The only thing I'll add to this, is it takes some time to develop the left hand muscles to keep up with the pick. All the slow practice you do is building strength for later!!
David always such practical advice. Thank you that you are willing to share and then you do share info that usually would not be available to us. There's just no substitute for time on the instrument.
All great advice. I've increased my speed dramatically but am nowhere near these fast speeds. While trying to maintain an open mind, I really feel there is something to natural talent. Your specific physical and mental ability and your desire and ability to practice. Im not a fast mover, i don't run fast, I don't talk fast, I don't type fast... All three of which I've done for decades. Three years into mandolin my top speed is around 100 cut time 4 eighth notes per beat. 400 notes per minute. People with natural ability may play that speed in months. Also there's more to life than playing fast. Ask Eric Clapton his nickname is Slow Hand and he's somewhat successful.
I'm a guitar player turned mandolin player but I still give guitar lessons and the first thing I tell people is that there are no shortcuts. If you want to get better, you have to practice consistently, and playing with other people helps a lot.
So, thank you for this. Just being intentional about my breathing and my posture, I'm seeing some improvement in my speed in less than a week, after a long period where I have felt stuck and unable to make progress. And your method of speeding up and then speeding down is excellent.
Thanks David. Do you ever break tunes down into sections as well? Or also just hitting the strings in the right order of the tune, but without fingering the notes?
All excellent tips and thanks David for another quality lesson. When ‘playing with fast recordings’ I’d suggest going to those ridiculously fast fiddle tune backing tracks right here on RUclips. The ‘fast to slow’ mental trick works well with fiddle tunes that are already known. ( and with gradually slowing these tunes you can hear improvement in tone, sustain, and timing. Also it’s fun to climb back up again to witness the gradual speed progress. )
Great bits of advice that I definitely need reminders on, especially the loosen up piece. I've been really catching myself getting real rigid, where sometimes my left and right hands seem to escalate each other locking up. Also good to mention that even on youtube, you can speed up or slow down a song to play along to, and doesn't affect the pitch (tho not as good quality as the ASD mentioned). I also appreciate you explaining your pick hand, coming from 30 years on guitar, the mando pick technique has been a bit of an adjustment for me.
Thanks David really good advice, i tend to work through the most difficult or challenging parts of a tune at a slow to fast speed. Its a bit boring but it works if ive got the rest of the tune up to speed. This way i can feel the progress in the difficult sections, albeit slower. I will try the fast to slow routine too. 👍
Thanks David! I’ve been anticipating your take on getting faster since it is a stickier topic to teach. I literally had the experience you reference 2 days ago at a jam so this is timely.
Any tips why my left foreman (chording/non picking arm) tenses up so bad when playing fast? I'm sure I am too tense. Just don't know how to implement more relaxed playing. Thanks
Would you say a good guitar tech can set up a mandolin properly, or are there important differences in a mandolin setup the average guitar repair person misses?
Don't do this, I took my mandolin to a local trusted guitar tech and asked for a setup. I specifically called out the intonation as it was way sharp up the neck. They cleaned it up and put new strings on it but the intonation was still bad. Ultimately I RUclipsd how to do it and spent a harrowing afternoon getting it squared away. Make sure the tech actually knows anything about your instrument, in other words. 😅
Bluegrass is great, but it's hardly the only music. Don't be afraid of classical music. Chris Thiele plays Bach! Has a CD/mp3 of Bach's Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin. It will certainly help reading music, expand one's repertoire, and help teach one to play in different positions plus it's great, well written music. 😉
I lift my fingers up to high off the fretboard. I have played an acoustic guitar probably 100 times more over the years - and I wonder if that's where that comes from. I try to work on that, but it seems to end up taking up most of my mando practice time! Anybody else feel that lifting the fingers up too high is an issue?
Well, you guys that are professional pickers or semi- pros, all you do almost all day is practice. Some of us have to work, deal with family problems, everyday stresses that can be demoralizing. I am currently in the process of moving into a much smaller apartment where my living situation is going to be drastically changed. The stress of getting rid of a house full of furniture, housewares, valuable possessions, pets, is an overwhelming endeavour that puts playing music on hold for an indefinite period of time. Putting things in long term storage is out of the question due to cost, etc. It is easier to just sell, give away or throw away a good lot of it. Maybe this winter, things can get back to normal.
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This is killer advice, and it had never dawned on me to play fast and then work back down.
The nature of youtube being what it is, this video might be swallowed up in 1000 other videos, but this is an excellent lesson. Thanks, David!!
The only thing I'll add to this, is it takes some time to develop the left hand muscles to keep up with the pick. All the slow practice you do is building strength for later!!
David always such practical advice. Thank you that you are willing to share and then you do share info that usually would not be available to us. There's just no substitute for time on the instrument.
Finally a man who speaks starting out
All great advice. I've increased my speed dramatically but am nowhere near these fast speeds.
