I really need help.

That's your problem right there. You're trying to run before you can walk if you're worrying about speed now. Wipe the dust off your metronome and practice doing quarter notes at 40bpm. Down on the first click, up on the second, and repeat over and over. When you can do that consistently, move up to 42 or so and get that. 44, 46, and so on. Eventually you'll be able to do it quickly.

 

Hey, seems to me that you are having trouble. Well let be the first. It's a hard technique to master. I think even Mike said that it's taken him years. I'm on my 2nd year of studying this particular technique (not 100% though). I'm mainly fingerstyle, but dabbled with this.

First of all, try to curl your hands into a ball with all your fingers resting on the strings to get the basic idea of where your thumb and fingers should be.

example- Practice your thumb to move up and down slowly with a soft dynamic then increase in attack.


_____UUUU___________

I dont think its a very good explanation but you get the idea. Then keep your hands relaxed...I MEAN RELAXED. Going to hard and fast wil result in fustrated and offbeatness (if thats a word)

Next, take a metronome and practice. This worked for me but only difference is that I don' know how other use this technique but I move from my shoulder. And furthermore I don't slap, as I mentioned earlier I'm more fingerstyle and the softer dynamics allow me to emulate more of a Garrison/Dipiazza style.

 

I actually pop the blister and let the skin heal itself. creates a huge amount of dead skin. which i then eat when i get hungry later.

 

That's disturbing.

 

i have the same blister problem on the side of my thumb...dead skin seems to stay on the other fingers, but i found that if i stop playing for a while, i must begin another cycle with my thumb : "ouch, blister, dead skin etc..." :scowl:

do you have any solution ?

 

It was a joke. But I do have a friend who actually eats his ow n dead skin. It is disturbing....

 

Who is your friend Goldmember from Austin Powers? Is he dutch?
Has he also lost his genitalia in an unfortunate smelting accident?

"Yesch, put that in the skin box"
"I'm peeling."
"Hurry. save me from myself."


Regarding the thread...
Keep working on different ways to use the side of your thumb to double thump...

Victor Wooten is the man at this, check him out and see how bad you (we) all are at it! hehe

 

i have been trying to master this for a while, and i found that i don't do i quite like wooten does. i don't move my whole arm i just move my wrist in a out/down motion for the down stroke and a in/up motion for the up stroke. it works quite well and i have built up a far amount of speed in the last week or so doing this.

lowsound

 

yeah this is defintely a hard technique to be consistent with. the metronome advice is great. practice on one note for a while, then for getting good at string skipping run some scales. are you thumbing on the fingerboard or behind it? i find it easier to play on the fingerboard. it's different for everyone i suppose, but experiment with both positions to see which one works best for ya

 

I LOVE GOOOOOOOOOLD!!!!!!!