Sweep picking?

[trb6pJM2]

does anyone have some videos on both right and left (mainly right) hand exercises? or any ariticles? I just seem to be struggling with it as a whole.

thanks in advance

[frankosaurus]

You'll probably have an easier time finding sweep picking videos for guitar. I'm not sure there's much available for bass. But the concepts are the same.

I learned sweep picking on the guitar with Jimmy Bruno's No Nonsense Jazz Guitar video. I've since applied the techniques to bass picking (I was formerly a fingerstyle-only bassist).

Alternatively, here's a free video to try for guitar:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=3mbx03mP5eg
original link, which appears to be down:
http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/colum...p_picking.html

One thing that Jimmy Bruno stresses - there's no shortcut to sweep picking. You need to practice it A LOT. It took me about 4 weeks of daily practicing (1+ hrs/day) with a metronome to get my sweep picking up to the same speed as my regular alternate picking! Only after that was I able to surpass my alternate picking speed.

And, from experience, start out SLOW. It seems impossible at first. You just need to go a slow as possible (with metronome of course) and ratchet it up in speed only when you're ready.

[JAUQO III-X]

Check this out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wxurZAFJWA

[dlb1001]

Scott Hubbell has some lessons on sweeping on his site:
http://www.scotthubbell.com/

[DazzyPig]

Originally Posted by JAUQO III-X

Check this out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wxurZAFJWA

Phew, that was unexpected! don't know if i'm too keen on it, but very impressive technical skill non-the-less.

[SirFunk]

Originally Posted by JAUQO III-X

Check this out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wxurZAFJWA

If only that was in slow motion :-D

[ba55i5t]

Am I the only one that uses the floating thumb + ordinary 2 finger plucking + hammer ons and pull offs for the sweep technique? If not, anyone else who does this please explain how you do it, and if you have any exercises.

[ba55i5t]

...anyone?

[Grueber]

Originally Posted by ba55i5t

Am I the only one that uses the floating thumb + ordinary 2 finger plucking + hammer ons and pull offs for the sweep technique? If not, anyone else who does this please explain how you do it, and if you have any exercises.

Are you talking about placing one finger on each string?

---m---
---i---
--T---
------

I use that for 3 string sweeps, but for 4 strings I add my ring finger as well.

[ba55i5t]

Nah, I'm talking about using 2 fingers and using the floating thumb technique. Just playing really fast...basically.

[trb6pJM2]

I, don't want to sound like a dick, but thats not sweeping, that's playing fast across a few strings, sweeping is using one motion with one digit or pick in order to arpeggiate a scale...... and i'm having a hard time doing that. it gives you a way different sound and is way faster that alt picking.

[TheBassBetween]

I believe Wooten does some sweep picking with his thumb at one point in Classical Thump. He also does it in this version of Amazing Grace.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEyEu-hS0fA

After his melodic intro. It's when he puts on his goofy face and starts moving his left hand a lot at about :30.

[fryBASS]

I just recently figured out sweep-thumbing (cuz i'm using my thumb as a pick) recently on my fretless. Its not really that hard to do once you practice it for like 1/2 hr.

[ba55i5t]

Originally Posted by trb6pJM2

I, don't want to sound like a dick, but thats not sweeping, that's playing fast across a few strings, sweeping is using one motion with one digit or pick in order to arpeggiate a scale...... and i'm having a hard time doing that. it gives you a way different sound and is way faster that alt picking.

Yeah, but look at the way Erlend Caspersen sweeps, he uses 3 fingers across strings and still gets a nice sweep tone.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=r6bwMILm4AA

So basically sweeping is using your thumb to ascend and using your index finger to rake back down? Because I was taking inspiration from his method.

[fryBASS]

Originally Posted by ba55i5t

Yeah, but look at the way Erlend Caspersen sweeps, he uses 3 fingers across strings and still gets a nice sweep tone.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=r6bwMILm4AA

So basically sweeping is using your thumb to ascend and using your index finger to rake back down? Because I was taking inspiration from his method.

Yup thats what I do, except I use my middle finger instead. Idk why, it just feels better.

[owensea777]

If not mistaken I think the OP was talking about sweep picking with a pick. Here's one with bass, you can't see his right hand to well, but I'm sure you'll get the jist. He's strumming downward and playing the individual notes on the left hand. Good stuff.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=2MBgEM5mHms

[ba55i5t]

I think I might actually switch to thumb ascend + middle descend now...I dunno though. I play a 6 string and want to make my floating thumb technique amazing. But then again I'm also considering reviewing my slap technique. Maybe I should just work on transition. However I find the thumb ascend + middle descend works well if you want to include tapping because you're closer to the board. Any advice?

[Erlend]

Originally Posted by ba55i5t

Yeah, but look at the way Erlend Caspersen sweeps, he uses 3 fingers across strings and still gets a nice sweep tone.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=r6bwMILm4AA

So basically sweeping is using your thumb to ascend and using your index finger to rake back down? Because I was taking inspiration from his method.

it`s actually 4 fingers, mind you. i usually go by 1-4-3-2-1 up ( adding tapping or extra notes on top ) and rake back down. i think it`s alot better than the adam nitti - method when it comes to getting a decent attack and singeling out every note. takes more work, though.