I’m trying to learn Parisienne Walkways and I’m learning that fast lick. It’s much faster than anything I’ve ever played but I’m enjoying the challenge.
After a couple of days of practicing it super slow - probably around 40% of actual speed - I’ve got it in my fingers.
In order to eventually get it up to performance speed, is it best to just keep ramping it up gradually - say 5/10% a day and just try and get it that little bit faster every day? Or stick with it at a comfortable speed for a while then try and ramp it up much quicker?
Comments
Using speed bursts can be useful.
However, there's no doubt in my mind that the technique of say a Tommy Emmanuel or Guthrie Govan is God given - I could practice for a thousand years and I'd never be able to play like that.
I don't know if other people find this, but before modern technology came along, and gave us the facility to be able to slow music down without lowering pitch, we had to learn riffs and licks in "real time". I've found that if I can hear the notes in real time I can usually play them, if the notes are too fast for me to make out I know I can't play it.
I am having lessons now but started out on my own and shied away from using a pick as I started out on acoustic, finger picking - my picking technique is definitely lagging behind my fretting
Seriously: If you value it, take/fetch it yourself
For me, when I worked on the Troy Grady stuff, I quickly discovered that I could physically move my hands fast enough, and I could play fast enough if I was just doing, say, a three note lick on one string. My issue was with being sloppy at memorising things and getting the phrasing right, in chunks, and then speeding up. Working with very small chunked phrases helps.
I used to play this song in a band years back. I must admit I made up my own version of the fast lick. It's not so much the speed that's an issue to me, but I struggle with the exact phrasing/timing of that particular lick. Perhaps I'll give it another go.
I alternate between going over things slowly to get the notes into my head, but I'll also push for attempts at max speed. As has been said previously, "technique isn't necessarily the same technique at fast and at slow speeds".
When I think I've got a fast lick, I'll record myself. If I think it's sounding messy at speed, I'll go over it at slow speed. So it's to and fro between fast and slow.
Supportact said: [my style is] probably more an accumulation of limitations and bad habits than a 'style'.
But they can enjoy the training (as you are) and the game they love to play. im not saying you cant polish a turd as its something i havent tried (probably a guitar book on it somewhere). I would say play that part differently (your way) you will still be learning a lot and you can move forward.
just my tuppence mate good luck and hope you get there.
I think it's this bit. This guy does a very good job. But I still hear it slightly different.
@stratman3142 yes that’s the one I mean, it’s about 1m20 into the song if I remember rightly
It's some way to go before I'm happy with it, and I still can't work out the timing to give the rhythmic notation. It's a case of go for it and try to target the timing of the end note.
Supportact said: [my style is] probably more an accumulation of limitations and bad habits than a 'style'.
And like @viz I didn't previously think of it as a precise phrase, so I made up my own version. Still it was interesting trying to work out what I think he played. But live I'd play safe and go with something that falls more naturally under my fingers and the way I play.
there is a misconception about tension in the guitar community - any time the muscles are doing work that they are not used to there will be tension. Guitarists have to recognize where tension is being helpful and where it isn't being helpful. Just like any athletic performance, tension is needed to activate the muscles needed for the fast performance. If you feel some tension just don't stop, unless you are feeling pain. It's likely helpful tension, much like a weightlifter pushing himself in the gym. Once you get used to it you will notice an increase in your speed, finger independence and so on.
Now, as far as that lick, as others have said, just make up your own fast legato type version of it. if you want to kind of try to get it right try to hit the same first note on every beat that Gary does.
For example - if he plays a C on the first beat you play a C, then if he plays a G on the second beat, you play a G etc. You can fill the the rest of the notes as you see fit.
I’ve seen a lot of people saying about playing something incredibly slowly for a long period (ie everyday for 30 days) but not sure how realistic that is, as has been said, the technique just seems very different at such extreme opposites of speed that I figure it may be best to just try and master it at one tempo then gradually increase.