What are you playing on your Instrument now?

Sweeping's an easy technique once you've got it down, the whole technique relies on how well you can syncronise both hands, as that's how you get the 'sweep' sound, it's all the process of playing a note, then simultaneously muting it and playing the next note to get a smooth sound.
 
Nitefly said:
won't get better unless I play for over three hours solid more than 4 days a week.
Click to expand...
Amen to that dude. When I was on the saussage, just about all I did was play my guitar/bass to distraction every day up to about 6 hours. It's supprising how well you can build up your technique and stamina simply by putting the time in with some basic excercises and new songs to learn.
Now with work and home stuff I barely have the time to play for 6 hours a week, let alone 6 hours every day :eek: :eek: :(
 
Andelusion said:
What do you mean by steve vai stuff?

*Wants to help - teaching hat on*
Click to expand...

lol just the sweeping thing...

i know what to do.. its just so hard.

can i practice sweeping with scales?

i really need to brush up on all my theory really...

think i might go back over arpeggios.and some minor scales.:( fed up :p

sick of playing along with songs... no offence but they seem to easy...all the traditional classics that we play... think im going to go back to the drawing board for a while... get some revising done on the guitar :p

think not being in a band is whats doing my head in... havent been in one for about 2yr....
 
lemonkettaz said:
sick of playing along with songs... no offence but they seem to easy...all the traditional classics that we play... think im going to go back to the drawing board for a while... get some revising done on the guitar
Click to expand...
When I got bored of 'traditional classics', I think the second 'solo' on Radiohead's 'Airbag' (Amongst their other characteristic chord sequences...) completely set me free with what I wish to ultimately achieve on the guitar from the shackles of technical perfection.

Give the tune a listen as well as the guitar playing on 'Subterranian homesick alien'. I like to hear things that you might not expect :)
 
One More Solo said:
Learning the solo of one of Muse's new songs, Invincible. Completely unlike anything I usually play, i.e. tapping, but I'm getting there.
Click to expand...
Heh, I had a go at transcribing that..... at first I though it was sweeping... but no.

Then two hand tapping... but not. Kinda.

As far as i can make out its playing one or two notes really low on the e string the whole time, whilst hitting the occational note on the high e string with the right hand. All made to sound weird with that crazy pad he has on his guitar. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Realising without the 'pad' it would never sound the same... I gave up.
 
Nitefly said:
Heh, I had a go at transcribing that..... at first I though it was sweeping... but no.

Then two hand tapping... but not. Kinda.

As far as i can make out its playing one or two notes really low on the e string the whole time, whilst hitting the occational note on the high e string with the right hand. All made to sound weird with that crazy pad he has on his guitar. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Realising without the 'pad' it would never sound the same... I gave up.
Click to expand...

Nah! It's quite simple really. Use your right hand index finger to tap the high notes and your left hand to tap the left ones. No need for a pick or anything like that. If you have a Digitech Whammy set it to an octave up and push the treadle down on each of the high notes.

Code: 
      Q    S S S S S S S S S S S S     Q    S S S S S S S S S S S S  
E||--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
B||--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
G||--12----0-5-0-5-0-5-0-5-0-5-0-5-|--10----5-0-5-0-5-0-5-0-5-0-5-0-|
D||--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
A||--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
E||--------------------------------|--------------------------------|


  Q    S S S S S S S S S S S S     Q    Q     Q    Q     
-------------------------------|------------------------|
-------------------------------|------------------------|
--9----5-0-5-0-5-0-5-0-5-0-5-0-|--10----0----12----0----|
-------------------------------|------------------------|
-------------------------------|------------------------|
-------------------------------|------------------------|


   Q    S S S S S S S S S S S S     Q    S S S S S S S S S S S S  
--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
--14----5-2-5-2-5-2-5-2-5-2-5-2-|--12----5-2-5-2-5-2-5-2-5-2-5-2-|
--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
--------------------------------|--------------------------------|


   Q    S S S S S S S S S S S S     Q    Q     Q    Q     
--------------------------------|------------------------|
--------------------------------|------------------------|
--10----5-2-5-2-5-2-5-2-5-2-5-2-|--12----2----14----2----|
--------------------------------|------------------------|
--------------------------------|------------------------|
--------------------------------|------------------------|


