Kaufman's "overclocking" technique

[davestem]

A recent thread on Flatpick-L made mention of a speed-improving technique learned at a Kaufman Kamp. #It was particularly timely for me, as I've dedicated the last few weeks to improving my right-hand technique and speed, and I'm intending to keep it up until I play cleanly and comfortably on 5 songs that I've selected (for the record: #Fisher's Hornpipe, Beaumont Rag, Whiskey Before Breakfast, Billy in the Low Ground, and Bill Cheatham) at 250 bpm. #I've allowed my right hand to languish for too long, and was able to pick these tunes at only about 170 bpm when I started this project a couple of weeks ago.

# # Kaufman's tip is this: #once you're warmed up and have picked through a couple of tunes at a moderate tempo, speed your metronome up to a little bit past what you know you can play. #Play along at that tempo for a while, and don't worry when it falls apart, just keep picking at it.

# # This technique reminds me of a technique that coaches use (according to some TV show I saw a few years ago) to speed runners up. #They have a high-speed winch that they can adjust the speed of, with a ski rope on it. #The runners hold on to the ski rope and sprint, and the rope pulls them along just a little bit faster than they could normally run. #The idea is that their speed limitations are primarily mental--their minds are convinced that they can only run so fast, and the rope pulls them past that limit.

# # It's been working pretty well so far. #I'll pick a little while at a medium (almost slow) tempo to get my hand warmed up, and then pick at a fast but comfortable tempo for a while. #Then I'll overclock my metronome and try to pick along for a while. #Then I'll go back to my fast-but-comfortable tempo to cool down. #Over the couple of weeks that I've been doing this, my fast-but-comfortable tempo has risen from 170 bpm to 195 bpm, and I can play up to about 205 bpm but feel a little shaky there. #I expect my progress to slow down as I get faster, but am very pleased with the rate of progress so far.

# # Has anyone else heard of this or tried it? #Are there any other cool tips you use to beef up the right hand technique?

[250sc]

It makes sense to me that by trying to play at tempos beyond you reach you can eventually learn to play at those tempos. (if you don't try how can you achieve the speed)

My main problem with the speed issue is that I hear players play songs real fast but they are only playing a stripped down version of the melody. There is no art or spontinaity. On the other hand there are players who can play fast and maintian interesting musical ideas. Those are the ones I would like to emulate.

[monroerules]

I would be very carefull in continously trying to play above my tempo limitations. We can possibly increase our speed to astronomical levels, but may lose an important ingredient called timing. IMHO, many of today's modern mandolin icons are destroying one of music's most important aspects. What happen to the beat/backbeat and the concern with how we play in relation to both.

Just my opinion. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[davestem]

I agree. #Currently I'm working on 2 breaks for each of these songs--a break that conveys the basic melody, and a break up the neck that tries out some different ideas. #I intend to spend time on each fiddle song I play, writing about three really good breaks that sound cool and convey interesting variations on the melody. #That's actually my next project after I reach my right-hand speed goal. #Before I do that, though, I want to get my right hand used to playing at tempos that folks are used to hearing recordings of these tunes. #I feel comfortable playing up the neck and writing new parts--I just want to be able to play them at a speed where they carry some more excitement. #I know some folks will object to that & say that a well-written part can sound good at lower speeds (and I agree), but it seems that there's an expectation among listeners and fellow pickers to be able to play at some higher tempos.

[danb]

I think that trick helps take it out of your conscious working mind as you struggle beyond your percieved ability.. I do that at sessions quite a bit!

I think that is probably orthagonal to the trick to speed in Irish/Celtic music- you tend to play with other people who play faster. A lot of folks complain about speed in sessions, but to me that's part of the fun, being knocked out of your comfort zone..