Speed playing

[The Trooper]

Yes I'm obsessed with attempting to play fast. Fills are one thing, which I can do alright, but speed is another.

Listen to Aces High and Run To The Hills by Iron Maiden. I would eventually like to be able to play as fast as the outros there. But the string sound isn't loud enough when I play that fast and it's extremely staccato. Any tips?

Cheers

[The Trooper]

BUMP


No exercises or tips anyone can give me? None at all? At the moment I'm fiddling around where I should play in order to get the max volume and speed I can. I'm finding closer to the bridge better (as Cliff and Steve both play there a lot, I thought I'd try it)

[marrkus]

The only advise I can give (and you already discovered this) is that if you play close to the bridge, there is less give in the strings, which will allow you to work your right hand faster.

Here's a cool bass video with Jaco where he talks about this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuCajiXZCFg&mode=related&search=

You might find some tips in there.

[steve0192]

You're not going to like this answer, but the trick is that there's no trick. Slow it down, get it smooth, then slowly speed things up again.

There are loads of very good exercises on this site. Take advantage of them. I can't help you looking for the silver bullet, because there isnt one that I've found.

Steve

[The Trooper]

Good point steve, but what if I just want to improvise a quick little jam outro. I won't have anything to practise. Or do you suggest I generally improvise something slower then speed up the improvisation?

[Spino]

To play fast your fingering ( intonation ) has to be very precise and your hands strong so.. slowing it down helps enormously try it at 40 bpm it'll drive you nuts it but really does the job.Spend about 15 mins playing the part slowly for a few days and then try your speed. G'luck :cool:

[maglor]

i suggest you do as the others say espeacially with starting slow..some things are mental..understand why the iron maidon outro sounds cool..if its that you want to you must understand it..but study of music fundementals will do same and give more foundation..then there are the scales. dont attempt them if you dont understand how to postion the inturment or your hands..think of your guitar as a piano.accept one hand is up the other down..do the scales slow and pull your teeth...do them when you are waiting..ie watching tv..you will improve i promise..try and combine that with knowing what you are doing intelectualy. maybe the maidon lick is in e minor..then there is something i found out but only recently learned to articulate..when its time for you to get fast..you just do it...like running...first your walking now your running...running is not walking...it will happen to you easyer with stuff you do over and over...you will know this is only the beginning to being some beetoven no one ever heard of or maybe even get to show off or ....*thinks* talent is work with maybe a passion for the chore...music is like working in a restaurant...theres always something to do

[The Trooper]

I know Em scale like the back of my hand : D


I also have to make sure I assure mysef I'm not gonna be like Steve or generally be like amazgin at this time. I have only bene playing for 1 year and 3 mnonths, I still have a long way to go : )

I'm gradulyl getting better at it and discovering better methods.

[maglor]

e minor is so cool for guitar..like bflat for trumpet or what ever it is...you might consider working the g majpr to death to..and am and d major ..try and do the long versions..3 octaves...the shifts are the key..not rocket science either..long version i think will help protect you against injury to boot if you get carried away..dont be afraid of legato...your left hand will get really strong ..your right can catch up if you even really care for now...if you want to be a picker make sure that right arm is a lever and free to move and use that wrist..there is a better attack and when trem the tone is galaxies better and you can always use elbow anyway..

[The Trooper]

Oh yea I forgot about legato. I just had a go (bearing in mind I am warmed up because I've been playing around on my lady [bass haha] all evening) and let my right hand finger slower and filled in the other notes with legato. Worked rather well because I'm quite good at legato. I should try it more often.


that and I've foudn the strings don't have enough give by the neck, so I moved to just past the pickups. there's gove but not too much. Also, when I'm doing a Cliff Burton style speed run, I put my thumb on the string above to get the good power and speed, as my finger will come back and hit the thumb so I cna do it as hard as I like. Cheers everyone!

[Spino]

Oh I forgot! ,,,get your 3rd finger plucker hand trained up then you can get all the speed you want.

[The Trooper]

I think that might be good for playing the gallop style riffs too : )

I do use it, but it's not trained enough

[lostmetallica]

I also enjoy playing fast, it puts more excitement into my playing. Thats not to say that I don't enjoy a good slow rhythm too, otherwise i wouldn't have started playing bass, I would have gone for guitar.

I have to agree, play it slow and it will get faster. I've actually listened to recordings of myself from last year and my speed and smoothness aren't even comparable now to last year.

By the way, try to the Intro to Phantom of The Opera by Maiden ;)