   Q    S  S S  S S  S S  S S  S S  S     Q    Q     Q    Q     
--------------------------------------|------------------------|
--------------------------------------|------------------------|
--14----7-10-7-10-7-10-7-10-7-10-7-10-|--12----7----14----7----|
--------------------------------------|------------------------|
--------------------------------------|------------------------|
--------------------------------------|------------------------|


   Q     S S  S S  S S  S S  S S  S S     Q    Q     Q    Q     
--------------------------------------|------------------------|
--------------------------------------|------------------------|
--16----12-7-12-7-12-7-12-7-12-7-12-7-|--14----7----16----7----|
--------------------------------------|------------------------|
--------------------------------------|------------------------|
--------------------------------------|------------------------|


   Q     S S  S S  S S  S S  S S  S S     Q    Q     Q    Q     
--------------------------------------|------------------------|
--------------------------------------|------------------------|
--16----13-9-13-9-13-9-13-9-13-9-13-9-|--14----9----16----9----|
--------------------------------------|------------------------|
--------------------------------------|------------------------|
--------------------------------------|------------------------|


   Q     S S  S S  S S  S S  S S  S S     Q    Q     Q    Q     
--------------------------------------|------------------------|
--------------------------------------|------------------------|
--17----14-9-14-9-14-9-14-9-14-9-14-9-|--16----9----17----9----|
--------------------------------------|------------------------|
--------------------------------------|------------------------|
--------------------------------------|------------------------|


   Q     S  S  S  S  S  S  S  S  S  S  S  S     Q     Q     Q     Q     
--------------------------------------------|--------------------------|
--------------------------------------------|--------------------------|
--17----14-10-14-10-14-10-14-10-14-10-14-10-|--16----10----17----10----|
--------------------------------------------|--------------------------|
--------------------------------------------|--------------------------|
--------------------------------------------|--------------------------|


   Q     S  S  S  S  S  S  S  S  S  S  S  S     W                  
--------------------------------------------|---------------------|
--------------------------------------------|---------------------|
--19----16-12-16-12-16-12-16-12-16-12-16-12-|--19b----------------|
--------------------------------------------|---------------------|
--------------------------------------------|---------------------|
--------------------------------------------|---------------------|


                                                     W                
  W                   Q     H.                 Q     H.               
-------------------|-----------------------|--------20pbr------------|
-------------------|-----------------------|-------------------------|
--L----------------|-------19br------------|--17---------------------|
-------------------|-----------------------|-------------------------|
-------------------|-----------------------|-------------------------|
-------------------|-----------------------|-------------------------|
 
lemonkettaz said:
lol just the sweeping thing...

i know what to do.. its just so hard.

can i practice sweeping with scales?
Click to expand...

Not really.

The way the guitar is tuned makes playing scales across adjacent strings very difficult and well pointless.

When you see a guitarist sweep they're 9/10 playing an arpeggio (the notes of a chord seperately).

However there is a technique called economy picking which is a hybrid of alternate picking and sweeping.

If you play a regular scale (can be 3 notes per string, or a pentatonic of some sort) begin picking alternate as normal, so you'll begin on a downstroke. For example in A Major:

E:------------------
B:------------------
G:------------------
D:-------------6-7-9
A:------5-7-9-------
E:5-7-9-------------
--d-u-d-d-u-d-d-u-d

Pick the first 3 notes as normal, now when you come to change strings, continue with a downstroke, so you're playing 2 like strokes in a row.

But anyway, if you want some exercises for sweeping add me to msn if you want because i've got a few in powertab which might help :)
 
In fairness that is (almost) exactly what I was saying.... just on different strings and with a whammy pedal. I may venture into my sauna... pardon me... my bedroom to fetch my guitar to have a go..... but no promises ;)
 
Andelusion said:
However there is a technique called economy picking which is a hybrid of alternate picking and sweeping.

