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How to Play the Guitar Fast?

Sweep Picking Exercises

Jul 12, 2009 Jim Shelp

All guitarists want to add speed to their playing. One way to add blazing speed is by using a picking technique called sweep picking.

Sweep Picking is simply playing two or more notes on separate strings with either all down strokes, or all up strokes -- or a combination of both. It is all in the picking technique. The guitarist literally sweeps across the strings with an up or down stroke. This allows them to add speed to their playing once mastered.

Sweep Picking Exercises

The first sweep exercise (link given below) gives the developing guitarist the basic idea. A guitarist should notice in the G major sweep the use of three down picks in a row followed by three up picks in a row. This combination of three down strokes followed by three up strokes illustrates the fundamental idea of sweep picking.

Sweep picking is good for:

Adding speed
Playing arpeggio patterns
Playing efficiently
Playing dynamically
Playing exciting solos

The exercises below should be played slowly at first. The first exercise’s goal is to help the picking hand get used to covering more than one string at a time. Speed should be added gradually, and each note should sound clearly.

A developing guitarist should try playing the sweep patterns with light pressure of the fretting hand. They should not press real hard on the strings.

If a guitarist is using an electric guitar with light gauge strings, pressing too hard can cause them to slightly bend the string, and thus cause the note to go out of tune. Many guitarist play out of tune because they are slightly bending the strings unknowingly -- usually because of too much pressure on the strings. The idea is to apply only enough pressure as needed.

Palm Muting

Also, a guitarist should dampen notes with a palm mute (using the palm of the picking hand to lightly press against a string in order to stop the sound) and other muting techniques when necessary. Proper use of muting can control the notes that ring out. It is a valuable articulation technique to add to all playing methods from sweep picking to tapping and such.

In point of fact, many guitarists use sweep picking as an alternative to tapping or two-handed guitar techniques in order to add speed to their playing.

Guitarist Frank Gambale

The Australian born guitarist Frank Gambale (aka The Thunder from Down Under) is a master of the sweep picking technique. One of his exciting riffs is called The Lick that Slurped LA. It is a wonderful example of his sweep picking technique.

Sweep picking can add speed to a guitarist's playing like no other technique. Once master, it will add a new dynamic to a guitarist's playing. It can be used extensively or sparingly, but all guitarists should take a close look at developing this novel technique.

The copyright of the article How to Play the Guitar Fast? in Musical Instruments is owned by Jim Shelp. Permission to republish How to Play the Guitar Fast? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.