I've spent a lot of time this month really trying to dial in a better faster more fluid technique for playing running 8th notes at speed and other technical pyrotechnics. I have always really dug the way Dave Holland specifically seems to be able to keep the pulse and flow under any subdivision that he is playing and how no matter what interval, rhythm, or pattern he is moving thru, the underlying pulse never varies or interrupts. I took a couple of workshops from Dave years ago at Gages and still work on the material he put forth. Dave has always used the same strings, the Reds and going back to them the other day from Perps I had this insight about that....in order to play fast you have to play lighter (even if it is just for the fast passage) and the Reds have this instant response that even if you are playing light and fast still register distinctly as separate notes. I used to think that the stiffness was a slowing factor but it isn't if you dial in your right hand. In that workshop Dave had these exercises that he does every day of his life and I have worked on them pretty regularly too (although I am left handed but play right handed so I feel that my right hand speed and dexterity is always a little lacking) anyway the point is that when I took off the Perps and put back on the Reds, the brightness, the steeliness, the quickness of the Reds all hit me like a ton of bricks and I remembered what Dave was saying about compromises- that in order to achieve specific goals (like say fluid 8ths at speed with pulse and variation) you have to orient other aspects around your goals. I loved the sound of the Perps when I first put them on and the looseness and sound of my bass, but putting the Reds back on made me realize what I was sacrificing. Im not dissing the Perps, I really loved the sound of them new, but what I am working on has been enhanced by returning to the Reds. I always wondered why Dave never changed strings if 40 years and I can see why now, while other strings have remarkable sonic qualities, the Reds are lightning fast super brite (which makes the speed and separation of notes speak best) and they can reach their speaking voice with just a quick touch from a finger tip. My bass sounds somewhat better with the Perps but in the context of playing with a band (or lately Drum Genius) those little differences disappear and the Reds speed and articulation get my vote.
More info then anyone wants I know but I had an extra cup of coffee this morning and the kids are sleeping in.
