You need to listen to Billy's work in Talas, and Steve's in DLR and Zappa's band.
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How Fast Can You Play?
- Thread starter Stickk
- Start date
You need to listen to Billy's work in Talas, and Steve's in DLR and Zappa's band.
I can play 512th notes at about 400 bpm....they're all tied though 
Really, speed is nothing if you have nothing musical to say. I remember Victor Wooten talking about how he got kids to solo with 1 note per bar. They could place it anywhere in the bar, and for ever long. Most of them couldn't do it, because they used speed to compensate for their lack of musical creativity/knowledge.
Really, speed is nothing if you have nothing musical to say. I remember Victor Wooten talking about how he got kids to solo with 1 note per bar. They could place it anywhere in the bar, and for ever long. Most of them couldn't do it, because they used speed to compensate for their lack of musical creativity/knowledge.
I have a great speed, but I'm not working on that issue since 4 months ago. I'm more focused on creating lines and smooth grooves.
I like it how whenever a question like this ever comes up on this board, the typical answer is always 'bass playing shouldn't be about speed blah blah blah'. Instead of giving vague answers, maybe it will be more helpful to impressionable bassists for them to receive a more direct answer?
I mean, lets say that you would provide this type of answer in an effort to divert bassists from having unrealistic goals, that understandable. I just think that these types of questions wouldn't come up as much if people didn't answer them so vaguely - especially if there's a certain bass 'idol' that a bassist would do anything in order to gain their fluidity and speed.
I mean, lets say that you would provide this type of answer in an effort to divert bassists from having unrealistic goals, that understandable. I just think that these types of questions wouldn't come up as much if people didn't answer them so vaguely - especially if there's a certain bass 'idol' that a bassist would do anything in order to gain their fluidity and speed.
I can play so fast that its no longer a pulse its just ___________________________ one continous note.
I all seriousness though i used to think i was fast until my guitarist wanted me to play 16ths at 160 (no problem) but finish the bar with 2 sets of sextuplets. I told him nah, you can play it over my 16ths
I all seriousness though i used to think i was fast until my guitarist wanted me to play 16ths at 160 (no problem) but finish the bar with 2 sets of sextuplets. I told him nah, you can play it over my 16ths
Just playing straight, without hammer-ons, taps etc, I can play this fast:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ik3xJ1eqHpk
But I can play play nice and slow as well...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ik3xJ1eqHpk
But I can play play nice and slow as well...
I can play really REALLY fast and I hit all kinds of wrong notes and it sounds positively dreadful...but it's really fast...and that's what is important in music--speed...
the same with my driving...I can drive really REALLY fast, I hit things like small animals & trees, an occasional pedestrian...and I occasionally total a car or two...but that's what is really important in driving---speed....
(I agree, the question is quite ridiculous)...and now a message from our sponsor...
the same with my driving...I can drive really REALLY fast, I hit things like small animals & trees, an occasional pedestrian...and I occasionally total a car or two...but that's what is really important in driving---speed....
(I agree, the question is quite ridiculous)...and now a message from our sponsor...
He he! I agree. I kinda regret posting my vid! But let it be known that that is a one-off. I'd never play like that in a band enviroment (that's when it can become a problem)
But, that vid of mine is just for fun.
haha I too shall never be able to play as fast as I'd like with my current band, dont understand how they cant keep up :/
But then again, surely the question is relevent to certain musical tastes?
Who is anyone to say that someone shouldn't?
If they quick, but maintain the low, surely it's all ok? Thrash metal is a perfect example.
Just chucking ideas out there for discussion!
Who is anyone to say that someone shouldn't?
If they quick, but maintain the low, surely it's all ok? Thrash metal is a perfect example.
Just chucking ideas out there for discussion!
Yeah, we can be sarcastic ***holes but I think the message is clear.
We're musicians, not grief counselors.
In my years of playing I have had to do everything from speedmetal to swing.
to me, fast is only as fast as the song dictates.
you ever see a REAL symphony playing? Gawd, those people in the strings section totally blow me away with their speed with a bow OR fingers, and just like a rock band, they keep it up for hours...
these electric bass shredders, they are nothing compared to some of those stringed instrument players.
and to those who said bass shredding is a mindless waste of time...you are SO WRONG.... I crank up the distortion, break out the bass with the Kahler and go crazy all the time...I use it as excersize
to me, fast is only as fast as the song dictates.
you ever see a REAL symphony playing? Gawd, those people in the strings section totally blow me away with their speed with a bow OR fingers, and just like a rock band, they keep it up for hours...
these electric bass shredders, they are nothing compared to some of those stringed instrument players.
and to those who said bass shredding is a mindless waste of time...you are SO WRONG.... I crank up the distortion, break out the bass with the Kahler and go crazy all the time...I use it as excersize
In my years of playing I have had to do everything from speedmetal to swing.
to me, fast is only as fast as the song dictates.
you ever see a REAL symphony playing? Gawd, those people in the strings section totally blow me away with their speed with a bow OR fingers, and just like a rock band, they keep it up for hours...
these electric bass shredders, they are nothing compared to some of those stringed instrument players.
and to those who said bass shredding is a mindless waste of time...you are SO WRONG.... I crank up the distortion, break out the bass with the Kahler and go crazy all the time...I use it as excersize
Amen!
It's well-known in Jazz, that it's much harder to play convincingly on a really slow ballad, than it is to play fast - where the detail is blurred and it is easier to get away with bum notes and the limits of your technique are not laid as bare for close scrutiny...
