Sweep Picking

Playing the guitar is like riding a bike, playing chess, playing video games or just like any other hobby. As a matter of fact, one of the most common leisure activities on a global scale is playing the guitar. Millions of people choose the guitar over other instruments because it is easy to play. Anybody can start playing the guitar with a little practice each day. In no time you’ll start picking your favourite notes after just a few practices. The activity is so much fun that once you learn it you will never forget how to do it.
Sweep picking, is one of the most highly desired techniques to learn in playing the guitar. It adds a wonderful variety to guitar playing as it involves a number of notes and can be played fast or slow. When the technique is just being learnt it can be very frustrating. This is so because the sweep picking technique requires the most control over all the other techniques in guitar playing. Sweep picking is used with arpeggios which refer to playing the notes of a chord one by one either ascending or descending. In sweep picking technique, the guitarist brushes through the strings using only downward strokes for ascending and upward strokes for descending. However, there is a special trick to mastering sweep picking.
In the sweep picking technique, the right hand is used to do all the picking. This must be done with grace and accuracy. Sweep picking is similar to a control strum which means that all the strings cannot be strummed at once. If this is done it will sound more like a chord. In addition, you must not pick the strings the same way you pick notes. The idea behind sweep picking is to let your hand push the guitar pick through the guitar strings without applying any tension to push the string. You have to master the art of lifting your fingers and placing them on new notes in perfect timing. To practice sweep picking you must first ascertain a middle position where you will make your pick up and place two or more fingers there. By doing this you are providing a point to be used as lever to carry out the right hand sweep. It is important that you hold the pick leaving plenty of plastic showing. Move the pick in a straight sweeping motion, not like a strum.
The left hand is important to sweep picking too. Your left thumb must be placed behind the neck ensuring that no thumb showing over the top of the fretboard as this minimizes your stretching ability. Try to pick the notes lightly so that it still sounds the note, and this will enable you to move your hands faster. Assess the points where the fingers are supposed to go and let them glide. As long as you practice you will find that the movements come naturally and in not time you will be sweep picking effectively.