Your thoughts on speed...

[Katastrophe]

I'm interested in hearing from the younger guys, and from the "more seasoned" veterans as well on this one...

As I get older, I think about my influences when I started playing, which were mainly speedy shredmeisters of the '80's. Tapping, string skipping, sweeps, wild whammy bar techniques, and speedy runs were in fashion, along with those pesky harmonic minor scales. I spent hours upon hours trying to learn that stuff, and can appreciate the amount of work that it takes to perfect that technique (never quite got there, but that's an entirely different post).

Over the years, my playing has changed. I've slowed down a lot, and tend to play shorter, more melodic leads that try to add depth to the song itself, instead of being a showpiece in the middle of the tune. I still throw in a fast run or two every now and then, but my playing is nowhere near as speedy as it used to be.

It's fun to put on those old CDs and listen to the precision and speed from the '80s. I still love that music, and probably always will. Lately, though, I've been drawn more to David Gilmour's style of playing, and have also been listening a lot to SRV's "Riviera Paradise," which is a very laid back tune, that makes great use of space in an instrumental.

What do you think about speed? Where does it fit in your playing, if at all? Do you still practice all that stuff, just for grins and giggles?

[marnold***]

Once I get to the point that I could actually consider playing fast, I'll let you know.

[warren0728]

I'm right there with you...i play slow because i can't play fast!

Actually while i appreciate the shredders....i prefer a more laid back style of music (mainly blues). The saying "less is more" applies to guitar too.

what i appreciate in an artist (like srv) he can go from a mind numbing blaze of finger burning speedy licks...and then move to something like lenny or riviera paradise.

ww

Once I get to the point that I could actually consider playing fast, I'll let you know.

[Tone2TheBone]

Very very good post. I think I'm in the middle somewhere but closer to feel more than anything. If I happen to play sixteenth notes it will be part of what I'm feeling in the context. I try to play whatever takes my body over.

I do notice though that my alternating picking has changed. When I was playing for speed and showoffiness in my youngster days I picked every stinking note. Every one. Even double or triple picked the same notes. Skipping strings, arpeggios etc. When I taught guitar I'd tell the students to pick every stinking note. Now I've noticed that when I play for feel I don't consciously pick every note anymore. I was going to post a thread on this subject too but I think it belongs in this thread. Anyway when I try and pick every note and THINK about what I'm doing...the licks don't sound the same and the magic is lost. When I don't think about what I'm doing technically then it sounds soooo good. It doesn't work when I try to steer the ship.

I do notice that with age people do tend to slow down. Even with their picking.

[Spudman***]

The only thing that I use speed for is just to keep up my dexterity. I try to keep it up so that I can be ready for what comes. That way depending on the emotion present in the piece being played I can either play as fast and energetic as is called for or slow with more vocal like lines. Whatever the call my hands are ready.

On the other hand if it is your style to sweep, trill, and arpeggiate like crazy and the music calls for it then go for it.

I too have slowed over the years and I liken it to a wise Zen master who only says what is appropriate. After years of meditation and contemplation many things can be summed up rather succinctly. In stead of jabbering on in detail the same point can be made with brevity. One note can say much.

The other reason that I play slow is that I just can't play that fast. I love hearing a fast technical player but it seems that they write the material to allow that technique to be used. I don't think that a flury of sweeps would work on "The Thrill Is Gone." It might be fun to hear someone try though.

And finally, speed has it's place, but hearing speed all the time gets a bit boring for listeners at least it does for me. Besides, you wouldn't drive your car 100mph all the time would you? You gotta slow down and look at the scenery sometimes. As a player I'm a driver too.

And...what Tone said.

PS. A shortcut to warming up before going on stage is to use the hand dryers in the bathroom to get your hands nice and warm. They will be more limber if you don't have time to play before going on.

[Tone2TheBone]

I think Emperor Joseph the Second said it best when he said..."the human ear can only hear so many notes". (Amadeus, 1984)

[SuperSwede]

I agree with you Tone.
I believe that a guitar student first have to learn to play a lot of scales and learn how to play "fast", then just forget it and play the music that the imagination wants to, and at this stage it should be possible without to much "brain" interference.. or something like that

[warren0728]

on that "note" sorry bad pun there...i am starting to teach my son guitar. My thought was to start him out with basic chords (c,g,d). What is the opinion of others. Should i start with scales firts? and then move to chords...do both at the same time or just stick with chords for now?

BTW Tone...i love your new cheese grater avatar....lmao!!

ww

I agree with you Tone.
I believe that a guitar student first have to learn to play a lot of scales and learn how to play "fast", then just forget it and play the music that the imagination wants to, and at this stage it should be possible without to much "brain" interference.. or something like that

[Tim]

Go for the chords. They can jam with you or make up songs on their own. After they learn the three cords, you can then show them the scales of those chords. This is where I am with my own guitar self learning process.

If anybody has better advise please chime in.

Update:
Saw this web site at the top of the page after posting this message. http://www3.iplaymusic.com/

It's free from what the add states.

[Spudman***]

Tone
Cool! The worlds first cheese grater that goes to "11".

[warren0728]

tone...do you have a larger version of the cheesegrater vox...i would like to add it to my list of desktop images ....say 400 - 500 pixel range?

ww

[Tim]

I have been trying to determine how the hell the Cheese Grater topic got over to this “Speed” thread? I have come to the conclusion it is all Tone2The Bone’s fault.

Lunch is over and I must get back to real computer work. But I do have dual screens and keep the Fret Net on one of them.

[Tone2TheBone]

What can I say, I like "grating your cheese" Tim. LMAO

Warren, I'll see what I do.

[Tim]

T2TB – I have tough skin and I enjoy cheese a lot. So grate away my friend and take some for your self.

[warren0728]

Warren, I'll see what I do.

that would be "grate" : )

ww

[Tone2TheBone]

*dies laughing* I think we're having way too much fun with this. lol

[SuperSwede]

Yeah yeah very funny... Hey Tone, listen a lot to GRATEful dead?

[jpfeifer]

This is an interesting post. I was just having a conversation with one of my friends about this the other day. The question is "does age itself make you play slower, or do your tastes change?" I think that it is a little bit of both.

When I was first starting out in my younger days, I was totally blown away by anyone with technique. But as my ears started to develop more over the years I began to be more impressed by players who were playing interesting ideas, melodies, or just with their ability to play over almost any kind of chord changes and still sound fluid.

I'm still impressed by players who have good technique, but I'm more impressed by players who know how to sit on the right notes at the right times. David Gilmour is an example one of those guys who does not have monster technique at all, but man can he express himself with his guitar. His solo's are so powerfull and yet he isn't moving all that fast with his fingers.

Then there are those rare guys who can seem to do both, play with incredible speed, and also play interesting melodic ideas. Eric Johnson is one guy that comes to mind who is like this. He has incredible technique and his ideas are very melodic.

I remember once going to see Al DiMeola when I was in High School, during his heyday when he released the Casino album. He was the fastest, most precise guitar player I'd ever heard. But, half-way through the concert I was bored. It was like hearing a machine playing the guitar.

-- Jim

[Robert****]

I'm with Jim on this one. I play fast sometimes, but the speed isn't the important part. To me, it is the phrases you play - your ideas and melodies that matter. If they happen to sound good at a fast tempo, that's okay too. I do prefer listening to good players that don't play fast all the time, because I find they have more interesting phrasing. Example - John Scofield, Wes Montgomery, Bill Frisell, Albert King, etc.