converse320 Posted October 8, 2017 Share Posted October 8, 2017 So, I'm old, but really enjoying starting to learn bass properly. I have no illusions about ever getting to play in a band again, so I am doing my grades instead, and have just started on Trinity G4. I'm trying to play Riff Raff, which is one of the technical grade pieces. Its 197BPM or so, though its pretty simple, and also one of my favourite songs. I'm trying to play quavers on one note only at the start, with some semblance of feel for time and dynamics. But it really just feels like I'm making random ballistic attacks on the string. Its really only when its about half speed that I have any sense that I can feel the pulse properly, and have any control Am I really going to get to double the speed and feel like I have control? It feels like my nerves just don't fire quickly enough to have the slightest chance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted October 8, 2017 Share Posted October 8, 2017 You will as soon as your hands learn how to do it so it doesn't rely on your head to tell them to! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted October 9, 2017 Share Posted October 9, 2017 Start at half speed and work up. There is nothing that cannot be achieved using this approach. One of the first fusion LPs I bought was Land of the Midnight Sun by Al Di Meola. There is a track called Suite: Golden Dawn which has this killer guitar riff in it. Impossible to play. After years of playing it slowly, I can now do it. Took me 30 years but I can do it. It's all possible if you start slowly. Now I can work on the third bar.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
converse320 Posted October 10, 2017 Author Share Posted October 10, 2017 I probably don't have 30 years left though...... I am working on this slowly and building up and making progress, but what's worrying me is that I can't feel the notes inside the rhythm at the correct speed, even when I happen to lock it in correctly by blind chance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted October 15, 2017 Share Posted October 15, 2017 Concentrate on the notes in the beat and the rest will sort themselves out. I got that advice from a top session trumpet player. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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