Five Tips for Sweep Picking (Licks Included)

[ThePoohat]

terrible examples...

[suthers122]

thanks man this really helped :)

[yomomma2500]

really like how you put your own spin on it rather than playing textbook arpeggios

[orozumba]

is that a suhr!!???

[ShurtyIsTheCrew]

i find for myself that if u cant get a metronome or feel like leaving this video think first. ive been trying to learn sweep picking for awhile now with little success, but im learning ways to make my own metronome, just tap ur foot slowly and hit a note everytime ur foot goes down, like a homemade metronome, keep it slow, and dont speed up until you can do the sweep perfectly at one speed at least 3 times in a row, just my tip

[shredicon86]

This is a really great video with a mature and "fresh" take on sweeping. After about 10 years playing, most of those leaving negative comments will probably realise that.

[eptonehome]

nobody cares about your take on sweep picking..unless your frank gambale then shut it....

[SteveHubbardGuitar]

@eptonehome stop watching my videos..

[travenator16]

first sweep sounds like simpsons theme :D

very good video ;)

[BooshkiiBomb123]

u look like drama from rob dyrdeks fantasy factory

[billmeedog]

IMO, Steve offers some excellent "real-world" advice here!

I also noticed when watching and listening to the licks at the end (where Steve recommends each lick's best-sounding "chordal-context" whereby Lick#1="F#min" & Lick#2="Amin") IMO, both licks impart a decidedly "Dorian-tonality"

IE: (Lick #1 = "F#-Dorian" & Lick #2 = "A-Dorian") Of course this analysis is just my impression, and I suppose the licks could be used in many other modes/contexts as well!

Great advice & playing Steve!

[DiabolicMajesty666]

thanks for the tips bro i needed help with my sweeping. I knew i was messing up with something and it was the speed but it helped a lot bro thanks

[karlravioli]

ALWAYS PRACTICE STANDING UP

[flamen89]

awesome video man i really appreciate it :D the "it's just for connecting notes you want to play" will stick with me man! thanks alot

[arpeggioxmajor]

i don`t know.. just in my opinion,, the licks aren`t that good.. i prefer to sweep arpeggio which can provide a better tonality, for example Jason Becker-Images.

[SteveHubbardGuitar]

@arpeggioxmajor that's okay, everyone has their own opinion! what do you mean by 'better tonality,' though? i'm trying to teach some sweep picking licks that aren't the typical up and down patterns.

[Conkyproductions]

@arpeggioxmajor 99 percent of sweep picking on a guitar involves arpeggios. You sweep arepggios because it is what you were taught to do, not because you have found through some sort of experience that they sound better. A better tonality lol? The tone does not change when sweeping non arps and then sweeping arps. Are you pretending to half ass be able to explain tonal centers?

[DerCorny]

Nice video, Steve. After seeing you playing your sweeps on the neck hummie, one question: What are your thoughts on the whole "neck humbucker while sweeping = cheating" thing? Especially because you are mentioning the aspect that modelers are more forgiving then "real" amps (what is a simple fact).

[no1matt]

@DerCorny It is cheating, why?, because i used to cheat with it alot when i had only very limited soloing ability. if theres alot of noise drowning you out its doable and can sound good. but it still needs practicing to sound epic. "deliver us - darkest hour" (may not be your style of music) uses neck pickup in there sweeps but to give it that certain tone.

think of it like a drummer with a single kick that hits twice. to an amatuer, thats cheating. but a pro could use that with skill :)

[SteveHubbardGuitar]

@no1matt so, it's only okay to use sweep picking (a technique) with a certain tone? and we should keep the neck pickup off limits when using this technique? do you realize how silly that sounds? ha.. cmon dude, there is no cheating in music. it's all about producing what you want the audience to hear

[no1matt]

@SteveHubbardGuitar Ahh no thats not what i ment :) i ment it in the way that not right to use it to just blitz out a sweep picking part at full speed while the neck pickup tone practicaly "removes" any missed notes. I spose it isnt cheating but i find it sloppy and dishonest. I recommend not getting into the habit of using it for that purpose xD

[GishoDinev]

Hm, should I play the 5th note(11th fret - high E) on the first lick with a up stroke or a down stroke?

[cast390]

Nice lesson but less talking next time

[CityLights2009]

Right on man, agreed with everything you said. It's too bad you probably don't live in the Seattle area because we'd have to jam.

[SteveHubbardGuitar]

@FAFerraro HAH.. what the heck man.. unbelievable.. i am watching the office season 6 episode 19 and toby was just on the screen.. i minimized it down and was checking my comments / messaging.. LOL.. wow. is this proof of mental-telecommunication?

