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The RIGHT Way To Play At Extreme Speed

KingRazor

KingRazor

Jun 4, 2010
6,747
415
37
Beaverton, Oregon USA
#1
One of my goals when it comes to my bass playing abilities is to learn to be able to finger pluck quickly at high tempos.

But, I want to do it the right way. I don't want to mess up my hand trying to play lightning fast. I want to make sure I'm using proper technique and not doing anything that will cause damage to my hand/wrist/arm.

I believe I know the right way to get faster: start playing 16ths slowly and then work my way up. So I'll work on that. Any ideas for stuff for the left hand to do to keep the exercises interesting?

So suggestions, pictures, and/or links to other threads I may have missed regarding this subject would be much appreciated.
 
#2
Floating thumb technique dramatically increased my speed. I use three fingers as it is had to get my pinky up to speed. Start slow, and try to get everything to sound consistent with each finger. Chromatic scales with a metronome will be your friend. Every finger on the left hand needs to be utilized, so try to get down one finger a fret. Some songs that really helped me:

-Iron Maiden: Phantom of the Opera (this will kill you), Aces high, most maiden actually
-Metallica: Disposable Heroes, Master of Puppets (main riff will really stretch out that left hand).

Good luck my friend and if you need anything else, just ask
 
#3
One finger per fret is easy, as long as it's above the 5th fret, below that I do 1-2-4.

I primarily use two fingers, I figure if Geddy Lee can play as fast as he does with two, that's all I really need. But I'm not against trying to learn to do three fingers.

I like anchoring my thumb, on a string, the edge of a pickup, or the fretboard, doesn't much matter to me, but my thumb needs something to hang on to.
 
#4
KingRazor said:
I believe I know the right way to get faster: start playing 16ths slowly and then work my way up.
Click to expand...

This mentions nothing about technique.

IMO speed is about finger coordination, once you've got that speed comes up quickly. Practice slowly, out of time if need be and get the coordination of the hands together.

A metronome does not make you faster, it can only tell you progress, and you may find that satisfying.
 
#5
try this: using three fingers, go ring down, middle down, index down, and then index up. the index up/down at the end is kinda like the geddy thing. you can go really friggin fast that way. i just do quadruplet runs up and down; no scale really. you just gotta get at it, and if you figure out a fun way to do it, by all means, tell us. you can get great emphasis with that up stroke with the index nail.
 
#7
When I want to play extremely fast 16th notes runs, I strike with middle then index, then middle nail then index nail. This is not my main technique, and I only use it when I need to skip strings a lot.

If it is going to be only four of them in a row (five technically), I play it index ring middle index then I play the next beat with middle.

My favorite way to build right hand technique is to think of and tap out rhythmic ideas using only your the fingers on your right hand. You can do this on a drum or a table. You should find yourself adjusting from your original approach every time. You will hopefully find the least tiring way and gain better control over accented notes. Then add the bass. Your left hand won't be able to keep up with your right!:D

EDIT: Oh yeah, I forgot... metronome.
 
#8
KingRazor said:
One finger per fret is easy, as long as it's above the 5th fret, below that I do 1-2-4.

I primarily use two fingers, I figure if Geddy Lee can play as fast as he does with two, that's all I really need. But I'm not against trying to learn to do three fingers.

I like anchoring my thumb, on a string, the edge of a pickup, or the fretboard, doesn't much matter to me, but my thumb needs something to hang on to.
Click to expand...

Geddy is fast, but not super fast. Also, he used to play with three fingers most of the time.
 
#14
Luff said:
Accuracy, economy of motion, effortlessness and relaxation. Speed is a byproduct of those, so focus on them when practicing.
Click to expand...

+1

Efficient movement can mean the difference between nailing a run and slurring behind the tempo. Metronomes are good for honing accuracy / precision as well, but don't use them for just running scales and drilling (boring!)... find a song that you like and want to learn, get the line down, and then start cranking up the tempo.

Everyone does their right hand a little differently, so above all, I'd suggest finding what works for you. I usually use either 2 or 3 fingers for not other reason that adding in the pinky requires a significant shift in wrist position.

I'd also suggest that you develop a taste for metal... Iron Maiden is a great place to work on up-tempo stuff, and if you really want to dive into it, check out The Faceless or Between the Buried and Me.
 
#15
KingRazor said:
I've tried a variety of methods, watched videos, all sorts of stuff, I still can't pick as fast as I can finger pluck.
Click to expand...

If you practiced, you could pick much faster than you pluck.

That being said, I am in awe of guys like Steve Harris who can just shred with their fingers. I could practice a bunch to increase my fingerstyle speed, but you know what, I'm 43 and I'm lazy. I can pick faster than **** so, it is what it is.
 
#16
Floyd Eye said:
If you practiced, you could pick much faster than you pluck.

That being said, I am in awe of guys like Steve Harris who can just shred with their fingers. I could practice a bunch to increase my fingerstyle speed, but you know what, I'm 43 and I'm lazy. I can pick faster than **** so, it is what it is.
Click to expand...

Picking just feels so unnatural to me. Finger-style on the other hand feels very natural.

I do need to learn pick style some day, because the style of music I want to play is primarily full of pick players. If I want to get that tone, I'm gonna need to use a pick.
 
#17
Master of Puppets is great for both right and left hands.

As far as pick vs. fingerstyle, I feel like I have more control and feeling and can go a ton faster with fingerstyle. Of course I don't use a pick much unless it's a generic punk line.
 
#18
KingRazor said:
Picking just feels so unnatural to me. Finger-style on the other hand feels very natural.

I do need to learn pick style some day, because the style of music I want to play is primarily full of pick players. If I want to get that tone, I'm gonna need to use a pick.
Click to expand...

It's good to be able to play both ways. I play finger style on certain songs. I can't play real fast with my fingers though.
 
#19
jwb39 said:
Master of Puppets is great for both right and left hands.

As far as pick vs. fingerstyle, I feel like I have more control and feeling and can go a ton faster with fingerstyle. Of course I don't use a pick much unless it's a generic punk line.
Click to expand...


I hear what you're saying. There's something about actually having your fingers on the strings. I feel pretty comfortable both ways, but I prefer the tone I get with a pick. Plus, I sort of unwittingly copped Chris Squire's technique which still lets me get a little bit of my thumb in there. I've been primarily playing that way for about 20 years, so it feels pretty natural to me.
 

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