Starting to sweep pick...

Well I decided that the next step for me is Sweep Picking, and I have quickly learned just how damn hard it really is...So my question is where do I start, whats the best way to get good at sweep picking, what things should I practice, and really just what should I do ! thanks in advance for any help given !

~Josh

try to keep your right hand as relaxed as possible when sweeping, try the GT guitar lessons for more help.

The two things I found the be hardest were moving your fretting fingers at the same speed as the pick and muting the strings you weren't picking. To solve the timing of the picking with the fretting just take it as slow as you can. Sweep slower than a sloth moves if you can. That also directly relates to muting. The thing about muting is it pretty much requires both hands. Have your picking hand slightly dampening the strings so they'll hush up with minor noise. On your fretting hand. When you make it to the second note of the sweep make sure the finger that was fretting the previous string is no longer fretting it. At least that's the best I can describe it. Anyone else feel free to elaborate off this.

Originally Posted by: AkiraThat's true.

When alternate picking, your picking hand just follows your fretting hand, but with sweeping, it tends to be the other way round, which can feel quite uncomfortable at first, it just takes practise. I found that once I had sweeping down, it helped with my alternate picking as my picking/fretting syncronisation had improved.

Exactly. Same case here. I also oddly enough found it easier to start with sweeping from high notes to low. I don't know why, but it just worked for me when I began. And when the word "practice" is used it really means a lot. How much practice you put into sweeping will show ultimately. But don't limit yourself to practicing any one or two arpeggios. Spice it up. I'd read once that in order to really help people grow as a guitarist they must keep variety in things so they don't just develop things as habits. It keeps you thinking and paying attention. At least that's what I read. Just be patient and keep practicing and in due time progress will show. Good luck to you champ. Sweeping kicks ass.