Want to finally master sweep picking technique?
Play killer arpeggios that demand attention?
All while playing perfectly clean so that there is no unwanted noise and every note sounds independently from the others?
You’re on the right page.
Reading this article is going to help you finally master sweep picking technique.
The following are the main things you need to learn about:
- the things to think about while concentrating on your fretting hand and picking hand in order to sweep faster, plus:
- which mistakes you need to steer clear of in order to play fast and clean.
First thing is first, prepare yourself to dominate sweep picking technique by watching the video below:
Okay, with that out of the way, it’s time to move beyond the surface.
Guitarists make three common mistakes while playing sweep picking arpeggios.
Mistake #1: Breaking Up Your Sweeping Momentum.
What does momentum refer to when it comes to sweep picking?
Simple. You stop the motion created in the picking hand while moving from one string to the next.
This is commonly done when a guitarist is moving from the thicker strings to the thinner strings, but can happen at any time.
This can still happen even if you move the pick away from the strings as I demonstrated in the video.
This very well may be the biggest cause of unclean sweep picking arpeggios.
So, what is the best way to avoid this?
Make sure you push your pick through the strings in one “sweeping” motion while moving from thicker to thinner strings. Pull your hand back as you move in the opposition direction (thinner to thicker).
Here is how you do it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLq_GXrZidw&feature=emb_title
Mistake #2: Spending Too Much Time Unplugged.
It’s preferable to use distortion to practice sweep picking for the majority of your practice time.
You might be thinking, “but doesn’t distortion cover up your mistakes and keep you from playing clean in the long run?”
Not the case.
Distortion helps you find the mistakes you need to correct because it makes sloppy playing much more easy to spot. Regarding sweep picking, this is very helpful to see when notes ring out together.
You can’t really hear notes ringing out together while playing unplugged or without distortion. This means you could go a long time before noticing a big issue with your sweep picking if you don’t practice with distortion.
Check out this free guitar technique video by Mike Philippov where he discusses it in heavier detail.
Question: “Tom Hess, does this mean I shouldn’t ever practice without distortion?”
Answer: If you pick with weaker articulation, playing with a clean tone is a useful approach. That said, you don’t need to work on articulation too much when it comes to sweep picking arpeggios.
Mistake #3: Inconsistent Rhythm Within An Arpeggio.
It sounds great when you play clean arpeggios with tons of speed.
However, one thing doesn’t sound so great…
When you rush the pull off at the top or bottom of a particular arpeggio pattern.
This is a very common problem for people as they learn to sweep pick.
Watch this video to see what it sounds like:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0aOqsLXAco&feature=emb_title
What is the major issue with this mistake?
The notes of your arpeggios end up being played at varying rhythmic speeds. This forces you to slow down while playing the arpeggio causing sloppiness.
Now you understand the critical fundamental concepts needed to put yourself on the right path towards mastering sweep picking. But there are 5 important secrets to sweep picking to learn to skyrocket the speed and cleanliness of your arpeggios right now.
Want to learn them for free? Check out this sweep picking eGuide to start playing faster and cleaner arpeggios right away.
About The Author:
Tom Hess is a highly successful guitar teacher, touring musician and composer. He teaches electric guitar online lessons to guitarists around the world. Follow Tom Hess on Facebook for daily guitar playing tips and links to free guitar resources.
