Anyone interested in Sweeping?

Guitarman27 · Sea Monkey Joined: 31 Jul 2004 Posts: 13 Location: Cali

If anyone wants to learn about the sweeping technique and arpeggios to get ya started give me a ring.

Crucified_With_Christ · Posted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 1:05 pm Post subject:

Hey Guitarman27, I'm a dope! Could you explain what sweeping and arpeggios are? Because, although I don't know what they are, I'm sure that I could use the technique tutorial! If you're willing, that is... Thanks in advance!

- Tim

sharring · Tiger Joined: 04 Feb 2004 Posts: 812 Location: Texas

Yeah, I could benefit too. The newest licks I know are from 1965. Be God's-scott

Guitarman27 · Sea Monkey Joined: 31 Jul 2004 Posts: 13 Location: Cali

Sweep picking can take some time to learn but when you have learnt to sweep you will think it is easy.So take your time,it´s really worth the work.

Arpeggios are bulid from the notes of a chord.The different between chords and arpeggios is how they are played.You play chords with a strum,while the arpeggios are played one after another.To play the A minor chord as a an arpeggio we will first take a look at the A minor scale.Then i will explain how to form an arpeggio.

E|-------------------------------------------------5--7--8--
B|---------------------------------------5--6--8------------
G|--------------------------------5--7----------------------
D|----------------------5--7--9-----------------------------
A|------------5--7--8---------------------------------------
E|--5--7--8-------------------------------------------------

Now lets take a look at the A minor barre chord.Notice the similar notes from the scale and the chord.

E|------5-------|
B|------5-------|
G|------5-------|
D|------7-------|
A|------7-------|
E|------5-------|

Now when you now how to play the A minor scale and the a minor chord we can easily form an arpeggio.The notes in the A minor chord are A - E - A - C - E - A but since the notes A and E are played in two or more octaves there is only three different notes in this chord (A - C - and E).If you play these three notes one after another you are playing what we call an arpeggio.Another way to see it is way.Pick the first,third and the fifth notes of the scale(A - C - E)and you´ll have a simple A minor arpeggio.

E|-------------------|
B|-------------------|
G|-------------------|
D|-------------------|
A|--------------7----|
E|----5----8---------|

If we now add notes from the next octave it will look like this.

E|----------------------------------5----|
B|-----------------------------5---------|
G|------------------------5--------------|
D|-------------------7-------------------|
A|--------------7------------------------|
E|----5----8-----------------------------|

Now when you have learned the basic arpeggio forms you should learn them all around the fretboard in any key.Hopefully you get the idea on how and where to use them. Playing arpeggios instead of chords can really spice up you guitarplaying.To play them really fast i recommend the sweep picking technique which I will explain next.

Guitarman27 · Sea Monkey Joined: 31 Jul 2004 Posts: 13 Location: Cali

When playing fast licks or solo´s where the notes lies on different string like an arpeggio it can be hard to get the desired speed with alternate picking(up,down,up,down) and here is where the sweeping come in.When you´re sweeping your pick should flow across several string using one smooth picking motion(also known as brush stroke).Mute all strings with your left hand(right hand if your left handed) and let the pick fall from string to string down,down,down,down,down,down and then up,up,up,up,up,up.It´s almost like strumming a chord but when you sweep each note should be muted right after you have hit it (This is done by lifting your finger away from the fret enough to mute it).If the notes aren´t muted they will ring together and it will sound awful.

To play first exercise in A minor first fret the 14th fret with you 3 (ring) finger and hit the note with a pick using a down stroke,then quickly lift your finger away to mute and prevent noise and ringing of notes.Then fret the 13th fret with your middle finger and hit the note with a down stroke,again lift your finger away to prevent unwanted noise and ringing.Use your index finger to fret the 12th fret hit the note with a down stroke and then use the hammer on technique and hammer on to the 17th fret with your pinky.So you should only use down strokes and also remember to mute each note after picking them.

E|--------12h17-------------|
B|-----13-------------------|
G|--14----------------------|
D|--------------------------|
A|--------------------------|
E|--------------------------|

It can take some time to get used to but keep at it.

In the next exercise we will use the same pattern as the first one,only this time we go back to where we started (to the 14th fret on the G string).To play this exercise follow the instrutions for the first exercise but instead of using a hammer on on the 17th fret pick it with an up stroke.Then pull off to the 12th fret and continiue up with up strokes.Your picking should be down,down,down,up,(pull off),up,up. Then repeat it.

E|--------12-17p12-----------------|
B|-----13----------13---------------|
G|--14----------------14------------|
D|------------------------------------|
A|------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------|

Thats the basics for 3 string sweeps. Before I go into five string sweeps I need to mention the rolling technique.

The problem with this sweep is the notes found on the A,D,G,B and E string.How do you prevent the string from ringing into each others? You can´t just move your finger away cause you need it to fret the next note.In Exampe 1 you can see that the index finger have to fret 3 different notes on 3 different strings and they are all found on the 5 fret.So how do you do it? Well we have to use the rolling techique.The rolling technique is not only the hardest part of sweeping it´s also the hardest part to explain.Anyway i will try to explain it for you.

Ex 1
E|--------------5h8p5---------------------|
B|------------5-------5--------------------|
G|----------5-----------5------------------|
D|--------7---------------7----------------|
A|------7-------------------7--------------|
E|--5h8-----------------------8p5---------|

First we´ll train up our fingers to do a two string roll. To do this place the tip of your finger on the A string 7 fret so that your finger becomes slightly arched.Pick the note and then use the underside of your finger to roll down to the next note (in this case the A note on the D string).If you do this the right way they won´t ring together.The rest of this sweep is simple.After picking the A note on the D string hammer your little finger on the 10th fret then lift it up a little to mute unwanted sound,fret the E note on the G string with your ring finger and the A note on the B string with your little finger.

E|----------------------|
B|---------------10----|
G|------------9--------|
D|-----7--10----------|
A|--7------------------|
E|---------------------|

When you have practiced this exercise with all you fingers (not your thumb). you are ready for the three string roll.The three string roll is basically the same as the two string roll only here you use three stings. First look at the example below.

E|-------------------------|
B|--------7--10--7--------|
G|-----7------------7-----|
D|--7---------------------|
A|-------------------------|
E|-------------------------|

Place the tip of you finger on the D string (A note) then right after picking the D string arch the knuckle of your finger and roll it down to the G string (D note).When doing this the tip of your finger will mute the D string.After picking the G string roll down to the B string so the G string will be muted too and then use your little finger to hammer on to the 10th fret. Do the opposite when going back up to the D string.

PunkStar · Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 10:10 pm Post subject:

That's quite a good tutorial. Good work.

sharring · Tiger Joined: 04 Feb 2004 Posts: 812 Location: Texas

Thanks brother. Now I have to go practice. Be God's-scott