Re: Building Speed with 16th Notes
My answer to the original question is it depends...I play scale and arpeggio exercises as fast as I can cleanly that means sometimes 70 and others at 110.
Here’s a video Chris Henry made a few years ago, now he plays at a non-human rate of speed but watch the video and give it a try. I do this most days as a warm up or even when I’m a little bored and just want to put some time in on the mando (not all 32 but the common keys of G, C, D, A) and have seen improvement over time.
As to learning fiddle tunes I agree with Jon, if it’s something you’re going to be doing with others at jams learn the common ones and personal favs and the ones played often at the jams you attend. I think there is great value in learning these, each one has techniques that can be absorbed thru learning and repetition, and it will reinforce 16th note speed. I liken it to any other skill deemed worthy of learning...one can always improve.
The way I approach learning one is mostly by ear tho’ I consult paper now and again. I listen and decide if I like it, then I listen to the point I can hum thru it pretty well, if I haven’t figured out the chords I’ll look them up and then play rhythm along while humming the song in my head, then I may try a break of my own. There is no rule that says you have to play it exactly the way the version you heard and liked, I would recommend sticking close to the melody though, change 16th notes to 8ths if it’s too fast then add them back when you get better. The song of the week social club is a great place to start, I have learned alot from our fellow Cafe members.
It’s hard by ear at first so go easy on yourself, it gets easier as you do it more. If you need the TAB/notes no sweat, get it and highlight the notes on the downbeats and play those along to a recording, over time you will add in more notes and gain speed.
Northfield F5M #268, AT02 #7
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