If you play a regular scale (can be 3 notes per string, or a pentatonic of some sort) begin picking alternate as normal, so you'll begin on a downstroke. For example in A Major:

E:------------------
B:------------------
G:------------------
D:-------------6-7-9
A:------5-7-9-------
E:5-7-9-------------
--d-u-d-d-u-d-d-u-d

Pick the first 3 notes as normal, now when you come to change strings, continue with a downstroke, so you're playing 2 like strokes in a row.
Click to expand...
I do that anyway, didn't realise that counted as sweeping? Oh well. I'm on about evil beasts like this:

------------------------8-12-8-------------------
---------------------10--------10----------------
----------------5-9----------------9-5-----------
-------------7--------------------------7--------
----------7-------------------------------7------
-----5-8------------------------------------8-5--

Or this:
-------------12-15-12-----------
----------14----------14---------
-------15----------------15------
----14---------------------14----
-13--------------------------13--
---------------------------------
:o EVIL
 
Nitefly said:
------------------------8-12-8-------------------
---------------------10--------10----------------
----------------5-9----------------9-5-----------
-------------7--------------------------7--------
----------7-------------------------------7------
-----5-8------------------------------------8-5--
Click to expand...

what is that
 
lemonkettaz said:
what is that
Click to expand...
Erm.... A minor sweep picked arppegio? *Might be wrong, help me here andelusion!*

Its a beast.... but possible! (Oh, you slide up and down for the two G string notes)

(Sorry for overuse of the 'B' word)
 
Last edited:
lemonkettaz said:
whats ** email address then...

cant garuntee im online a lot like... rarely use msn :p
Click to expand...

Have you just added me? I was eating my tea so didin't say hullo :p

It's called economy picking :)

Aye the first arpeggio is a 3 octave Aminor.

------------------------8-12-8-------------------
---------------------10--------10----------------
----------------5/9----------------9\5-----------
-------------7--------------------------7--------
----------7-------------------------------7------
-----5-8------------------------------------8-5--
-----1-4--3--3-1-1--2--1-4-1-2---1-1--3-3-4--1-

I play that shape using those fingers, just practise it slow in 4 note groupings and make sure every note is clean and you'll get it eventually.

It's always easier to start with some simple 3 note per string sweeps. That's pretty much one of the harder shapes you're going to come across.

EDIT:

Try these:

1 Octave Aminor

E-------12-
B----13----
G-14-------
D----------
A----------
E----------
---3--2--1

1 Octave Aminor again, but a different voicing and using 4 fingers:

E--------8--
B-----10----
G---9-------
D-7---------
A-----------
E-----------
---1-3-4-1--

I mean there's loads of different shapes you can come up with if you've got some knowledge of notes on the neck and chord construction. Really you've got to think about how you're going to use sweeping in your playing. Personally players who just run up and down arpeggios really don't have much imagination in their playing, it's more interesting incorporating the technique into moving around the neck with a flurry of notes rather than trying to use the technique constantly.

Anyway meh i'm conscious that the thread is getting derailed lol.
 
Last edited:
lemonkettaz said:
ive just had ago... wtf

never seen that one before...

quite a tasty one but seems a little ott to sweep
Click to expand...
I assure you its perfectly possible. I can make it clean and erm... *cringe* fast sitting here by my pc (Yep, you gits made me get it out :D . My guitar that is) but plugging into the amp I get quite a bit of noise when the distortion goes on. Hence I can't claim I'm 'good' at sweeping.... practise I think makes perfect here. Mini ones like this are ok:

CORRECTED:
-----12-15-12------
--14-----------14----
15----------------15-
-------------------
-------------------
-------------------

Just the bigger ones are insane *sulk*. At least you guys have made me get my practise hat on :)
 
Last edited:
Andelusion said:
I play that shape using those fingers...
Click to expand...
Yep, same :)
That's pretty much one of the harder shapes you're going to come across.
Click to expand...
Oh thank the lord for that. I've got the speed and fingering almost spot on.... its just muting unwanted noise. Hmmm. A case of slowing it down and seeing where its coming from really.

SindwinderNIC said:
thats the first arpegio from "duelling banjos" isnt it? (the long one) and isnt that short one meant to go back to 12 on the high E?
Click to expand...
Pardon? Never heard of it. And yes, I stand corrected :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom