The ultimate secret to playing fast?

In his book 101 Bass Tips: Stuff All the Pros Know and Use Gary Willis mentions this very technique, breaking down difficult passages into small sections, and learning and eventually joining together all the sections until you can play the passage.

 

I definitely agree with you. I've also found that sometimes sticking to playing a faster part slower too much can trick your brain into getting stuck in the slower tempos.

Playing quick certainly requires a slightly different technique... If your learning a fast part, practice that technique.

 

I wouldn't call it a secret, but I call it practice

 

I wouldn't call it a secret either. I'd call it common sense.

 

There is a secret function on TB called the SEARCH feature. Playing fast is discussed in other threads. I actually looked it up myself a while back and found a technique that works very well for me. You should try it.

 

Your brain wont get a chance to get stuck in a slower tempo if, when you have nailed a given piece at a comfortable tempo, you then increase it by five or ten BPM's until you reach the tempo you require.

IMO it is the repetitions rather than the speed that kicks the muscle memory into action. In order to prevent the fingers getting in each others way during a very fast passage (again IMO) it is important to play slowly, so the fingers learn where to go. I agree that small segments at a time are the way to go.

This is what works for me. YMMV.

 

Slight change of topic for a quick second....sorry OP.

@lfmn16 : Please restore your lovely dog avatar picture !!!!

 

It's against your common sense to break down difficult passages? Okay...
I think it wise to use both approaches.

 

I'll try to find it.

 

Well, you're not going to know if you can manage them until you try.

 

That's fair enough if it works for you. I just think it is interesting to discuss the pros and cons.

I would have thought that if you needed to play in a different way to normal, the idea of playing slowly to get the brain and fingers in sync, would have been even more important ??? I have tried your way, and I'm afraid it does not work for me.

 

The secret is youth. When we become old, we will never be able to play as fast as we did in our youthful days.

 

I don't think it has to be and either/or. Use 'em both. I feel quite certain that the way you are describing is the better way.

 

When we get older we realize it is not a race so we don't have to play as fast. As Muddy Waters sang, "Young horse is fast, but old horse know what's going on."

 

"If you want to play fast, practice slow. If you want to play real fast, practice real slow."
-Charlie Parker