Sweep Scales

I'm a beginner but I'm interested in learning sweep-picking in the future. What are some good scales to practice that will get my fingers moving for some sweeps eventually?

Why not start sweeping now anyway, just on the side? It might not be great at the moment - but it is something that takes a long time so you might aswell get started. And even if you can't handle doing it well yet at least you'll have the head start later.

err what is sweeping exactly, im prob doing it w/o knowing

If you want to learn how to sweep pick then Id suggest looking at chords. Yep thats right most sweeps are actually arpeggios. So start to learn the "shape" of the chords, like minor and major. Here is a common one for minor.

|-o-|---|---|

|---|-o-|---|

|---|---|-o-|

|---|---|-o-|

|-o-|---|---|

|---|---|---|

Here is what A minor looks like

------------------12h15p12-----------------------

--------------13------------13-------------------

----------14--------------------14----------------

------14----------------------------14------------

--12------------------------------------12--------

-----------------------------------------------

I think you'd know it if you were doing it... but maybe. It's an advanced technique that involves playing arpeggios at a very fast pace. You do it by hitting one note at a time but sort of strumming with your picking hand. The other strings are muted other than the one you're playing, but you play them all in series (wether you play 3 string, 4 string, 5 string or string sweeps is up to you, it's considered harder the more string you do). Metalcore bands use them a lot these days, but in the 80s they were used by metal bands aswell, and power metal aswell.

Check out the start of the solo to Judas Preists Painkiller, or the start of the All Shall Perish song Eradication if you're more into metalcore. (both good examples and mint tracks).


At the moment I can handle 5 strings and have started learning a 6 string pattern. It's fun when you get it... it takes a lot of slow tedious practice with a metronome to get it clean.

ahh ive been trying that (and failing!) its hard, but used a lot in appeggios and penatonics. i belive they use it in rock u like a hurrricane. correct me if im wrong but its basicly alternate picking down the strings.

no, it's all down picking going down through the strings, and then up picking on the way up. it isn't the same picking technique as normal though - the pick sweeps across all the strings in one fluid movement rather than 6 individual pick strokes.

i finaly get what the word sweep means.... if you play fingerpicking, its easy to get the hang of it. although picking aint very hard, atleast for me... very usede in classical playing. so learning classical pieces will work well

If you want to here sweeps listen to Nevermore, Jeff Lomis is a monster at sweep picking. Here listen to him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oipOtikCJQM

Is the intro to Knocking on heavens door sweep picking?

Nah. I think it's just hitting different notes of a chord but still letting them ring. For sweep picking you have to have only one note sound at any one time and for there to be any point it should be faster than it could being alternate picked.

try "house of the rising sun" as done by the animals. i think that is an excellent example.

It isn't really sweeping though is it? Isn't it letting the notes ring just using open chords?

I'm afraid that too is just another example of an ordinary arpeggio. Sweep picking technique wasn't really used in popular music until mid 80s.

Damn, now i'm going to have to punish myself!
My mistake. Is the link from bodom (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oipOtikCJQM true sweep picking then?

At first he's tapping, but then I'm sure he moves on to sweep picking yeah. Try this video for a better sound and video quality. He starts with some rhythm playing and then does some sweeps.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-ESkM2e21I

The difference? Sweep picking faster than you blink... well not that fast, but it's faster than "house of the Rising sun."

here's an example of a sweep on almost clean(might have some delay).
Around 1:23, Volpe goes some sweeps, as well as through out the song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htH0ZPff7VE

Ah, ok i can see (and hear) the difference.

no...just simple arpeggios.

Light that blinds by shadows fall is a awesome example of sweeping it's on guitar hero 2 for those gh2 fans out there :)

Actually The Light that blinds by Shadows Fall is the exact opposite of an awesome example since there is no sweeping just a fast shred after the clean intro. It is very surprising to see how foreign or misunderstood sweep picking is in the guitar community.

the glass prison by dream theater has a really good sweep picking part near the beginning. John Petrucci is a beast at that kind of thing.

Sweep picking requires a pattern of set number of consecutive downstrokes,usualy one note per string,unless its sequenced,and a set number of upstrokes taking the pattern back up,usually the same way it went down,usually
here is an example of a basic cmaj with 3 downstrokes,an hammer,a pulloff and 2 upstrokes

 

  d  D  D   H  P  U  U(D0

E-------12-15-12--------

B----13----------13

G-12-----------------12

D

A

E

notice how on the come back up,there is only 2 up strokes,why you ask? Because the E note on the 12th fret on the high E has already been sounded by the pulloff,there is no need to pick it again,for it sounds weird,messy,and tremolo picky kinda out tune,outta sweep smooth sounding.

