Originally Posted by: jiujitsu_jesusAnd my second question: when and how do you guys use sweeps in your improvisation? I just can't seem to make them fit into my phrases. The only sweeping licks I've been able to come up with are extended Frank Gambale-style wanks - and believe me, Frank Gambale is the last person I want to sound like

That's a little hard to answer exactly since when I improvise solos I, err, improvise them. :rolleyes:

But as a general rule I use sweeps pretty sparingly, to add texture to a solo. Speed adds a bit of tension or excitement and so I guess I employ sweeps as a build up to a resolution. If I'm playing very diatonically I'll throw a sweep in to add some more interest. Other times I might sweep a diminished arpeggio to really get some tension going and then I might hop over to a sweet-sounding major run or a bend that targets a chord tone in order to let the listeners relax. Does that help? :)