Get Started Sweep Picking
A lot of people have written asking for help with sweep picking. As I like to start at the beginning, this will be the first in a series of posts that starts at the most basic level and goes all the way to the monster guitar chops level.
- The Guitar Pick
- Holding The Pick
- Drive That Guitar?
- Begin Sweep Picking
The first thing you need to start sweep picking is the right guitar pick. I really like the Dunlop Jazz III, and I’m not alone. A couple of years ago I did see an article in a guitar magazine (I can’t remember which one) that asked the question “Can this pick make you a better player?” The answer was yes. Also notable shredders John Petrucci, Alexi Laiho, Mick Thomson and Joe Bonamassa all use them.
It may take a little while to get used to these picks because they are quite small, but it’s worth it. Once I started using them my accuracy and speed increased dramatically.
Opinions on this vary, but I have found the best way to hold the pick is between the thumb and the side of the first finger, with the point of the pick sticking out sideways from the thumb.
When you put your hand up to the guitar the pick is in the perfect position relative to the strings when you hold it this way. Also, even though it has nothing to do with sweep picking, it’s easy to use your other fingers in combination with the pick, something I do all the time. And I find that it’s easier to control the pick when there’s only a little bit sticking out, especially when playing single note lines.
Sweep picking is easier if you use a lot of distortion due to the compression. It’s easier to get an even sound, and it’s probably more fun too. But if you want to get really good you should spend some time practicing with a clean sound. This will force you to learn to control your pick in more subtle ways, and prevent you from hiding behind the dirt and compression.. Of course if your goal is to play a style of music that uses a distorted guitar tone it is important to practice that way.
This first sweep picking lick is a D minor 7 arpeggio. Set your metronome at a moderately slow pace , around 120 bpm, and play one note per beat. To begin with go nice and slow. Focus on getting an even sound and playing in time with the metronome. Gradually increase the tempo over time. Remember, if you practice sloppy you will play sloppy.
Your hand should be in the 5th position (your first finger is at the 5th fret of the guitar). This lick consists of 4 notes, the first 3 are played as down strokes and the last one is an upstroke. See the bottom of this page for an explanation of the picking pattern.
|-----5-8-----5-8----| |---6-------6--------| |-7-------7----------| |--------------------| |--------------------| |--------------------| Picking pattern: d d d u
Listen:
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The next sweep picking lick takes the first one a little farther. This time you will play the notes of the arpeggio descending with a pulloff and upstrokes. Once again, be sure to start out slow until it gets easy and increase speed gradually.
|-----5-8-5-------|-5-8-5------| |---6-------6---6-|-------6----| |-7-----------7---|------------| |-----------------|------------| |-----------------|------------| |-----------------|------------| Picking Pattern: d d d u p u
Listen:
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The last lick of this lesson is an A major arpeggio. It is in the 9th position on the guitar neck, playing the C shape of the A major chord. (I am referring to the CAGED guitar shapes here. If you don’t know what that is don’t worry, just follow the exercise).
|------------9-12-9--------------------9-12-9------------| |---------10--------10--------------10--------10---------| |-------9--------------9----------9--------------9-------| |----11------------------11----11------------------11----| |-12------------------------12---------------------------| |--------------------------------------------------------| Picking Pattern: d d d d d h p u u u
Listen:
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Sweep picking is a very cool technique that really isn’t as hard as it may seem once you get the hang of it. Like anything else with guitar it just takes practice and determination. Soon I will post the next in this series of guitar lessons. Tell me what do you think so far?
Picking Pattern: d=downstroke u=upstroke h=hammer-on p=pulloff
This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009 at 10:29 pm and is filed under Free Guitar Lessons. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
