Sweeping Technique Help Needed

[rockstaravenue]

Hi all

I'm a rather new guitarist, and I'm currently learning sweeping techniques on electric guitar for solo purposes. Problem is I can't seem to sweep cleanly.

I seem to have this problem of getting a lot of noisy while sweeping. The moment I lift my finger off a fret to go to the next string, there seems to be a minor pulloff kinda effect, even though I'm not doing a pulloff. This effect gets amplified when I'm playing at high gain, and creates the noise that I'm talking about. Its worse if I play a note over a harmonic area (EG 12th fret)

I have bought metal guitar playing videos, and they don't seem to address this problem. They just show how to fret the notes and the picking hand moves up and down in one fluid motion.

I was just wondering if this problem I'm facing, is a technique issue, or a guitar gear issue. Do I need to mute the strings with my picking hand/fretting hand when sweeping?

Appreciate all the pros out there to help me out with this problem.
Thanks!

[The Shredder89]

I had this same problem. Im not much of a sweeper, but I found that a good way to deal with this problem is to play each note very staccato. Basically, play each note for the shortest duration possible, as opposed to legato where things are very flowing and connected. Some very light muting like you were talking about could probably help too. Good luck

[rockstaravenue]

Thanks for the tip The Shredder89! I'll try it out.

I guess it really boils down to technique. Gotta polish that up.

I've got another question. Its regards to Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force solo, as shown below.

E ||--15h12-----12---15h12-----12---15h12-----12--14h12------12---|
B ||---------12-------------12-------------12------------12-------|
G ||--------------------------------------------------------------|
D ||--------------------------------------------------------------|
A ||--------------------------------------------------------------|
E ||--------------------------------------------------------------|



I fret the 1st string 12th fret and the 2nd string 12th fret across with my index finger, and use my ring finger for the 15th fret.

The problem here is when I pull off the 15th to the 12th, and pick the 2nd string's 12 fret, it sounds very noisy as both 12th fret notes are ringing.

I observed the Malmsteen Hot Licks Video and he does not seem to lift his finger from the 1st string. How does he play so quietly, making each note sound on its own? Do I need to pick and immediately mute the respective string with my palm muting hand? Seems like a lot's involved.

I have this same problem when playing Megadeth's Tornado of Souls solo.

Please help.

[Wayward_Son]

Just lift your finger off the fretboard, the string will leave the fret and be mutted as its just making contact with your finger. And if you feel better taking your finger off them do it, its all a preference if it works in the end.

[The Shredder89]

yeah, pretty much what Wayward said. You have to kind of roll your index finger. Ive seen Paul Gilbert do quite alot of that technique. Its also how guys get those massive five-string sweeps like this:

E:------------------7--12--7-------------------
B:---------------9------------9---------------
G:------------9------------------9-------------
D:---------9------------------------9-----------
A:--7--11-----------------------------11--7---
E:----------------------------------------------

FYI this is an E maj five-string swept arpeggio. This a little trickier with the finger roll, but play the 9th fret notes with your middle finger and roll your middle finger so you can hit each note seperately (and cleanly) without completely barring the notes. Thats at least how I do it. Also, I play both 7th fret notes with my index finger and the 11th-12th fret notes with my pinky. Hope this helps you

[rockstaravenue]

Appreciate the feedback guys!

So with regards to the rising force solo, I have to keep repeating that rolling technique huh? It's gonna be tough to achieve that speed... -___-"

Alright. Let me go try it out.
Thanks again guys!

[lespaul]

Hey Man,

I would recommend the Licklibrary DVD's to you, they are excellent and they have a great one on sweep picking and others on play fast etc

[rockstaravenue]

Lespaul, which video are you refering to? I have to check my local store.

My technique is still not there for the 2 strings solo thingy. I use "circular picking", but the string ringing is still a problem for now.

[lespaul]

Sorry man I should of put a link in

Heres one to the actual sweep picking dvd

http://www.licklibrary.com/ProductDe...jviZsRVJAAU%3d

but theres loads on there and theyre all really good - I've improved 100% since I started buying them

[rockstaravenue]

Thanks lespaul. I will go check them out.

[Culpster]

To answer your question there is muting that is used on sweeps. This will certainly help. Start by just practicing your sweeping with no fingering. Should sound like you are using a rake on cement. Go down and then back up, also make sure that you are using your neck pickup as opposed to the bridge pickup for this technique. You can use bridge also, but the neck pickup is what is most widely used. Then practice the fingering without the sweeping or picking. Make sure that you are very articulate with your fingering. I use to just sit and watch TV and do the fingering of diiferent 5 string sweeps. Now here is where the school of thoughts may diifer. I started by learning 5 string sweeps, I learned the different shapes and how to marry two shapes,etc. It made it extreemly easy to learn the 3 string sweeps. Last I learned monster sweeps that include hammers, pulloffs, tapping, 6 strings, 2 or more shapes, etc. Just practice, practice, practice. It does take alot of time to do these effectively and most importantly tastefully. Hope this helps! Those who tell you that they learned these in 2 months and it's easy are telling you a "sci fi" story. Have some fun with these and add them to current songs that you are already playing and plan for about 1 or 2 years and you will be sweeping to your hearts content. That is, if you are giving the right amount of attention to techniques that you will be using alot more, like speed picking, legato and note definition. Just my experience, hope it helps.

[rockstaravenue]

Hi Culpster,

Sorry, I'm really confused about this.

I don't understand the "using a rake on cement" description. Does it mean ringing every string? Is it true that I need to mute the strings after playing them using my picking hand's palm?

Appreciate your feedback! Thanks!

[momot]

I still get my fingers stuck between the strings whenever I play a sweep. I just ignore it and keep playing .....

[rockstaravenue]

A big thank you to everyone who gave their comments / tips / suggestions. I will continue practicing and record something soon.

Will post the recording up then.

Cheers!

[T.A.Z]

To help out a little bit here, you talk about getting noise when leaving strings with your fingers. Well one thing to look at is how our fingers are leaving the strings.

You don't wanna be pulling the fingers off down towards your toes because thats where a lot of the noise will come from. You want to be taking your fingers of the string away from the guitar neck i.e. horizontally from the neck, this way your not letting as much sound come away from the string.

Another thing that I do, is as I sweep down, that is ascending, an arpeggio, I'll follow it with my entire picking hand so that as I progress through the strings my picking hand is muting any slight noises coming from the previous strings.

And for the "Rising Force" solo, yes Im afraid you will just have to keep practicing the rolling technique. However to try to roll your finger to far because you dont need to. Just practice seeing how little you can move your hand but still deadening the note.

Hope this helps