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How many bpm can you play?
- Thread starter MrNoob
- Start date
There's no rush. There's more groove in hitting a well timed quarter note on the one than cramming 32 into a measure.
I can play tied whole notes at ludicrous tempos!
This isn't a contest.
If you can't play "quite as well as you need to" at 90 bpm, then stop playing at 90 bpm. Practice playing perfectly at a slower tempo rather than practicing sloppily at a faster tempo. Remember, it isn't "practice makes perfect"; it's "perfect practice makes perfect."
If you can't play "quite as well as you need to" at 90 bpm, then stop playing at 90 bpm. Practice playing perfectly at a slower tempo rather than practicing sloppily at a faster tempo. Remember, it isn't "practice makes perfect"; it's "perfect practice makes perfect."
I'm not trying to make it into a contest or anything. I'm just curious where other people are at when it comes to this.
Groove Master
Commercial User
- Apr 22, 2011
- 1,808
- 1,291
- Disclosures
- Author of Groove 101, Slap 101 and Technique 101
Groove Master
Commercial User
- Apr 22, 2011
- 1,808
- 1,291
- Disclosures
- Author of Groove 101, Slap 101 and Technique 101
But seriously there is more then speed in the execution, there is the accuracy, which is the most important one. It is useless to play fast without precision if you know what I mean. Take your time and make sure you hit those whole-notes at the right place.....seriously. Advice from a pro player ;-)
My thoughts exactly!
My band has some songs that are in the 200-220 bpm range. That said it isn't like I'm playing 32nd notes at that tempo. I honestly struggle a lot more with playing slowly than I do quickly because I never properly trained myself at lower tempos. I don't think a specific speed is all that important, as long as you can nail the right feel.
I'm working on a funk track at 144-147bpm and it's kicking my tail with the 16th notes. Maaaaaaan it's working me!
After some years of working on speed and strength, I can do 126bpm with simple lines, and like 106bpm with more complex stuff heh. And scales? I'm doing them RIGHT when I'm at, say, 96bpm. 112bpm has me testing my technique on my minor pentatonics.
That said, I've done great gigs with songs with lots of 16-notes at 120+ tempos thus far, with focused practice. A lot because I'm sort of a late bloomer bassist. Heh. Being able to run a line at a tempo is different from mastering a tempo, so if you've mastered 66bpm and can rock some songs at 92bpm, you're probably working way faster than I was and will doubtless be faster in a few weeks with steady practice.
Keep it up!
After some years of working on speed and strength, I can do 126bpm with simple lines, and like 106bpm with more complex stuff heh. And scales? I'm doing them RIGHT when I'm at, say, 96bpm. 112bpm has me testing my technique on my minor pentatonics.
That said, I've done great gigs with songs with lots of 16-notes at 120+ tempos thus far, with focused practice. A lot because I'm sort of a late bloomer bassist. Heh. Being able to run a line at a tempo is different from mastering a tempo, so if you've mastered 66bpm and can rock some songs at 92bpm, you're probably working way faster than I was and will doubtless be faster in a few weeks with steady practice.
Keep it up!
For me, 80bpm was a nice marker: Rage Against the Machine - Bombtrack and D'Angelo - Alright are at that tempo, very different songs but both pretty technically demanding for that tempo. The D'Angelo is arguably harder to get smooth, but Bombtrack's intro is weirdly challenging.
At my age, I am more concerned about how many BM's rather than BPMs.
More seriously, its not how many notes, but how fast you play the song.
How fast do you need to be able to play a song?
As fast as your band plays it + 10%. If you can play it 10% faster than the band does it, you will have a satisfying gig with no problems.
More seriously, its not how many notes, but how fast you play the song.
How fast do you need to be able to play a song?
As fast as your band plays it + 10%. If you can play it 10% faster than the band does it, you will have a satisfying gig with no problems.
I've got one song I've been playing 16th notes at 100bpm... struggled with it for awhile so I was using a pick, but got it tight now without
(1,000 miles from a pro player
)
(1,000 miles from a pro player
)In the guitar forum, this thread would be on page 102 in less than 2 hours.
On a serious note, I think your teacher is focusing on getting your timing impeccable at any speed, which is good.
On a serious note, I think your teacher is focusing on getting your timing impeccable at any speed, which is good.
I seriously have no idea. I'm worried now; is this something I should know?
hmmm, I can probably play about 10-12 basses per minute if I make sure they are neatly arranged in their stands, but it doesn't give me enough time with any of them to really feel what they're like.
