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Become A Sweep Picking Guru |
By:
Crazy Dave |
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Become a Sweep Picking Guru
Crazy Dave
Short Description: There are many stories doing the rounds since ages about this method of picking. Some are true while some are absolute figments of imagination. This article tries to put things in proper perspective.
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.
While on your way up the scale, if you sweep pick, you'll pick up/down/up, UP/down/up, UP/down/up, that is, you do two similar pick strokes consecutively while changing strings. That's all there is to sweep picking - nothing more nothing less.
All of us have learnt in our school days the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. This elementary scientific knowledge is used in sweep picking technique. It reduces distance between two strings by directly going to the required string. The guitarist is not constrained by the strict down/up/down regimen of alternate picking style.
But there are some guitarists who want to remain in the comfort zone of predetermined pattern which is the hallmark of alternate picking style. They say their fingers automatically, rather, instinctively pick at right string and they simply don't have bother about it at all. This leaves them with more free time to improvise and be creative. I feel it's more a dogma than any real logical reason.
There are also certain other common problems which many players face and generally tend to avoid sweep picking.
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.
The biggest problem in my opinion is not to sound as if you are strumming while your pick bounces across the strings. Each note should have a definition and though the arm moves in a continuous motion across the strings you should be able to play the arpeggio slowly and in time while each note is distinctly heard.
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Article Source: http://www.statssheet.com/articles/article72862.html |
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