Become a Sweep Picking Guru

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Become a Sweep Picking Guru

Short Description: Many people really don't understand what sweep picking is. This article tries to set the records straight.

The arguments never seem to stop on whether sweep picking is indeed a desirable technique or it simply distorts the rhythm and precision that can be achieved through alternate picking. But before we take sides and try to shoot down those on the other side of the fence let's try to understand what sweep picking actually is.

Let's assume you're playing a major scale having three notes per string. When you employ alternate picking technique you would go down/up/down right through the scale. But if you are sweep picking, you'll pick down/up/down on the first string followed by DOWN/up/down on the higher pitched string and DOWN/up/down on the next string below it while ascending the scale. So, there will be two consecutive down strokes when strings are changed.

And while descending the scale, if you're sweep picking you'll pick up/down/up, UP/down/up, UP/down/up. Again you perform two same pick strokes consecutively while changing strings. This is the crux of sweep picking.

When this method is approached correctly it's most logical way to pick. All of us have learnt in school the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. What we do in this method is to directly go to the string we want to pick without getting tied down by the down/up/down approach which is strictly followed in alternate picking method.

But guitarists who have been brought up on alternate picking style refuse to leave their comfort zone of predetermined picking pattern. They try to peddle fancy notions that their fingers instinctively pick at right string and this leaves them with loads of time to be creative while playing. I feel it's more a matter of attitude than any solid reason.

This doesn't however mean that sweep picking is free from all problems. There are indeed certain rough edges to it and let's try to smooth them out one by one.

The most commonly heard refrain is sweep picking causes the sound to be sloppy. This happens not due to any inherent flaw in this technique but because most of them try to practice too fast. If instead they start off by picking slowly they'll get crystal clear sound. Speed is not a big issue. It can be easily generated once picking is perfect. The other real problem is inability to mute the notes that are not played. This obviously distorts the sound quality. But you can overcome this easily by pressing either your palm or thumb on the strings that are not picked.

You shouldn't sound as if you're strumming as your pick runs across the strings. Even though the arm moves in a continuous sweep, play the arpeggio slowly so that each note is roundly defined and clearly heard.

Article Source: http://articlenexus.com

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