Sweep picking (Rolling technique)

[slash_ragnarok]

Hi guys,
When I play shapes like this one:
---------------7h12p7-----------------------
-------------9--------9----------------------
-----------9------------9--------------------
---------9----------------9------------------
----7h11--------------------11p7------------
---------------------------------------------

I have no problems with rolling while ascending. However the descending part that is the part after pull off from 12 to 7 is where I don't get it right. The notes bleed together or dont ring out cleanly. Any suggestions how to get this right? Thanks.

Cheers:D

[Sperzel]

Make sure that your ring-finger position is excactly the same during the "ascending-roll" as the "descending-roll". In other words, your fingertip should always land on the lower string, not above it (like, on the A-string in your example.

Hope I made sense! Cheers

[grrlwitgumption]

Actually, i dont understand for concept of rolling at all.

the way its been explained to me is--you move your finger to the next string without taking it off the previous one (but also without barring). It just doesnt seem to work. Maybe someone has a picture?

[slash_ragnarok]

Actually, i dont understand for concept of rolling at all.

the way its been explained to me is--you move your finger to the next string without taking it off the previous one (but also without barring). It just doesnt seem to work. Maybe someone has a picture?

Actually u'd understand it if u don't focus on the word "rolling". have u seen a rocking chair or a see saw? If so, u have probably noticed that the bent bottom of a rocking chair kind of rolls like a wheel back and forth. So if the front of that thing is in contact with the floor then the back is off the floor and vice-versa. In case of rolling while sweep picking, say u play a note with the tip of ur ring finger i.e. the one beside ur pinky, then u should play the next note which of course lies on the next string same fret, with the part of ur ring finger close to the first joint from the tip. Now going back to the rocking chair analogy. While the second note is being played by the part of the finger close to the joint, u should now ease the pressure off ur finger tip so that the tip no longer frets the previous note but rather touches the string muting it. Its not completely off the fretboard, mind you. hope that helps.

However what baffles me is when im coming back i.e. playing the arpeggio from high notes to low notes. now the SECOND note I was talkin bout becomes the first note BUT is still played by the portion of the finger near the first joint and the FIRST note I said earlier is NOW my second note BUT is played with my fingertip as before. So now the motion becomes, 1) play note with ur joint or part of finger near joint. 2) Lift that part so that it is not completely off the fretboard but mutes the note. 3)Press down second note with finger tip. Note Step 2 is not a real step because its the transition from 1) to 3) and takes only a moment.

NOTE: WHEN ROLLING, THE NOTES BEING "ROLLED" are NEVER BARRED TOGETHER. THEY ARE FRETTED ONE NOTE AT A TIME WHILE THE OTHER NOTES ARE MUTED.

[grrlwitgumption]

ok, thanks! that was alot more helpful than some of the explanations ive gotten so far. i still have a hard time descending, but we'll see.

[gersdal]

I saw a great video on youtube a few days ago on rolling technique (and discovered that I've been doing it for years without knowing it had a name). Just search for rolling technique guitar on youtube.

[gersdal]

Actually, i dont understand for concept of rolling at all.

the way its been explained to me is--you move your finger to the next string without taking it off the previous one (but also without barring). It just doesnt seem to work. Maybe someone has a picture?

Check this video out. Should be quite to the point.
http://www.shredacademy.com/lessons/Zack%20Uidl/z_uidl06.htm

[jsepguitar]

Justin Sandercoe has this video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_7Rf2wqPy8

[Chim_Chim]

It just comes from doing it alot just like anything.

Remember a time maybe when you couldn't play barre chords very well?

[ChainsawGuitar]

It just comes from doing it alot just like anything.

Remember a time maybe when you couldn't play barre chords very well?

I would have to agree.

Try just focusing on the rolling part, going up and down. If you take the other notes out your hand isnt likely to move around, which is what it sounds like is happening. Once you have that part down, then add in the other notes to make up the arpeggio.

[Hypnus9]

I'd say practice the whole thing slowly with a metronome and build up to the desired speed. I just recently started sweeping, and I find that the old Aesop's Fable, "The Tortoise and the Hare" is probably one of the best learning tools you can have. I have been playing and teaching for 33+ years, off and on, and the best advice I can give you is to be patient with yourself. You can do anything if you believe.

By practicing slowly, you can more readily see the problem areas and eliminate them. In sum, I agree with chim_chim and chainsaw.

[uday1583]

I am kind of a beginner... say about one year in to this... the suggestions provided for this thread are very useful... i will make use of some of them. Thanks for sharing

[bluesking]

I am kind of a beginner... say about one year in to this... the suggestions provided for this thread are very useful... i will make use of some of them. Thanks for sharing

Conversely a link to a broadband provider in your signature is not at all useful. I certainly wont make use of it. Thanks for promoting irrelevant spam.