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14/10/2004 12:09 pm
The intrisic value of speed is an interesting concept, but I guess it depends on what you value musically. I've never thought going slow was 'not fun', or that going fast was. What's fun to me is making it musical... you can do three or four slow notes that make an absolute statement of emotion... or you can do three or four hundred fast notes that do nothing at all.
On the deepest level, music is an art form - a means of communication and creativity. On another level, music is a craft, a technical skill. Yes, I'm impressed by chops like Yngwie's, and I have an appreciation for his technical ability... but the chill runs up my spine when I hear one perfect bend crying out at just the right time by some unknown in a blues dive.
I don't care how fast or slow someone talks... I want to know if they have something worthwhile to say.
Guitar teacher offering lessons in Plainfield IL
14/10/2004 12:39 pm
Yeah.... Monkeys are funny.
Kido
14/10/2004 12:40 pm
I can see the logic in the practice slow theory but I somewhat agree with Arjen, that I'm not so sure you can't learn at the same pace by practicing fast.
Personally I really only practice slow while I'm learning a new solo or something once I've memorized the notes I play as fast as I can until I get it. I rarely start off so slow that I do it without any mistakes I pick a reasonable speed and give it a shot, mistakes and all. Then I'll just keep playing it as close to tempo as I can until I get it.
Hey, I just figured out why I suck!!!
Seriously, I think it's like anything else everyone responds to learning differently, to some people practicing slowly would not be fun and I think in some ways actually slow their progress for others going slowly is the only way to learn.
"It's all about stickin it to the man!"
It's a long way to the top if you want to rock n roll!
14/10/2004 12:51 pm
I agree with you Noteboat. I personally find the playing of cats like Malmsteen interesting, but I don't really care for it. Might be neat to be able to do it for the "Wow" factor, but that's about it from my perspective.
My previous post was a speculation based on what I see many (dare I say it) younger persons who are picking up the guitar saying. Namely that faster is better in the eyes of many. This also seems to pervade our society here in North America at times.
I don't have the energy left to very many things fast anymore (my wife seems to think this is a good thing).
"You want WHAT on the *&%#ing ceiling?" - Michelangelo, 1566
14/10/2004 1:06 pm
I think it's all about muscle memory. Imagine the world's greatest 100 meter dash runner trying to use the same running technique except at half the speed. He'd fall, or it'd be awkward, or he'd make technique mistakes or whatever. Because he's never practiced it at that speed before.
14/10/2004 3:38 pm
This post was orginally about practice speed not necessarily playing fast like Yngwie.
I guess the question I would have to everyone and be honest, do you really practice at some riduculously low speed and then only move up in small increments (as long as you play it perfectly) before moving on.
I think I'd quit playing if I did it that way. I guess my method is to play it at as fast a tempo as possible regardless of mistakes as long I'm somewhere close. Then it's a matter of eliminating the mistakes rather than slowly increasing the speed.
"It's all about stickin it to the man!"
It's a long way to the top if you want to rock n roll!
14/10/2004 3:50 pm
When I start a new piece, I first try to do it at tempo. If I can't, then I take the sections that are giving me problems, and I work those (usually just 2-3 bars) at a slow tempo and bring them up to speed.... so it's not like I take 12 minutes to play a 3 minute piece at quarter tempo - there's no benefit to slow practice for the parts I'm already satisfied with.
But on those problem spots, yeah, I always start slow and work up, every single time.
Guitar teacher offering lessons in Plainfield IL
14/10/2004 5:08 pm
If you only practice slow you won't gain as much as you can in speed and might not notice things that are inhibiting your speed. Bad habits and such.
If you only practice fast you won't be able to play slow as well because when you play slow it shows off every little problem you have. You have to sustain notes longer, attack them cleaner, everything has to be damn well perfect or it sticks out like a sore thumb. When playing fast these things can be masked and you might not even notice them.
To put it another way, the techniques are similar but different. So do both.
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