I need some help with a technique. I have been practicing sweeps for about a week now, and they are HARD! Does anyone have any suggestions that would make them easier? Thanks very much for everyone's help. I really appreciate it.
I forgot to mention that I play with my fingers, and never use a pick. So, if anyone has any suggestions reguarding sweeps with your fingers, please help me. Thanks.
There are many ways to do them, but the way I do them is to use one finger per string while ascending and "rake" the strings with one finger while descending. Another thing I've been practicing is raking with my thumb while ascending. BTW, the bassist for Cryptopsy is Eric Langlois.
A sweep, somebody please correct me if I am wrong, is an arpeggio played in two "sweeps", up and back down. (I think it is an arpeggio, I don't know much about what certain structures are called... Nobody ever taught me.) But, that is what I think it is... An example would be something like this: G--------------3-5-7-5-3------------------------- D------------5-----------5---------------------- A----------7---------------7--------------------- E------------------------------------------------ B------------------------------------------------ That being played quickly, in two "rakes", or "sweeps", up then down. Hammer-on and pull-off the middle three notes.
Correct - it's basically a very quick arpeggio. The difference is that each note is not individually plucked (when using a pick, at least) - it is "swept", using the same picking motion as when playing a chord.
Check out the bass lessons on www.bassically.net for sweeping exercises and further instruction. Cheers
