how do i sweep properly

[jem_fanatic]

ok guys so ive been practicing 3 string sweepin alot lately and just when i thought i had developed my technique i realised something was i picking the lowest note (this time g-string) the wrong way??

****just to avoid confusion****

UP=TOWARDS LOW B (E for 6 stringers)
DOWN=TOWARDS HIGH E

what is the right technique??

TECH#1:is it hitting the g on the way up?


TECH#2:hitting it on the way down?

[davester1234]

lol good question

[Lefty Robb]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mbx03mP5eg

[Demogorgos]

Tip from Flip:

Try sweeping full barré chords (arpeggios) hitting each note/string with the most appropriate finger (relative to the position on the neck and type of chord, of course).

Example exercise:

"Sweep" an A Major chord with added thirds on the fifth fret using a finger for each of the strings/note.

DS = downstroke on string
US = upstroke on string

E 5th fret -> index finger DS | E 9th fret -> pinky US| A 7th fret -> ring finger DS
D 7th fret -> ring finger (grab both A & D strings with that ring finger) DS|
G 6th fret -> middle finger DS| B 5th fret -> index finger DS|
(high) E 5th fret -> index finger DS| E 8th fret -> pinky finger (3rd) US |
(high) E 5th fret -> index finger DS | B 5th fret -> index finger US|
G 6th fret -> middle finger US | D 7th fret -> ring finger (grab both A & D strings with that ring finger) US|
A 7th fret -> ring finger US E 9th fret -> pinky US | E 5th fret -> index finger DS


When you get to the 1st (High E) you add a 3rd (C#) on the 9th fret and then sweep back up. You will notice how your pinky will get "loose". The control of your pinky is crucial in sweeping, since if your hand is able to do the stretches with that finger, all the other (ring and middle) fingers will be able to hit their positions in the aimed chord more "naturally".

here's the routine tabbed:

5th fret
E|--X--|-----|-----|-----|--X--|----|----|
B|--X--|-----|-----|-----|-----|----|----|
G|-----|--X--|-----|-----|-----|----|----|
D|-----|-----|--X--|-----|-----|----|----|
A|-----|-----|--X--|-----|-----|----|----|
E|--X--|-----|-----|-----|--X--|----|----|

Realize that the sweep picking of arpeggios isn't nothing more or less than executing chords with additional (usually) 3rds , 5ths and 7ths focusing on separately accentuating every single note of the aimed chord (and the possible additions). If you execute this flawless, you'll recognise it immediately. Part of the routine is synchronizing your nervous system with your ear, and sort of make it happen that your fingers will follow what your you are "hearing" in your head, followed by actually hearing with your ears in an instant what you were "hearing". When you have this experience, be prepared to really get hooked on playing To be able to do this, you *must* know how the scales/arpeggios SOUND and have had the experience of having your nervous system (that moves your fingers on the fretboard) synchronized with the sounds you expect to hear.

I recommend this routine for beginners. From here you should start to try out different scales and their respective chords. A Minor is also a nice scale to practice with. Once you have drilled a little with this kind of exercises, you will notice how much easier it becomes to figure out some tune by another guitarist. You will be able to recognize the "patterns" used and by your drilling, easily be able to rapidly learn the whole song/solo.

I hope this works for you.

Best regards,

JP

[nickcoumbe]

i usually sweep down

[crevis]

I sweep down, just do whatever is comfortable as long as everything is articulated properly.

Sweeping is the most individual technique, no 2 of us sweep exactly the same way.

[Mehrunes]

Does anyone here roll more then one string with their pinky? Rolling across more then one string with the same finger is the hardest thing for me to do on a guitar.

[Lefty Robb]

Originally Posted by Mehrunes

Does anyone here roll more then one string with their pinky? Rolling across more then one string with the same finger is the hardest thing for me to do on a guitar.

Yeah, rolling is the hardest part.

[Roland]

I find rolling easier than standard sweeping. It's easier for me to coordinate one finger along with the pick rather than a 4, 5, 6 or even 7-string arpeggio.

[crevis]

its different for different people, we have a tendancy to use the ring finger in places you should use you pinky, if you use you pinky more in all your playing -even high on the fretboard- , it will be alot easier to do things like 'roll' in a sweep.

Learning economy picking will also help alot in odd sweep patterns but the best way I think is by learning violin (like paganini or vivaldi or heifits) pieces because youll learn more musical phrasing and patterns rather than just trying to make the wackiest, biggest sweep that really doesnt make sense.

[jsdisciple]

Awesome post

well done, i wanted to sweep pick for eons

disciple

[Holy Katana]

I picked up on sweeping quite easily. I'll use 3-string diminished sweeps (yay for Yngwie!) in this example. The most common way of doing it is like:

     d  d  d  u     u  sim.              sim.
e ---------10-13p10----------13-16p13----------16-19p16----------19-22~
B ------12----------12----15----------15----18----------18----21-------
G ---13----------------16----------------19----------------22----------
D ---------------------------------------------------------------------
A ---------------------------------------------------------------------
E ---------------------------------------------------------------------

d=downstroke
u=upstroke

ALWAYS downpick the bottom note, and ALWAYS up-pick the top note.

[Moibanez]

I'll ask my wife as soon as she gets back from her nightly flight on her broom sorry I had to say it..

[crevis]

Originally Posted by Holy Katana

I picked up on sweeping quite easily. I'll use 3-string diminished sweeps (yay for Yngwie!) in this example. The most common way of doing it is like:

     d  d  d  u     u  sim.              sim.
e ---------10-13p10----------13-16p13----------16-19p16----------19-22~
B ------12----------12----15----------15----18----------18----21-------
G ---13----------------16----------------19----------------22----------
D ---------------------------------------------------------------------
A ---------------------------------------------------------------------
E ---------------------------------------------------------------------

d=downstroke
u=upstroke

ALWAYS downpick the bottom note, and ALWAYS up-pick the top note.

Yngwie would never use that phrasing...


e ----13-10-----------10-16-13-----------13-19-16-----------16-22bf21
B -----------12----12-----------15----15-----------18-----18--------
G --------------13-----------------16------------------19------------
D ---------------------------------------------------------------------
A ---------------------------------------------------------------------
E ---------------------------------------------------------------------

somthing more like that

[Paul_R]

Originally Posted by Moibanez

I'll ask my wife as soon as she gets back from her nightly flight on her broom sorry I had to say it..

Dang It! You beat me to it! I was going to say I find sweeping easier to do when I have a broom. Guess we better not quit our jobs and go into comedy.