Here’s something to think about if you would like to get faster at playing your instrument...

I’ve found that one of the best ways to get increased speed is to take your time getting there. It does take some patience, but the results speak for themselves.

I’ve met many people that learn a part and then try to immediately jump straight to playing it at 100mph, and the result is usually very sloppy and inconsistent playing. My recommendation for getting faster (while keeping quality technique) is to buy a metronome (or download a metronome app) and choose a comfortable speed to play the part or exercise at. The next day you practice, turn up the bpm’s a few clicks. keep repeating this process, and day by day, your speed will increase. And the good part of this is that it will increase in a more organic way then trying to force yourself to play fast. for exercises like this, I would keep a journal to help you set goals and chart your progress.

Of course, this process will take a longer investment of time, but you’ll be a lot more solid for it. I look at it like walking up a really long hill, vs. trying to climb a mountain. Walking up the hill may be a longer journey, but it’s a lot less strenuous, and you'll reach the same heights if you just take one step at a time.

Written by: Christopher Bright

Tags: bass, drums, guitar, keys, speed, christopher bright