Also notice,when we come back up the arpeggio,you can hit the Gnote on the 12th fret of the the Gstring with a downstroke to re-sequence the arpeggio so the whole sweep pattern can be played in a continous loop,smoothly with no emphasized downbeat. But at the end,if you just plan on playing the arpeggio once,just use the 2 upstrokes,for simplicity.

This is where knowledge of inside,outside,and economy picking comes into play. I had a couple lessons written on sweeping,economy and inside and outside picking,which got great reviews,but someone deleted them O. But you gus can pm me any questions you have,I would be happy to answer them. I usually dont teach this stuff for free anymore,sdince im a teacher,but since I love Agc so much,all questions are on the house. (:

Gs2112m/(-_+)

I don't get what you're saying. For example, how many downstrokes are in your tabbed example?

Thanks.

@tsb When going down the arpeggio in my example,you will always play 3 donwstrokes in a row. Wether you sequence it,or not the arpeggio will always contain 3 downstrokes,going from the G string to The high E. Ill show you an example playing the arpeggio one time and in a sequenced loop
D-downstroke U-upstroke H-hammer on P-pulloff
This is the single time, not played in a loop, but rather played once.

  D  D  D  H  P   U  U

E-------12-15-12--------

B----13----------13-----

G-12----------------12--

D

A

E

this is a good way to play a certain arpeggio one time. Playing a sweep arpeggio his way is also good if you plan on playing this sweep,then following it with another sweep of a different pattern.

__


This example shows that wether you sequence the arpeggio or not,when going down the arpeggio starting on the G-STRING,you will always use three downstrokes in a row. This example also shows how to sequence an arpeggio(three string shape),so that it can be played reapeatedely in quick succession,while still following the rule of using three consecutive downstrokes In a row to emphasize the sweeping motion and smoothness.

                 

   D  D   D   H  P   U  D   D   D  H  P  U   D

E---------12--15-12-------------12-15-12----------

B-----13------------13------13-----------13-------

G--12-------------------12-------------------12---  

D

A

E

Notice how when I come up the arpeggio,I use outside picking to transefer from an upstroke on the b string to A downstroke on the Gstring. Outside picking is closely related to economy picking,which is the sister of sweeping.

As a refresher,Economy picking is the techinique of picking use a down or upstroke based on which ever way your hand is moving to help reduce the need for akward alternate picking sequences,for example playing a note on the A string with an upstroke,then playing a note on the Low E with a downstroke.

With economy picking you would play the not on the A string with an upstroke and the not on the low E with and upstroke,emphasizing the economy of motion,reducing hand strain,and helping to make things easier and more organized on the fretboard.


Anywho,to answer your original question,this pattern,when going from the G to B to high E always starts with three downstrokes in a row. Raking across the strings,then followed by a hammer on the a pulloff on the 12th fret of the E, An upstroke on the B and either a downstroke or an upstroke On the G string.

If you plan on playing the arpeggio more than once,use a downstroke,If you just plan on playing that particular pattern once,then stopping or moving on to a differnt pattern,play the Gstring coming back up the pattern using an Upstroke.

I hope this clears things up.

m/(-_=)Gs2112

So I was interpreting the first three notes as one down-stroke, so I can see the terminology can get in the way. :)

In a way,it is one downstroke,but depending on where you plan too go next,playing the arp a slightly different way is called for. But yes,it could be interpereted as one big downstroke.

Thanks for the tip. I think I'm getting it.

GShred,

That long text happens because you white your comments IN the tab codes... you need to type long writing outside of the tab codes otherwise it'll just keep it as one long sentence.

Victorious,

Please make sure to look at the dates before you comment - this topic is well over four years old! haha. The original person who made that comment doesn't go on here anymore, and there are more detailed topics, licks and lessons for this now.

Thanks!

Thanks jazzy Ill keep that in mind for future reference (:

Yeah, old topics suck!

@tsb But,they helped you learn something new {: So zombie threads cant be all bad.

gs2112: Actually I like them. If old threads are disabled that's one thing. But if they're not, I think it's cool to riff off them.

bodom & guitarslinger is right- sweep arpeggios, man !!!!

rock on..


pxm