Sweep picking

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IronFlippy

IronFlippy

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When you sweep pick, say, an E major chord like this:
e|-----------4--------------
B|---------5---5------------
G|-------4-------4----------
D|-----6-----------6--------
A|---7---------------7------
E|--------------------------

do you barre the 4th fret and roll your finger or do you fret it normally?

I've been trying to fret each note normally, but it seems very slow to be. I probably just need practice, but I'd hate to learn it the hard way only to later find out there's an easy way. (I've had this happen on sax before, it sucked when my teacher told me there's an easier way :p )
 
Others may differ, but I use my finger and do not barre the fret. The 4th fret should be using your index finger.
 
I would barre it, but I've also been told that although starting out you can do it faster barring it, in the long run you can get faster without barring it. so if you want to be a great shredder some day you shouldnt barre it.
 
I would only barre and roll on adjacent strings, just because of finger crowding. I put one finger on each note in the arp. you have illustrated.

e|-----------4--------------
B|---------5---5------------
G|-------4-------4----------
D|-----6-----------6--------
A|---7---------------7------
E|--------------------------
---- 4 3 1 2 1 .2 1 3 4

"-"s and "."s added for spacing.
 
Last edited:
One alternate technique is somewhere in between.

For instance, you'd fret the first 4th fret (on the G string) with your first finger normally, then lift it off the string, but keep it where it is.

On the 1st string note, you'd press down again with your first finger but you'd be pressing down near the first knuckle.

So, in other words, it looks like a barre, but you're not keeping it pressed down so the notes don't ring out. This the way I'd do it. The only time I would fret the 1st string normally is if I was going to finish the phrase on that G# note.

This method works really well for me.
 
Sweep picking is most effective when each note is played clean without any corresponding notes ringing out. The act of barring any consecutive notes when sweep picking arpeggios is not a good method to adopt. When starting out you may find it easier and quicker to use a partial barre with your index finger but this will be a habit that you will have to break if you want to eventually sweep pick any form of arpeggio with speed and have each note sounding independently.

One way to practice arpeggios is to pick each note (slowly at first) and let the pick come to rest on the next string at the same time removing your finger from the note just played. This will stop notes ringing into each other and allow more definition to each note played.

Also when playing ascending arpeggios all picking should be downward and descending should be upwards, alternate picking would only be used when consecutive notes are played on the same string which would generally only be done when starting or ending the arpeggios on the 6th and 1st strings.

Another little trick to help with the articulation of the arpeggio in question is to break it into two sections.

Firstly play the first 3 notes: E G# B on the 7th, 6th and 4th frets ascending and descending.

Secondly play the last 3 notes: B E G# on the 4th, 5th and 4th frets ascending and descending.

When you can play these two individual shapes cleanly join the two shapes together.
It is always more beneficial in the long run to learn slowly and correctly than to have to undo some bad habits that may have been developed. This will also allow you to eventually be able to sweep pick with speed with a lot of practice.

Im still practicing, patience and persistence is a must.

I hope this helps. :)
Sorry if I got carried away.
 
The barring will hurt you in the long run. If you learn to sweep fretting each note individually things will sound "cleaner". When you start playing larger appregios you won't have as much trouble because you have been relying on the bar, if that makes any sense. There really isn't a "right" way but one is certainly more practical than the other.
 
famous beagle said:
One alternate technique is somewhere in between.

For instance, you'd fret the first 4th fret (on the G string) with your first finger normally, then lift it off the string, but keep it where it is.

On the 1st string note, you'd press down again with your first finger but you'd be pressing down near the first knuckle.

So, in other words, it looks like a barre, but you're not keeping it pressed down so the notes don't ring out. This the way I'd do it. The only time I would fret the 1st string normally is if I was going to finish the phrase on that G# note.

This method works really well for me.
Click to expand...
thats actually what I was referring to when describing what I do, because if you don't lift the barre partially after each note on that fret it will ring out and sound like mush. however as wireneck said, it gets in the way when you go to do something more complicated or faster.
 
If the sweep is more of a quick rake across the strings I'd probably bar the chord but for a slower arpeggio sound I'd fret each note.
 
Well the closest I would come to "barring" during sweep picking would be when picking the same fret on adjacent strings as someone mentioned earlier....and in that case I would sort of roll my finger from one string to the next with no more than one string fretted at a time. It helps to be able to sort of arch your finger backwards a bit to exaggerate the motion a little. In the case you mentioned I definitely would not barre that because it would just make it alot sloppier. Pick up your fingers whenever you can because it's faster and cleaner. Just don't pick them up too much. ;)
 
IronFlippy said:
When you sweep pick, say, an E major chord like this:
e|-----------4--------------
B|---------5---5------------
G|-------4-------4----------
D|-----6-----------6--------
A|---7---------------7------
E|--------------------------

do you barre the 4th fret and roll your finger or do you fret it normally?
Click to expand...

Either way can be fine if you are using an aggresive palm mute.

But really if i were teaching you?
Id teach you to fret it normally.

-Finster
 
xfinsterx said:
Either way can be fine if you are using an aggresive palm mute.

But really if i were teaching you?
Id teach you to fret it normally.

-Finster
Click to expand...

No palm muting, unless a song somehow calls for it.

Well, I'm off to practice fretting those notes. I figured that would be the cleanest way to play it. All I can do right now are 3 note arpeggios, so it'll be a while.

Thansk for all the replies! Once again, you guys are tons of help. Thanks again!
 
I agree with Gorty. I've learned to use my fingers to help mute other strings so they don't continue to ring out (especially during arpeggio sweeping). There's a balance between the palm muting and string muting that just takes time and practice.
 
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