I'm going to assume you mean "Sweep" picking, named after the "Sweeping" motion you make with your picking hand as it "sweeps" the strings.
Sweep picking is actually very simply to do once you get it down. Take any chord you know and make the shape of that chord. I'll start with the easiest one I learned: the 'C' chord in the 12th position:
e|12
B|13
G|12
D|14
A|15
E|xx
Now that we have a chord established, it is important for you to know that sweeping is nothing more than an arpeggio.
e|------------------12--
B|---------------13-----
G|-----------12---------
D|-------14-------------
A|---15-----------------
E|----------------------
The only difference is in the technique you use. Where many musicians prefer to hold the strings down as they go through each note in an arpeggio (To allow each note to ring, of course), sweeping is quite the opposite. You let go of each note as you pass it. As you let go of each note, you're trying to mute them as well. Don't be afraid to try to palm mute.
Another handy tule for the muting is to start learning to sweep using the neck pick-ups, since they're a bit quieter...
All right...
Another nice thing you can do with sweeping is go up and down or down then up, either one you choose.
e|-------------12--------------
B|----------13----13-----------
G|-------12----------12--------
D|----14----------------14-----
A|-15----------------------15--
E|-----------------------------
e|-12----------------------12--
B|----13----------------13-----
G|-------12----------12--------
D|----------14----14-----------
A|-------------15--------------
E|-
Of course these are all arpeggios, so not only can you play the arpeggio itself, you can add something to the begining and end of each one as well if you like (Or even in the middle too, if you like)
e|--------------12h15p12--------------
B|----------13-----------13-----------
G|-------12-----------------12--------
D|----14-----------------------14-----
A|-15----------------------------15---
E|------------------------------------
e|----------------12h15p12-------------------
B|-------------13-----------13---------------
G|----------12-----------------12------------
D|-------14-----------------------14---------
A|--12h15-----------------------------15p12--
E|-------------------------------------------
There are ways you can expand on these sweep-picked arpeggios as well, such as combining other chords:
(Something simple: D Minor to D Major in 12th Position)
e|-17p13-------------12P13----------
B|-------15-------13----------------
G|-----------14-12------------------
D|----------------------------------
A|----------------------------------
E|----------------------------------
After each note is struck, be sure to let go of that string. You don't want notes ringing after being picked, as it takes away from the "Sweep" aspect of it.
The picking hand is a bit different. It's almost like playing a chord, except you want to put a bit more of a tilt on the pick in the direction your picking so that it can smoothly glide off of one string to the next.
Hope this helps, and good luck.
Reply
