Outside the BOx
SWEEPING THE BEAT How do rock guitarists like Joe Satriani perform amazing extended licks with apparently little effort? ROBIN HENDERSON offers some age advice in this introduction to the mysterious art of sweep picking…
Sweep Picking is an advanced technique that combines a continuous motion of the pick across adjacent strings in sync with the fretting hand and this month’s column starts with the basics, slowly progressing to some killer sweeping licks! First you’ll need to learn some basic arpeggio shapes: Play the notes of an A minor triad using a single down stroke, but try not to strum the strings. Your pick should glide smoothly down to each adjacent string without using an individual picking motion. It will take patience to master the initial technique, but with practice you will soon be sweeping like a pro! We recommend starting with a metronome set to 132 BPM, which is the slowest tempo to perfect the sweep technique before gradually building up speed.
Ex1: Start with this A minor
triad.The point here is to develop the correct technique between both hands. Pick the ‘A’ note on the 14th fret and push the plectrum downward across the next two strings, synchronising the pick with your 2nd, then 1st fingers on the triad. Remember not to strum the chord, the aim is to let each individual note ring out nice and clearly. Glide the pick across the strings at a 45degree angle and once at the top reverse the angle of your pick and glide upward through the same three notes. There are six notes in the phrase, so count with a triplet feel.
Ex 1 . Practice down and up sweeping acoss 3 strings using an A minor arpeggio 1
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Ex 1 . Practice down and up sweeping acoss 3 strings using an A minor arpeggio 1
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Ex2. Try this Cminor arpeggio with 1st and 2nd fingers 2
Ex2: Repeat the picking hand technique from Ex1, but using this new C minor triad. It’s a slightly different technique using only your 1st and 2nd fingers but you’ll need to get this sorted to build up speedy sweeps. Start with your 1st first finger then quickly change to your 2nd and then back to the 1st. "#
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Ex2. Try this C inor arpeggio with 1st and 2nd fingers "$"" "$ "% "" "$ ""
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Ex2. Try this Cminor arpeggio with 1st and 2nd fingers 2
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Ex3: Let’s try our first advanced sweeping lick using this Am7 arpeggio. Glide down through the first three notes and then play a quick up stroke on the 15th fret with the 4th finger. Repeat with a down stroke at the 15th fret, which prepares your picking hand to sweep back using an upward glide. "#
Ex3. Adding the 4th finger to create a lick 3
Ex2. Try this Cminor arpeggio with 1st and 2nd fingers 2
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Ex4. More complex using 4 strings over FMaj7 and Cminor 5
Ex3. Adding the 4th finger to create a lick 3
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Ex4. More complex using 4 strings over FMaj7 and Cminor 5
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Ex3. Adding the 4th finger to create a lick 3
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Ex5. C Major and minor arpeggios using 5 strings 7
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Ex4: The next step is to add in the 4th string. With the diagonal line shape, add in your 4th finger on the 15th fret D string, forming an F Maj7 arpeggio. With the C min shape, start with your 2nd finger on the 13th fret D string. Initially it may be worth slowing your metronome speed to compensate for the extra string.
Ex4. More complex using 4 strings over FMaj7 and Cminor 5
Ex3. Adding the 4th finger to create a lick 3
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Ex5. C Major and minor arpeggios using 5 strings 7
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Ex5. C Major and minor arpeggios using 5 strings 7
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Robin Henderson has over ten years experience in teaching guitar and band coaching. His students have gone on to win national awards: XFM Rockschool 2005 and 2007, Vodafone Live Music Awards Best Live Unsigned Act 2007, Kerrademy Award Best Unsigned Band 2008. Realistic Rock Academy is based in
Epsom, Surrey and can be contacted on - 01372 740300,
www.realisticrock.com.
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Ex5: Finally we’re going for a C Major and Cm arpeggio sweep across five strings. With the minor arpeggio, notice how you drop a fret lower on the D string (2nd finger) and E string (1st finger) this is the minor 3rd note, which creates a minor chord. Experiment with changing to another key by simply moving the same arpeggio shape along the neck starting from the correct root note. Good luck! "# "& "& "#
Ex5. C Major and minor arpeggios using 5 strings 7
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