Sweeps and such

StayKruel

StayKruel

New member
I've been playing for about 16 years now, 90% self taught, and the one thing I just cannot nail down fluidly is sweeping and arpeggios. Does anyone have a good resource, tips, lessons, whatever on this technique? I want to learn the Selkies solo from BTBAM and can do most of it minus the blasted sweep section.
 
Re: Sweeps and such

Start with the simple 3 string "D" shaped ones. They are the easiest to start with.

These are in A:

Major:

E --------9--12--9------------------
B ----10------------10--------------
G -9--------------------9-----------
D ----------------------------------
A ----------------------------------
E ----------------------------------

Minor:

E --------8--12--8------------------
B ----10------------10--------------
G -9--------------------9-----------
D ----------------------------------
A ----------------------------------
E ----------------------------------

THEN move on to the 5 string ones when you get those down.

Major:

E -------------9--12--9------------------
B ---------10------------10--------------
G ------9--------------------9-----------
D ---11-----------------------11---------
A 12-----------------------------12------
E ----------------------------------------

Minor:

E -------------8--12--8------------------
B ---------10------------10--------------
G ------9--------------------9-----------
D ---10-----------------------10---------
A 12-----------------------------12------
E ----------------------------------------

Move those around in any key and have fun! There are a ton more fun "shapes" out there!
 
Re: Sweeps and such

TheLivingDead said:
Start with the simple 3 string "D" shaped ones. They are the easiest to start with.

These are in A:

Major:

E --------9--12--9------------------
B ----10------------10--------------
G -9--------------------9-----------
D ----------------------------------
A ----------------------------------
E ----------------------------------

Minor:

E --------8--12--8------------------
B ----10------------10--------------
G -9--------------------9-----------
D ----------------------------------
A ----------------------------------
E ----------------------------------

THEN move on to the 5 string ones when you get those down.

Major:

E -------------9--12--9------------------
B ---------10------------10--------------
G ------9--------------------9-----------
D ---11-----------------------11---------
A 12-----------------------------12------
E ----------------------------------------

Minor:

E -------------8--12--8------------------
B ---------10------------10--------------
G ------9--------------------9-----------
D ---10-----------------------10---------
A 12-----------------------------12------
E ----------------------------------------

Move those around in any key and have fun! There are a ton more fun "shapes" out there!
Click to expand...

Will practice, cuz TLD got da chizzopz.
 
Re: Sweeps and such

Coincidentally, I just started watching this last night on DVD, but turns out it's on
YouTube—the version I bought has both videos on one disc:






It's not all sweep picking, but features a lot of neat licks and exercises in that vein.

EDIT: Oops, looks like you have to click through and view it directly on YouTube to
get this to work, embedding is disabled :(
 
Re: Sweeps and such

Practice the arpeggios with alternate picking to get used to the shape, then practice them by slowly raking the pick across the strings and making sure the arpeggios correlate with each string. Then gradually build up speed and take the patterns across different areas. When performing them it helps to mute the strings with the bridge of your hand ever so slightly. A lot of shredder guitar players put a scrunchie over the neck and fretboard.

Keep a lighter touch. You might instinctively dig in but if you loosen up you'll find it so much easier.
 
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Re: Sweeps and such

StayKruel said:
The Selkies solo from BTBAM. Can do most of it minus the blasted sweep section.
Click to expand...

Maybe taping it would be easier? Sweeping takes ages to get down.

On top of the Gilbert REH Vids -
..... Give me an L give me an i give me a c give me a k give me an s What's that spell?
I love that 😊.....

Also watch Frank Gambale's and Vinnie Moore's plus a few extra. They are totally old school 80's but really really good.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=B7j2qzs6kmY

http://youtube.com/watch?v=4qwBAiolWVE

http://youtube.com/watch?v=66IVV4vNoPg

http://youtube.com/watch?v=tKOvlsTvjic

http://youtube.com/watch?v=OUXHm9wDoo0

Good luck
 
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Re: Sweeps and such

My 2 cents, I also use this to warm up and in the past it helped me greatly to sweep pick. First mute strings with your left hand and practise to perfect your "rake" using your right hand, falling smoothly from 6th string to 1st string, It is not as easy as it sounds to make a controlled fluid rake with different speeds. Test if it sounds good by playing a full barre chord, let the notes ring together dont worry just perfect your rake for the moment. Watch your pick closely while doing this; which pick/wrist angles you feel comfortable, how much you dig into strings, do you mute strings with your palm, does the pick angle changes as you fall down or you fall with your hand?..etc analyze every detail. Try changing speed and yet keep the same fluidity falling up and down..

When you 'r comfortable with that you can slowly start incorporating left hand rolling/lifting. and find your way to mute the strings(you may notice you r already muting some strings with your right hand so just find your way and optimize it) Interestingly my experience on sweep picking was more like "enlightment", I was practising for long time but I just couldn't do it. Then one day I got a "aha" moment, after that my technique improved very quickly. I believe this rake exercise can give you that "aha" moment
 
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Re: Sweeps and such

I always had problems with sweeping. I never did it and all girlfriends started to quarrel after a while. I hated the vacum cleaner even more. It added too much noise to the circuits and amps started to burr like a rabid cat when it was on. I asked her to sweep instead. She said what?!?!?!?!?! and I showed her this video, saying it is easy:




She did not really get it.
 
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Re: Sweeps and such

The REH Gilbert videos are a great resource. I will also be posting some exercises that helped, and still help me. The main thing I do is start slow, and build speed at anything I attempt. On an upsweep I usually hammer an extra note on the high E, may hammer a note, and slide up to the next position to get a little noodly kind of thing, or hammer with my right hand and downsweep. I will also sometimes go to the neck pickup which will kind of give a little more fluid tone.

Have a great day, and keep shreddin',

Al
 
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