Playing and improvining fast 8th notes.

[Bin Hire]

Originally Posted by Eric Hochberg

Start slow and work your way into faster tempos. Kind of like using good letters when we write.

Thank you Eric. Very poetic.
Thank you too Ken. I am humbled to learn from your vast experience.
I don't think that I will ever get to be a pro player in New York. But I listen to what you say.
Here is a thought. I watch NHOP and wonder why one person can perform at this speed and another not. My hand is not unlike his. Okay you will say to practise a lot! Yes but there is something else.
Persistence? Self belief?
I don't think I have the self belief to do that. I think that is what I must change.
If I were to be successful at playing at this speed it would be a test of achievement. Did I succeed? Did I fail?
How does one play a beautiful improvised melody? Yes one must have something worth saying. But one must also have the confidence that it is worth saying. If one believes in one's self, one plays better yes?
Confidence comes from testing boundaries.
Thank you.

[Richard Prowse]

Bin,
I love that clip!
Both bassists are great!
The changes to Sweet Georgia Brown ((1st 16 bars (4 chords without the turn around) - any key)) are a good starting point for running 8th notes at fast tempos. Vary the tempos - from fast to slow/ slow to medium/medium to fast, etc. Also, try the 8th notes with a bow, it's actually easier! In my opinion 240bpm is a good median point to aim for at first. If you're playing those changes at different tempos, you'll probably discover that you are also exploring note possibilities almost by default. Try to make it fun - that never seems to hurt!

[Bin Hire]

Richard what strings are you using?
Are stiff or soft strings better for fast pizzicato?
I thank you sincerely for your advice.

[Bin Hire]

Sorry, after posting I just read this thread.
http://www.smithbassforums.com/showthread.php?t=1393
Are you still using Bel Cantos?
I have Weichs at present.

[Richard Prowse]

Hi Bin,
The Weichs and the Bel Canti are quite similar for pizz., though the Bel Canti could be a little more flabby. I suspect that firmer strings are probably more suited to fast pizzicato, but the Bel Canti are good for my bowing stuff. I've been practising quite a bit lately and believe that, with heaps of practice, good results can be achieved with most strings.
I started, on a whim, putting my Weichs back on my carved bass today but, surprisingly, the Weich E string vibrated against the fingerboard. I think that my E string setting might be a little too low - but it works for the Bel Canto E. I was feeling that maybe the Bel Canti weren't projecting for pizz., but then I saw a DVD of a trio I play in and these strings sounded very good. The Bel Canti are staying.

[Bin Hire]

I agree that the bow is easier to play fast 8th notes. It seems like we're working in tandom. I was playing 8th notes today at about 300bpm. Still work to do though. Sometimes my note choices were the easiest ones.
Nice to compare notes.
Thank you.

[Terry McDougal]

I like to push the limits, like when I'm working with a metronome. Sometimes I feel that pushing your technique to extremes leads you to discover other things.
Maybe, while pushing the tempos, one might think about how tone is effected at different speeds? This may lead you to centre some attention on your tone.
Maybe, if one is playing at a tempo too fast to run 8th. notes, one might centre in on the quarter notes and locking them into the time?
Hey, but I'm from Aberdeen.