They Ought to Have a Name for It – The Speed Limit

Posted on July 2, 2009 by Phill Gibson

This is closely related to JIT Failure, mentioned last time in this thread, but only happens when you are learning a new song and, naturally, are playing it a good deal slower than full speed. What seems like a perfectly reasonable sequence to perform with your right hand picking fingers at a slow speed soon becomes an impossibility as you increase speed. Usually, what appeared as a slow pair of sequential thumb picks speeds up to reveal a much more demanding sequence. You have to go back and relearn that part using a different picking finger for one of those notes.

About Phill Gibson

I'm from Huntsville, Alabama where I work as a Software Engineer and part-time banjo instructor. My wife Miiko and I worship at Rivertree Downtown. I've been playing various instruments since my teen years. I started mandolin and dulcimer at about age 17 and banjo at 20. I love just about all kinds of music. In terms of banjo styles, I play and teach Scruggs, melodic, clawhammer, and 2-finger styles. I'm also very keen on theology, being a Trail Care Partner with the Land Trust of North Alabama, photography, urban planning, architecture, astronomy, ATM (amateur telescope making), birding, martial arts, and about 30 other distracting hobbies to a (mercifully) lesser extent.
This entry was posted in Banjos in General, Tips & Techniques and tagged , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.