Sweeps

[Afrokid]

I have to admit sweeps are one of my favorite techniques on a guitar, but unfortunately i cant do them nor do i understand the process behind them. Are there any write ups or websites the explore sweep picking on bass guitar? Any information would be very helpful and appreciated.

 

[Wicked_Bassist7]

this is a good lesson:
http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/lessons/bass_lessons/sweep_picking_on_bass_guitar.html

 

[Gawd]

sweeping basically refers to the right hand technique on guitar, by sweeping across the strings with the pick. Usually when people use sweeps they play arpeggios.

On bass there are several different approaches to playing these arpeggios. The most common approaches are the Adam Nitti approach, which is done by sweeping down with the thumb, tapping the highest note, than raking back up with the index.
and there's the four finger approach, which can be down by picking out each string with a different finger, either t i m r or i m r p.
You can also play them in a regular two finger style, which I find to be easier sometimes in the middle of songs.

Here's an example, I'll list the right hand fingerings on top, and left hand on the bottom. This is an E major sweep.
the fingers on both hands are labeled t = thumb, i = index, m = middle, r = ring, p = pinky, T = tap

two finger              i     i  m  i         i  i  i 
                     G|-------------13h16p13----------------|
                     D|----------14-----------14------------|
                     A|-------14-----------------14---------|
                     E|-12h16-----------------------16p12---|
                        i  p  m  m  i   p  i  m  m  p  i     

thumb/tap/index
                t     t  t  t     T         i  i  i
             G|-------------13h16h21p16p13----------------|
             D|----------14-----------------14------------|
             A|-------14-----------------------14---------|
             E|-12h16-----------------------------16p12---|
                i  p  m   m  i  p     p  i  m   m  p  i

four finger

for this one I'll label the right hand fingers 1 2 3 4, and you can choose whether to use t i m r or i m r p

                        1     2  3  4         3  2  1
                     G|-------------13h16p13----------------|
                     D|----------14-----------14------------|
                     A|-------14-----------------14---------|
                     E|-12h16-----------------------16p12---|
                        i  p  m  m  i   p  i  m  m  p  i

 

[Afrokid]

if my thumb is supposed to go in a continuous downward motion how do i fit the hammer ons in the sweep? I mean when i try to do the hammer ons on the E my thumb its already on the A string, should i wait till i do the hammer on then move my thumb to the A but this would interrupt the continious motion of the sweep. Any suggestions about how i can align my tapping on my left hand and sweeping thumb and index motion on my right hand would be extremely helpful.

 

[Gawd]

Your thumb should rest on the next string until you're finished the hammer-on. So once you pluck the E, your thumb will naturally fall onto the A string, let it rest there until you hammer-on the second note, than your thumb should pluck through the A string, than D string, and than G string, the next note is hammer-on while you position your right hand to tap the highest note, after tapping that you pull off the right hand and descend through the arpeggio.

There's a couple moments where you can catch this technique in this video

 

[Afrokid]

any other sweep exercises that somone could post?

 

[blindeddie]

man, you have to check out Erlend Caspersen. he has a page of incredible stuff on youtube. killer stuff

 

[Gawd]

If you use the search function there's a lot of threads with good information

 

[Krause]

man, you have to check out Erlend Caspersen. he has a page of incredible stuff on youtube. killer stuff

He is amazing. I just picked up the new Deeds of Flesh album he played on. Can't wait to here what he does with Spawn of Possession.