Velocity– speed—is a subject often addressed only in relation to scales. However, a characteristic of all great musicians is that they play everything in time.  Any note, chord, phrase or anything else a great guitarist plays that sounds ‘out of time’ is almost surely intended that way. Otherwise, no matter how fast or slow the tempo, everything “fits” into the intended meter (song structure). Too often players  attempt to be flashy with poor result because of time issues.

 

Anything played in time, no matter how simple, is usually preferable to anything else that is not.

 

 Scales and related technique practice will always build speed and fluency faster and better than anything else. The key to effective scale practice is patience.    If I ask a new student if they know any scales, too often I get a halfhearted attempt at a piece of a scale, the name not known, technique poor, and the tempo too fast for accuracy.   Upon taking up and instrument, we all have an innate desire to play music for which we are not  fundamentally ready. Musicianship is founded on overcoming this. Remember:

 

THE RIGHT TEMPO TO PRACTICE SOMETHING NEW IS:

AS SLOW AS NECESSARY TO PLAY IT PERFECTLY!

 

©2012 Jim Greenfield