now, but I should get there within 3 months (or a year, 2 year or never)". if peoples had answered the question as asked, it would be easy to establish: take out the extreme, sort the average by time/tempo, add my own progression from the last 2 years and extract an average from that. Bingo, I'll know approximately where I'll be in a year, two year etc.
Click to expand...

The problem is that everyone progresses at different rates. If you listen to nothing but technical death metal and played guitar before you picked up bass, you could do what other people take 4 years to accomplish in six months. On the other hand, if you're into oldschool blues and you don't practice above your ability, you might never reach the more conservative speeds in this thread. That doesn't even take into account natural ability.
 
#106
bullshark said:
What I need is a timeframe, so that when I'm asked to play a certain song, I can say for example: "well, I can't at the original tempo right now, but I should get there within 3 months (or a year, 2 year or never)". if peoples had answered the question as asked, it would be easy to establish: take out the extreme, sort the average by time/tempo, add my own progression from the last 2 years and extract an average from that. Bingo, I'll know approximately where I'll be in a year, two year etc.
Click to expand...

You should perhaps have asked this question in your starting post.
To answer such a question is hard without knowing a little more about your practice routine, and how long it took you to learn certain things in the past, along with some information on your exact goal. Basically, your rate of progress on precisely defined, previous achievements.( as said in a post before).
Also, and this was said before as well, speed without accuracy, good phrasing and timing, etc, doesn't tend to really do it ,which makes the question even harder to find an answer to.
And of course the material has a lot to do with it all.
Anyone I know can play a ionian scale over two octaves up and down at lightning speed, looking for people who can do that with Bachs' chromatic fantasy will take me just a little bit longer

I really was not out to insult you.( and this is the last time I've said this)
- But just maybe you thinking that I was, helped a little to actually get us to read the question you really have - unless I missed it somewhere along the way.
If not, that's cool too.
 

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