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How many bpm can you play?

#83
Used to do 120+ with just about 100% accuracy - when I was in my 20s. I'm 70 now so 70 - 80 is doable at 100% accuracy. But really, not too many country songs are past that. And most of the praise songs we do in that band are between 70 - 110. I don't really need to be any faster than 110 to be accurate so I guess I'm good for another 10 - 15 years - before my fingers begin to fall off. I am still having fun though, in case you are wondering.
 
#84
The question doesn't make any sense. You don't "play" beats. They are just there, underneath everything – the framework. You play notes. And, of course, the part played is rarely just one note per beat through the entire song. So, the question cannot be answered without us knowing what notes are played over the beats of which you speak. We can all play at 1,000 BPM...if the notes are long enough. And none of us can play at 1 BPM...if the notes are short enough.
 
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#89
That's what muted notes, string clacks, and micro slaps are for.. making up the extra BPM . It sounds like flourish, but you gotta keep it controlled (dynamics).
In an academic sense for me, counting dryass BPM for the sake of it isn't as helpful as playing along with a song at that BPM range , alot.
Context builds skill, but imho in a more soulful way.
I've never timed myself, because a simple 3 finger gallop on 1 note or even across 1 string or fret isn't usually the reality I come across in life. Playing across strings and frets in patterns/modes/riffs is different.
Maybe you're repeating a piece or passage over again to time yourself?
There ain't no shame in occasionally using a pick. Rock fill-in gigs pop up all the time, and good pick technique is requisite, but then BPM isn't an issue.

To heck with your teacher, what is YOUR goal BPM?
 
#96
Here's an intersting experiment.

If you play 16th notes at say 100 bpm (4 notes per beat) how fast can you play twentieth notes (5 notes per beat)?

Use a scale pattern, not a repeating note.
 
#98
2F/2F said:
The question doesn't make any sense. You don't "play" beats. They are just there, underneath everything – the framework. You play notes. And, of course, the part played is rarely just one note per beat through the entire song. So, the question cannot be answered without us knowing what notes are played over the beats of which you speak. We can all play at 1,000 BPM...if the notes are long enough. And none of us can play at 1 BPM...if the notes are short enough.
Click to expand...

This is the best answer so far. It's the only one that addresses the essential matter, revealing that the question is at best synthetic, but really that it is nonsensical.
 
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