Discover The Critical Elements To Practice For Solid Sweep Picking
Think that sweep picking patterns sound incredible and want to master the technique on your own?
You’re not the only guitarist with these thought and feelings …
Problem is, numerous guitar players learn sweep picking by using unsuccessful practice methods. This leads to slow progress over time.
I teach my students how to play sweep picking shapes that are easy to understand and use quickly in music.
I call these patterns 2–1–2 arpeggios (they sound really awesome when you play really fast using them).
Check out this sweep picking training video to see them right now:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOHRQ12cOjI
When you get the basics of sweep picking down, what else is there to do?
Combine what you learned in the video with the tips below for unstoppable sweep picking skills:
Sweep Picking Element # 1: Precise Finger Rolling Technique
What is finger rolling for guitar?
I’ll tell you:
It means using the same finger to fret 2 or more notes on the same fret, adjacent strings
What makes finger rolling tricky?
Having the accuracy to keep notes on separate strings from blending together.
Many guitarists (even those who can play other techniques with blazing speed) have problem with finger rolling and stay away from it as much as they can.
But rolling is uncomplicated when you isolate its mechanics and practice them the correct way.
Check out this video to see what I mean:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG2rjXiNUfU&feature=emb_title
Sweep Picking Element # 2: Identifying Errors While Playing Really Fast
Allow me to show you what to do:
Start-off by picking any sweep picking arpeggio you want to learn.
Repeat this same pattern continuously. Then do the following:
Step 1: Determine the specific speed at which you begin missing notes or playing sloppy.
Step 2: Play slightly slower than the speed you struggle at.
Step 3: Concentrate on just a single note within the shape. Don’t pay attention as much to the others.
Only concentrate on the note you are listening for.
Step 4: Play through this exercise until you are able to play this single note perfectly 90 & of the time.
Step 5: Change your center of focus to another note in the pattern.
Make this note perfect like you did before.
Step 6: Repeat steps 4–5 to polish every note within the pattern.
Step 7: Play about ten beats per minute faster than the previous speed you have problem with.
Sweep Picking Element # 3: Improving Sweep Arpeggios With Speed Picking
Try using speed picking (tremolo picking) to stop on a single note within a given arpeggio pattern.
What does this help with?
There are 2 benefits:
1. Stopping on random notes with tremolo splits up the movement of the sweep picking motion. This challenges your 2-hand synchronization.
2. When you can do it fast — you can produce truly terrorizing guitar arpeggios
Study this sweep picking improvement video to see what I mean.
Sweep Picking Element # 4: Make Arpeggios Sound Outstanding By Using Tapping
Tapping technique isn’t as hard as guitarists make it out to be.
Want to know how to use it to make your sweep picking sound astonishing?
Use these easy ideas to make sweep picking with tapped notes feel effortless:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FE6z7oujEa0&feature=emb_title
You now know how to increase your sweep picking speed. the next move is to do the same for your fretting hand. I show you how in my free eBook: “Mastering Your Fretting Hand Finger Independence”. Download it now & start playing faster & cleaner than you ever thought was possible.
About The Author:
Tom Hess is a guitar teacher online, progressive rock guitarist/composer and a touring musician. He teaches guitar players in his rock guitar lessons online. Go to tomhess.net to get more guitar playing resources and follow him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.
