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How Fast Can You Play?

I agree. I wouldn't call the question so much stupid as futile. It's just too difficult to address in written form and doesn't translate well- it's not impossible to convey, just not that easy.

I think it's safe to assume that the OP was referring to being able to play fast AND keep a clear, even tone- and let's face it, the more dexterity, agility, and speed you can consistently reproduce, the more effortless it is to play your instrument and actually listen to and enjoy what it is you're playing- instead of concentrating too much on the fingerings. It's a valid concern, IMHO.

Coming from a guitar/piano background, let's just say it was guys who could crank it up a notch on the bass (when needed) like Geddy that made want to pick up and bass and take it seriously. I don't care how much success they may have enjoyed, but I could have never gotten into playing Motely Crue basslines and stay awake at the same time.

Thank you for understanding!
 
I read this whole thread.

One, maybe two, mentions of a metronome.

Here is my answer.


I played 16th notes at 85 bpm today with my fingers

That was on a single fretted D or G note--

I have played up to 96 bpm clean, with fingers or a pick. Single note again.

My bpm will drop when I played scales--- about 6 to 10 bpm less.

And, I play this for five minutes straight. I have a timer to keep track, this helps me to improve speed when I focus on this "speed developement"

Hope that answers your questionn OP. If it didn't, pm me. I am concerned about speed as well. Yes, I am working on my groove also, BOTH are tough. That's why it isn't easy being a GOOD bass player.

I personally would be interested in seeing what other people track as far as 16 th notes at a certain bpm on a metronome.

Yes, it will help the beginners, me included, to understand what fast is.


5 pages, most comments that are less than serious.

I would like to know.....I think it would be useful

Al

(Please don't break my stones. My flame suit is in the shop)
 
And remember, each one of you had a time when you couldn't play fast, or above 100 bpm on 16th notes.

Which is just out of reach for me, and seems fast ....to me.

We used to have a saying in skydiving. How many jumps you got? 3000? Oh, but you had to go thru jump number one to get there.

Remember all the questions and concerns you had when you were new? Exactly.

You guys should remember where you came from. The OP didn't seem to ask in a cocky way, but with serious interest.

End of being a Boy Scout.

Carry on with the jokes, sarcasm, and basic "dogpile on the rabbit" approach.

Big Al
 
since this thread is getting all kinds of attention...

a better question (no offense op) is: "how fast can you play and what technique do you use to achieve that speed?" (this assumes faster=better.)

three up, one down (i, m, r, ring up). this is fast enough to where i have only used it at the end of a song, when the rest of the band does that fast outro sh*t. i have only solo'ed slap/double-thumped a solo, but if i was better at the described technique, maybe i wouldve used it.

if i was better, i would find a way to work in a 30+ hour per week technique into 30min per month of performance.

i dont play my crazy sh*t live. id love to, just never found a chance.
 
Is there another forum for questions like this? How about JockBass.com ... where we all go to develop our athletic skills on bass.

"I can run the fingerboard in ___ seconds, what can you do?"


Sorry - this is not what music is about.:rolleyes:
 
Here is an explaination I gave in a recent interview.

"One of the things I do work on every day is linking my hands together. I will take something that is difficult for me to play and slow it waaayy down. I will take it apart and figure out which right hand fingers need to play the notes that my left hand is fretting through the whole piece. I usually figure out what the problem is right away when I do this. Then play it over and over as slowly as I can. This actually helps me be able to play things more quickly and cleanly over time.

I know it sounds strange “play slow, to play fast” but it works for me. I feel like it is strengthening my fingers because my finger muscles are flexed for longer periods of time, holding the notes down. Kind of like doing slow reps during exercise."

I will also add that I played in a lot of different metal bands growing up, that really helped me develop my right hand speed and endurance.

Here is me doing some fast playing in video form with Paul Gilbert.



I hope this helps. Have paitence with yourself, start slow, work on it when you can.
Craig
 
An old Sage said once'

"Music is between the Notes"

For bass even more so, find the right note before playing the next note!

DO your to a person talking fast or to those who speak slowly and with care chooses their words.

Think about it!
 
Here is me doing some fast playing in video form with Paul Gilbert.



