Hello, I am 61 and I have played the banjo about 12+ years. I have never been concerned about speed, I have always just wanted to play beautiful music. I can play pretty much any song I set my sights on……but.
I recently started playing with a bluegrass group and these guys are awesome, I can play the songs but I can’t keep up speed wise. They are flat cooking!
About a month ago I started REALLY TRYING to increase my speed. I use a metronome and started about 70 bmp playing 16th notes. I can get some tunes now up to 100-120 bmp. 120 is definitely my wall.
But my plant finger, I only plant my pinky is really starting to hurt. Should I take a break and not play for a few days or for a week? Or should I just go back to slower tempos? I alway hear people say speed will just come, but in my mind …… if I’m a sprinter and I just jog around the track that will NEVER help me sprint faster. I have to do the exercises to build the muscles that generate the speed. Isn’t building speed on the banjo the same? How do I build speed without pushing myself? I know I’ve covered a lot of ground, Thanks for any advice. Have a blessed day.
Practice For Speed
Hi @Timbis Timothy 
to @BanjoBen 's Forum
I use TablEdit for helping me build speed. Ben also has MP3 files at incremental speeds with each lesson.
Using TablEdit I open the TEF file at a speed I feel comfortable with, generally speaking my starting speed is 120 bpm then I adjust the speed up at 5 BPMs intervals as I practice until I reach my ceiling. I repeat this each day until I reach the desired speed. This of course is simply a practice drill it’s a different ball game playing with others since your goal is to fit in their groove which is never constant. If you can I’d suggest you practice with your guitar player.
I do think you should lay off a bit and should examine your technique as well for any unnecessary tension. A few days will probably help you.
I do like your approach of building speed. It’s good to get nice and warmed up and then do some sprints for short period of time…your analogy about a sprinter does relate.
In my lesson about practicing I talk about a speed test and somewhere else I’ve talked about building speed, can’t remember where exactly. You should find your wall (looks like 120 for you), and “work out” for a week or so at ~90-95% of that speed. Try to get comfortable there. But remember that it differs with various songs b/c of difficulty. You’ll find that you’ll be able to play certain things faster than others, and it’s ok to do those things on the fast songs for now.
Thank you for the advice, I do something similar, I use strum machine … I set it at 80 bmp, then auto speed up 5 bmp after 2 times through, which takes 8 plays through to reach 120 bpm. I’ve also started focusing on doing this with rolls not just songs.
My main concern at this time is the pain in my pinky (plant finger) I’m sure I’m pressing down too hard on the banjo head. I’m just not sure if I should keep practicing at slower tempos or take a break so my pinky can recover. Thanks again!
So your suggesting playing at slower speeds until it’s easy, like maybe even spending a week at the same tempo? then increasing the tempo? 
Interesting, because I try to increase the tempo every practice session.
I’ve used this analogy somewhere but I think there’s much in common with getting stronger or faster in a gym.
If you want to increase your max lift, one way is to first discover your max. Then, you work out at various increments beneath your max for several weeks.
Week “0”: Test your max
Week 1: Work out at 90% of your max.
Week 2: 93%
Week 3: 95%
Week 4: retest max and see if it has increased.
there are many different formulas out there, but this is one I’ve used in the past.
Warning: I have hurt myself doing this before (in the gym). It doesn’t mean there’s a direct correlation and that you WILL injure yourself, but you need to be smart and monitor how you feel.
I’m being super detailed about this, but I’m trying to give you a potential strategy.
A couple caveats to keep in mind: If you feel pain, stop. Rest can be a good thing. Second, to mention again, your max speeds will depend on how warmed up you are and what you are playing. Try to keep those constant if you’re truly trying to measure progress.
Thanks Ben, this is a great plan!
I think I’ve been pushing too hard and trying to “get there” quicker because I’m trying to play in a group and the play 140-160bpm regularly. I am very willing to take time to make progress, and this is a good plan.
I’m going to take a few days off, and the follow your speed test advice. Thank you again for the response and the willingness to give sound advice.
So many people say “speed will just happen” which doesn’t make sense to me. I believe you have to work to reach your goals. My problem has been “the plan”, what do I do to achieve my goals. Thanks again, have a blessed day!
Hi @Timbis Timothy Anything that causes pain should be cause for concern. Pressing on the head should be avoided. I tend to swap between my pinky & ring finger or both on the head at the same time. For the time being I would encourage you to try to plant your ring finger and play slowly. Just focus your brain on that for a while and see how things develop from there.
When I plant with my ring finger my middle finger struggles. Don’t the middle and ring finger share the movement tendon?
Just a suggestion, if it’s a struggle the only other solution is to learn to play clawhammer
I already do play Clawhammer. 
I won the senior division in Mountain View Arkansas Aug 4, 2024.
Thank you! It was awesome!
My first time competing.
I can’t plant my ring. If I try it causes pain and my middle finger don’t work right 
You could be pressing too hard on the head though.
I am Definitely pressing too hard against the banjo head. I’ve tried to anchor with my ring finger but it just doesn’t work for me. But now that I’m more aware I will REALLY try to work on playing tension free.
I appreciate your suggestions.
I am taking a break from banjo for about a week. I think that should be enough time for my pinky to recover.
Then Im going to make a speed test for each song, and start with a week of practice at 90% of my speed wall.
Then increase my speed to 93%, then 96% of my speed wall. If my speed wall increases after three weeks I will adjust my values. If my speed wall doesn’t increase I will do another round of the same speeds.
I think this is a very good plan and I really appreciate your advice. 
Thank you!!! God bless my brother!