sweep picking help - need help with sweep picking

[littlegreenman]

Hey Kev, actually, I put down the A minor sweep because it rolls so nice, it is a very simple arrpegio to do actually. *It'sthe first arrpegio I teach to my students just because it is such an easy shape, and you don't need the same control of your picking hand cuz you just flow off of the strings. *
Anyway, sorry on the MP3's now guys, I'm not set up for that yet but hopefully in the next month or so I will be.
Jeremy

[Kevan]

Jeremy- please don't take offense. *I didn't mean it in a "Harmony Central"-kinda way. *:-)

I just thought that starting with a 3-string sweep would be a good start to getting a smooth technique down before tackling more strings/larger sweeps.

One way to look at it is that folks here on the Forum have access to DOZENS of instructors; all with different methods to approaching guitar techniques. *What better way to find the one that suits you best?

[jay ratkowski]

You've gotta start with the Mick Mars before you can get to the Malmsteen. *I personally think 3-string exercises are a great way to start... like take some of the 6-string ones and just go up and down those until you can play them cleanly... then add a string one at a time and do this until you are going all over the place like a madman. *Like going over Niagra Falls in a barrel, individual results may vary.

[littlegreenman]

Hey Kev, no offense taken man, I just personally find that one to be a very simple one to do, but as Jay said, actuall results may vary, hehe. *I agree on the less number of strings aproach too, here's a real simple one to do.
G major.
* * * * * * * * h p
-----------3-5-3--------------------------------
--------3---------3-----------------------------
-----4---------------4--------------------------
--5---------------------5-----------------------
-------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------

Here's A minor as 4 strings
* * * * * * * * h p
-----------5-8-5------------------------------
--------5---------5----------------------------
-----5---------------5-------------------------
--7---------------------7----------------------
------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------

When I get back home to my computer and have more time, I'll put up a couple more kewl ones for ya to try out!
Jeremy

[Vai is God]

So, would you recommend having your thumb behind or over the neck when doing sweeps?

I'm trying to learn Jason Becker's Serrana, any suggestions would be EXCELLENT.

[Kevan]

V.i.G.-
It's a personal preference thing where you decide to put your thumb. *Mine usually resides "over" the top of the neck. *I'm sure a classically trained guitarist would scoff at that, but...

Decide using your background and/or do which ever is most comfortable for you. *There is no right or wrong way to do it.

P.S.- Good luck with the Becker tune. *I'd need TAB, video and Jason to come over in order for me to learn that song. :-) *

[Mirrored CAT]

Don't forget something when you sweep. When you're playing notes on adjacent strings but in the same frets, you have to roll your finger. Doing this, you'll mute the previous and next strings while playing the note that you want clean, with the part of your finger that's lower.

And by the way, Serrana is great (but hard to tackle if you're a begginer) !

[Vai is God]

I'm not really a begginer, but it's still really difficult. I want to play it at the auditions for Berklee guitar sessions this summer.

[Mirrored CAT]

If you show me the passages that you feel that are difficult, I can try and tell you how to manage them.

[Vai is God]

Okay, here's one for starters.


-19p15-------------15-15p10------------
---------15-----15-----------12---------
-------------16-----------------12------
-----------------------------------14---
-----------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------

I get tripped up on the 15p10. I end up with my index finger on the 15 so I can't pull off.

Also, I only have the music for this song. Could anybody point me to a mp3 or wav file of Jason playing it?

[iain]

The only sweeping I'm any good at is when the wife hands me the broom

[Mirrored CAT]

Quote: from Vai is God on 5:01 pm on June 23, 2001
Okay, here's one for starters.


-19p15-------------15-15p10------------
---------15-----15-----------12---------
-------------16-----------------12------
-----------------------------------14---
-----------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------

I get tripped up on the 15p10. I end up with my index finger on the 15 so I can't pull off.

Let's get started. Here's the most logical way to do it.

*4^ *1 * *1u * 2^ 1^ 1^*4u *1 etc
-19p15-------------15-15p10------------
---------15-----15-----------12---------
-------------16-----------------12------
-----------------------------------14---
-----------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------

On top of the tab, I put a number, that corresponds to the finger your using. A "^" means a downstroke, and a "u" means an upstroke. Some don't have it because they're pull offs. But the basic idea to tackle your question is to play the 15 (G) with an upstroke and then for the downstroke changing to the 4th (pinky) finger, making you ready to play that passage and have also your hand ready for the next arpeggio form. Got it? Feel free to ask again any other questions about Serrana.

By the way, the "Serrana" you're probably learning is just the arpeggio part of the 8 minute song "Serrana", that was released in Jason's album "Perspectives".

(Edited by Mirrored CAT at 6:53 pm on June 23, 2001)

[Vai is God]

Thank you, very much! That will work great.

Yeah, it's just the arpeggios.

So do you know if there is anyway I could hear it being played by a guitar?

[Mirrored CAT]

I know where you can find a version of it played by Jason. Go to http://www.saunalahti.fi/angwie/ . Then click on the link "Jason's Style". You if you look closely on that song list, you'll find Serrana's arpeggio part.

[Vai is God]

Thanks for the link...

I can play the first 1/4th of it about 3/4ths as fast and about 3/4ths as cleanly.

...I didn't realize how good he was with a floyd!