Speed Drills

[Crash]

Ok, I've been playing bass for 9-10 months and I played guitar for a little over a year before that. The thing is I always played slower stuff, I've been getting into some faster stuff lately and have found that my finger speed is somewhat lacking. Anyone have any suggestions on ways to increase finger speed (fret hand)? Songs to play, drills, exercises, squeezing of tennis balls, anything that would help.

[kingtrebor01]

When i took lessons my teacher used to tell me to break it down, and practice it slow. Over time and repetition you'll be able to play it faster. The first complete song i learned was "smells like teen spirit". now the solo is like second nature and i can play it really fast. its just like anything else......practice practice.

[Crash]

I realize that playing a song over and over will make it so I can play that song faster. What I meant was just in general any kind of drills or excercises to help me move my fingers faster. A friend of mine showed me one where you a thick rubber band around your thumb and finger and then open your hand, it seems to help some, he explained it as speed in playing comes as much in releasing the notes as it does in fretting them but the muscles on the back of your fingers that let your release notes get almost no workout doing anything. By strengthening those muscles you can release the notes faster and so play faster.

It's not a matter of not being able to play certain songs so much as just being able to move my hand faster regardless of what I'm playing.

[Clayton38]

My workout? The solos for "Another Brick in the Wall part 2" and "Comfortably numb". They aren't like shred, but I hate shred... plus Gilmour is very precise.