Changes

Sweep Picking

281 bytes added, 21:22, 17 April 2014
m
Sounding only One String at a Time
This is much easier said than done. You must ensure your right and left hands are in near perfect sync. The right hand should be plucking the string as the left hand fingers the fret at the same time as the beat. This means practicing arpeggio shapes with the left hand.
'''Be sure not to try to "cheat" by fretting fret notes before you play pick them. ''' Especially don't fret the barre chord shape on all the strings. You will likely hear them faintly ringing out or otherwise making noise before they are played. Since sweep picking is associated with speed, you will have to fret the notes quickly, and this can accidentally create a slight hammer-on, so the string is ringing before it is picked, interfering with preceding notes.
Once a string has been played and it's time to move to the next string, you have to '''pick your left hand finger up off the fret'''. This is easier said than done. It's simple enough to stop fretting it, but it's important here to try to pick the finger straight up off the string, without putting any additional tension on it. If you accidentally bend the string just slightly, when you completely remove your finger, it may act as a slight pull-off to the open string, which will then ring out. This seems very simple, but in the context of moving all your fingers to make the chord shape and when playing fast, it is difficult.
'''A special case that needs to be mentioned is when consecutive strings use the same fret. ''' In this case, you will have to barre one of your fingers to play the notes. But as just mentioned you only want to fret one note at a time. The trick is to "''roll" '' the finger to only fret one note at a time. Again, this is much easier said than done. Finally, '''remember good muting technique'''. As you sweep, slide your right hand palm up and downward to mute the strings that are thicker than the one you're playing. Where possible, use the underneath of the left-hand index and/or other fingers to mute unplayed thin strings.
To practice all this, focus on the chord shapes below. Start slow and focus on technique before trying to build speed.