[captainibanez666]

good lesson steve ur roght, u shouldnt play sweep picking the whole guitar solo cause its kinda awesome for the first time but when it comes to the fact that uve been listening to it a long time its some how boring. music is about the passion and emotions, in guitar solos, i believe that it is also an art tht can let u express ur feelings and knowledge through melodies and tones. hail to those guitarist that have emotions. well i may say then that FUCKYOU MICHAEL ANGELO MASTERBATIO....

[SteveHubbardGuitar]

@captainibanez666 hahahaaa

[DragonForce191]

one thing to add and i think u tryed to say it but i dint quite catch it if u did sweep picking does not have to be an arpeggio u can be any notes u want within a scale and its actually better if u pick them ur self u will sound unique

[SteveHubbardGuitar]

@DragonForce191 thats right.. frank gambale comes to mind for this- some people call it economy picking

[DragonForce191]

@SteveHubbardGuitar yeah it is basicaly economy picking wich is frowned upon compared to alternate picking but i think it is perfect when u have one note per string runs such as pick sweeps

[billmeedog]

@DragonForce191,

Huh? I agree with sweep-picking non-arpeggios (IE:Gambale's approach to Pentatonics.) However, your implication that: "...it's actually better if u pick them ur self u will sound unique" has me puzzled? There is only one way for anyone to impart alternate-picking to an idea (although each player's pick-attack will vary in tone) but IMO there are SEVERAL DIFFERENTcombinations of legato, and each imparts a player's OWN left-hand timbre-variation - moreso than ALT-PICKING-ONLY!)

[SuperSuperRoss]

What Guitar is this?

[TheCoops67]

Great work Steve....Great Idea putting this into point form, well done.

[stevros13]

just fuckin play

[SteveHubbardGuitar]

did you read the video title or description?

[brainpolice2]

I never really learned to sweep pick formally, but I accidentally stumbled upon it when playing certain phrases. Interestingly, the type of sweep picking that I naturally do isn't the typical kind of 6-string straight up and down a minor or major arpeggio deal at all. It actually started out as pentatonic patterns in 3-string groups, with a tendency to descend (since I tend to lead with upstrokes). I've expanded it out a bit since then, but I still aren't really a sweeper. Anyways, great advise.

[yamitanomura]

thanks for the lesson !

Keep on Rocking

[topperspoppers]

great tips steve... i was pretty shocked at how bad i sounded when i switched from my line6 to that lonestar i was telling you about on your other vid, digital amps really are more forgiving

oh yeah btw... the lonestar would sound mighty fine with a BB! haha

as soon as i can pick up a mic ill try to record something

any news on your CD?

[SteveHubbardGuitar]

heh.. lookin forward to your clips..

my bands CD is now out and is in the charts on canadian gospel stations.. nothing in terms of an instrumental album, yet!

[topperspoppers]

man im such and idiot i didnt realize the ad at the end of the video... im thinking... ok so what band?

[SteveHubbardGuitar]

hahaha

[trips2wn]

Great Lesson Steve! I know what you mean. I switched from a spider 3 to a mesa express. I can barely get sweeps to come out cleanly on my new amp. The digital stuff is so forgiving!

[SteveHubbardGuitar]

heh.. yup.. i used to always use modelors into a marshall amp.. it was a crazy realization the first time i played a real marshall tube amp.. there is so much compression on those little processors.. you really notice the lack of 'punch' when you use one live and require strong rhythm parts! that said, i still love them-- they have their own use in music

[AndyVerok]

i agree with you in all you said and also the music at the end is reaaaly realy great has some unique flavour

[SteveHubbardGuitar]

contemporary christian rock, with an edge!

[datson1010]

I think it was a great video but what about Moneris and gank?

[col33145]

on the money i think mate grate lesson thanks

colin

[lleheaven]

Great Vid man!

[openmind1984]

hey dude... nice lesson, in my opinion you are totally right, so...keep rockin´man .... oh, I just put a video response with one sweep lick that maybe u will enjoy.... feel free to comment :) ...

[SteveHubbardGuitar]

enjoyed indeed!

[mraggrovator]

Another great lesson presented well.

[weldfish]

Great lesson. Thanks for putting the Tab in it. Makes it much easier to learn it.

[Juaniguitarra86]

Dude, that was great. Thanks a lot.

[jclp777]

man can you do a vid on some fast two note per sting pentatonic picking or legato stuff, or a mix of both?

[SteveHubbardGuitar]

sure thing.. PM me if you want to give me some more details

[jclp777]

thanks for the vid