Sweep Picking on Guitar - Part 2



Sweep picking is one of the most fun skills that you can learn on guitar. This is Part 2 of an introductory course to sweep picking. Watch the video and notes below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNM2mhwP3V4

You can see part 1 here

Video Notes

Exercise 1

Hold the pick against the first string. Feel the tension in the string against the pick. Tense your arm up and pull the pick through the string, catching the pick on the 2nd string.

Repeat through the rest of the strings.

Exercise 2

This is similar to the first exercise, but this time we control how the pick moves between the strings. Don’t let the pick ‘jump’ through the strings.

Place the pick against the first string, and then pull the pick through, letting it take 2-3 seconds for the pick to smoothly travel to the 2nd string.

Exercise 3

We start co-ordinating a bit more with the fret hand.

Work through the following routine, counting out loud as you go:

  1. Pull the pick through the string
  2. The first finger is taken off the string
  3. The 2nd finger is placed on the 2nd string

Repeat through the rest of the strings.

Exercise 4

This is similar to Exercise 3 and combines it with Exercise 2.

Setup the exercise, holding down fret 12 on the 1st string, pick resting on the outside of the string and feel the tension in the string.

Then, work through the following routine, counting out loud as you go:

  1. Pull the pick through the string
  2. The pick travels across the strings and is caught against the 2nd string
  3. Lift off your first finger
  4. Place your 2nd finger on fret 13 on the 2nd string

Repeat through the rest of the strings.

Take your time with this, this is all about building co-ordination and accuracy - this has nothing to do with speed!

Summary

Slowly working through these repetitions accurately is going to build the muscle memory that allows you to shred these movements at high speed. Building the muscle memory is really important and is the key to sweep picking on guitar