I didn't "tap" out the middle runs, because they aren't that fast and I can actually play all the notes, if your wondering why I did not do a "perfectly executed" cover.

like you and so many others I made most of my playing carrear time back then jamming speedmetal to every damn hero I could worship, Including Alderete's fantastic bass work on all the songs Racer-X had to offer, as well as Malmsteen's basswork on a lot of his stuff he wrote for "others" to play live :). Naturally starting slow, and working my way to what I can do now was not achieved in 3 months or even 3 years.

now-a-days, there is no such thing as "too fast" anymore, just more fun and challenging to figure out while I'm relaxing in the jamroom.
 
Amimbari,

I have never seen that one done inverted before! Hey, that's a cool bass too man! I love to watch lefty's play. Especially the way you and a few others I have seen play, with the G,D,A,E string arrangement. It looks so confusing to me, but it is cool to watch. I have seen some absolute monster players that play this way.

Thanks for all the kind words! :)

Craig
 
I read this whole thread.

One, maybe two, mentions of a metronome.

Here is my answer.


I played 16th notes at 85 bpm today with my fingers

That was on a single fretted D or G note--

I have played up to 96 bpm clean, with fingers or a pick. Single note again.

My bpm will drop when I played scales--- about 6 to 10 bpm less.

And, I play this for five minutes straight. I have a timer to keep track, this helps me to improve speed when I focus on this "speed developement"

Hope that answers your questionn OP. If it didn't, pm me. I am concerned about speed as well. Yes, I am working on my groove also, BOTH are tough. That's why it isn't easy being a GOOD bass player.

I personally would be interested in seeing what other people track as far as 16 th notes at a certain bpm on a metronome.

Yes, it will help the beginners, me included, to understand what fast is.


5 pages, most comments that are less than serious.

I would like to know.....I think it would be useful

Al

(Please don't break my stones. My flame suit is in the shop)


my personal speed limit is 32nd notes @ 120 bpm. It takes me about 20 minutes of warming up to do it consistently.

I just can't quite make my fingers go any faster than that.
 
not being combative here....but how do you count 32nd notes?

I count 16ths..... one ....eh ...and....ah.---two eh and ah



btw taht speed is good I am no where close!
al

I might be taking a wild guess, but I suspect that he doesn't count. Some people count and some people don't. I'm in the group mentioned later. If you are playing with a click/drummer you hear when you are "misfiring" and you also hear when your in time. I guess it's sort of a build-in-thing.

EDIT: And for speed. Somewhere around 16ths @ 180 bpm is my limit when playing with three fingers. 16ths @ 230 bpm with a guitar (with a pick of course :D).
 
not being combative here....but how do you count 32nd notes?

I count 16ths..... one ....eh ...and....ah.---two eh and ah



btw taht speed is good I am no where close!
al

I think he may be misenterpreting his speed IMO. If he means that for every beat at 120 BPM, he can play 32 notes I need to see it to believe it for it sounds absolutely impossible. If he said 120 BPM subdivided into fourth notes, then that's plausible, I can play that fast.
 
I think he may be misenterpreting his speed IMO. If he means that for every beat at 120 BPM, he can play 32 notes I need to see it to believe it for it sounds absolutely impossible. If he said 120 BPM subdivided into fourth notes, then that's plausible, I can play that fast.

No, that's not what he meant. I truly think that he meant 32th notes @ 120 bpm which is 16th notes @ 240 bpm. Some people just can do it. I don't know if it's the case with IconBasser, but I give him the benefit of doubt. It's plausible. To give some proof here is a video of another TBer named Erlend Caspersen playing 16th notes @ 250 bpm.
 
I think he may be misenterpreting his speed IMO. If he means that for every beat at 120 BPM, he can play 32 notes I need to see it to believe it for it sounds absolutely impossible. If he said 120 BPM subdivided into fourth notes, then that's plausible, I can play that fast.

I was thinking the same.....that would be four notes per beat, or --one ee and ah--- or 16th notes....

hmmmm I can do about 96- 100 bpm at 16th note speed.

so, this 120 is fast! and a good goal for me! thanks for the info....

al

---now, should we start a thread on how fast you can gallop?

that will really blow up the board....and , I cant gallop very well at all......ha!

al