While trying to maintain an open mind, I really feel there is something to natural talent. Your specific physical and mental ability and your desire and ability to practice.
Im not a fast mover, i don't run fast, I don't talk fast, I don't type fast... All three of which I've done for decades.
Three years into mandolin my top speed is around 100 cut time 4 eighth notes per beat. 400 notes per minute.
People with natural ability may play that speed in months.
Also there's more to life than playing fast. Ask Eric Clapton his nickname is Slow Hand and he's somewhat successful.
Love the tip about tension in the shoulders
I'm a guitar player turned mandolin player but I still give guitar lessons and the first thing I tell people is that there are no shortcuts. If you want to get better, you have to practice consistently, and playing with other people helps a lot.
These are great tips.
Really needed this!! Perfect timing😅
So, thank you for this. Just being intentional about my breathing and my posture, I'm seeing some improvement in my speed in less than a week, after a long period where I have felt stuck and unable to make progress. And your method of speeding up and then speeding down is excellent.
Great tips and really nice video production. Lighting, camera and editing top notch.
I appreciate this! Another useful lesson added to many you have provided!
Thanks David. Do you ever break tunes down into sections as well? Or also just hitting the strings in the right order of the tune, but without fingering the notes?
All excellent tips and thanks David for another quality lesson.
When ‘playing with fast recordings’ I’d suggest going to those ridiculously fast fiddle tune backing tracks right here on RUclips. The ‘fast to slow’ mental trick works well with fiddle tunes that are already known.
( and with gradually slowing these tunes you can hear improvement in tone, sustain, and timing. Also it’s fun to climb back up again to witness the gradual speed progress. )
Great tips David!
Your stuff is awesome thanks for the resources
Great bits of advice that I definitely need reminders on, especially the loosen up piece. I've been really catching myself getting real rigid, where sometimes my left and right hands seem to escalate each other locking up. Also good to mention that even on youtube, you can speed up or slow down a song to play along to, and doesn't affect the pitch (tho not as good quality as the ASD mentioned).
I also appreciate you explaining your pick hand, coming from 30 years on guitar, the mando pick technique has been a bit of an adjustment for me.
Thanks David really good advice, i tend to work through the most difficult or challenging parts of a tune at a slow to fast speed. Its a bit boring but it works if ive got the rest of the tune up to speed. This way i can feel the progress in the difficult sections, albeit slower. I will try the fast to slow routine too. 👍
Thanks David! I’ve been anticipating your take on getting faster since it is a stickier topic to teach. I literally had the experience you reference 2 days ago at a jam so this is timely.
Great teaching. Thank you
This is a fantastic video. Thank you very much for sharing!
Any tips why my left foreman (chording/non picking arm) tenses up so bad when playing fast? I'm sure I am too tense. Just don't know how to implement more relaxed playing. Thanks
Great advice! I play fiddle but it’s exactly the same challenge.
😊
Would you say a good guitar tech can set up a mandolin properly, or are there important differences in a mandolin setup the average guitar repair person misses?
Don't do this, I took my mandolin to a local trusted guitar tech and asked for a setup. I specifically called out the intonation as it was way sharp up the neck. They cleaned it up and put new strings on it but the intonation was still bad. Ultimately I RUclipsd how to do it and spent a harrowing afternoon getting it squared away.
Make sure the tech actually knows anything about your instrument, in other words. 😅
Great stuff, DB
Bluegrass is great, but it's hardly the only music. Don't be afraid of classical music. Chris Thiele plays Bach! Has a CD/mp3 of Bach's Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin. It will certainly help reading music, expand one's repertoire, and help teach one to play in different positions plus it's great, well written music. 😉
he is not a human😂❤
You are so smart.
1:28 the god of mandolin❤
This is awesome! Thanks for these tips and advice!
Can you recommend a good metronome app?
Good stuff here David
Agreed! Also: I put on Tomastik strings (pricey, yes) and that has increased my speed. D'addario puts out a flatwound string set as well.
Be sure to start at Tempo de Learno.
Thanks!
Great tips!
I lift my fingers up to high off the fretboard. I have played an acoustic guitar probably 100 times more over the years - and I wonder if that's where that comes from. I try to work on that, but it seems to end up taking up most of my mando practice time! Anybody else feel that lifting the fingers up too high is an issue?
matur suksma
🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤
#mandolinsrule
Well, you guys that are professional pickers or semi- pros, all you do almost all day is practice. Some of us have to work, deal with family problems, everyday stresses that can be demoralizing. I am currently in the process of moving into a much smaller apartment where my living situation is going to be drastically changed. The stress of getting rid of a house full of furniture, housewares, valuable possessions, pets, is an overwhelming endeavour that puts playing music on hold for an indefinite period of time. Putting things in long term storage is out of the question due to cost, etc. It is easier to just sell, give away or throw away a good lot of it. Maybe this winter, things can get back to normal.
playing mandolin FASTER is overrated.....
You talk to much more playing and less yap