Originally Posted by: Cryptic ExcretionsSweeping takes time. A lot of it at that, but once the ball gets rolling it gets easier and easier.

Based on personal experience, if you are just starting out my advice would be to forget sweeping untill you have mastered alternate picking (mastering alternate picking involves a lot more than most beginners think). It may look easy but sweep picking is the most difficult technique in my opinion, that's why you hear so few guitarists actually doing it. If you are determined to learn it there are some good lessons on this site but I would strongly advise that you also get someone to sit down with you and explain the technique. I never had that luxury and it took me about a year to be able to play a clean sweep up and down and a lot longer to be able to fluently link a set of different shapes. Bottom line: if you really want to be able to do it, be prepared to put in a lot of practice and have a lot of patience. It takes time but once the penny drops it becomes easier and easier.