Need some help

[GuitaRR]

hey guys...im trying to learn how to sweep, actually been trying for a month now but i just cant seem to get it. sometimes i feel like im getting it, but it feels like im doing something wrong, but i cant tell. i've attached an audio file of me playing on my acoustic guitar...i sweep slow at first and then increase speed. can anybody help me out by telling me what im doing wrong with the fast ones?

and also any general advice regarding the matter is appreciated

[graypianoflying]

First of all, sweeping is a difficult technique so don't expect to become a master sweeper in a month.

I think you really just need to practice slowly with a metronome. Your timing is very uneven, which is really noticeable on the slow ones. Use the metronome and if you can put it on 16th notes or triplets, making sure that you're subdividing evenly.

Other than that focus on really articulating each note and making sure that they don't bleed into each other. Sweeping is all about the synchronization between the two hands. As long as you practice slowly focusing on playing cleanly and accurately the speed will come.

[GuitaRR]

First of all, sweeping is a difficult technique so don't expect to become a master sweeper in a month.
no that wasnt wht i was expecting...what i meant was even after a month i hardly seem to be getting anywhere...

wht exactly am i doing wrong with the faster ones? i knw im doing something wrong just cant figure out wht...

oh and did you happen to catch my other "how to use a metronome thread" ?:p

[Malcolm]

You may find the following video helpful.
Click here (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6490975382658539247)
Slide over to 1:21 (One hour and 21 minutes into the video).

Seeing and hearing at the same time may help.

[graypianoflying]

wht exactly am i doing wrong with the faster ones? i knw im doing something wrong just cant figure out wht...
Don't even worry about the faster ones. They sound off because you aren't playing it properly slowly. I think that it sounds more noticeably wrong slowly because, like I said, the timing is uneven. Other than that make sure that you're hitting every note cleanly because it sounds like your synchronization is a bit off when you get faster.

oh and did you happen to catch my other "how to use a metronome thread" ?:p
You should also check out around 30 minutes into the video that Malcolm linked to. Petrucci pretty much explains how to use a metronome. The one thing I don't totally agree with is that he says you should raise the metronome 8 bpm each time. I personally find that to be too much--I raise it around 2-5 bpm...really, whatever I'm comfortable with. All I'm saying is don't think you always have to raise it 8 bpm.

[GuitaRR]

lol sweeping is so annoying...i hate it

[graypianoflying]

Yeah, it can be. But it gets easier so keep working at it. I think that lick that you're working on isn't so great to start with because it's really easy to get out of control with it. I started with something like this:

----------12--17--17--12-------------------
------13--------------------13---------------
--14-----------------------------14----------
----------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------
Because you're picking every note there (as opposed to using hammers and pull offs) it's more conducive to even timing. The thing that can make sweep picking very difficult is that because it requires so little motion you are tempted to play really fast before you can actually do that cleanly.

[graypianoflying]

Also, you should check out this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nb_0fQwtwgo) from Pul Gilbert's Intense Rock.

[GuitaRR]

^thanks a lot for all the help

[Strum]

Like graypianoflying said, start slow. I really think it'd help to use a metronome...also, try shapes, like for e.g. the Am arp gpflying posted without the A at the 17th fret. Get your fingers accustomed to the shape, and get it both up and down clearly. After that, you'll find it's pretty much downhill.

Good luck :)

[Crossroads]

Just to clarify something on that link from Graypianoflying (ie the link to Paul Gilbert’s Intense Rock DVD)… on that YouTube excerpt the film & voice etc. are all badly out of sync., but on the actual DVD it’s all fine of course (and all very clearly taught by PG).

I think it was Eric-V who told me that PG was aged 22 when he made that DVD…in the second half of the DVD he’s a few years older (the second part, ie Intense Rock-2, was released a few years later…both sections are originally from video tape, but copied well to the DVD).

The only caveat is … the more you try to play that PG stuff, the more you realise the guy is a “freak” lol (in the nicest possible way)…most mortals are just never going to be able to play like him, however long & hard you practice. But it’s great stuff & all highly recommended (by me at least). :)


ps:- if you're using an acoustic it will be noticeably more difficult, imho.

Ian.