SWEEP ARPEGGIOS for BASS!!! (tutorial)

[@ssteele1]

"The key to playing anything fast is economy of motion." That's really helpful advice. Thank you. Great lesson!

[@joshfossgreen]

Sam Steele Thanks Sam! :)

[@TheMusicalMedic]

So, as a guitar player, i am going to use this to steal the show even more!

[@joshfossgreen]

Nooooooooooooo!!! :)

[@iLikeMilk-q3z]

You monster

[@mikebosi490]

Awesome technique + great sense of humor = great teacher.

[@TheJesus1011]

2023 and this is still the best arpeggio tutorial! Best online bass educator

[@aneesh8573]

*Watching bass covers of Born of Osiris, Meshuggah, other stuff that djents* *Clicks on this video* HOLY IS THAT A 4 STRING BASS

[@wyattrydlewski9130]

Thank you for covering my request, Josh! I have been trying all sorts of sweeping over the past few months and I am looking into all the different methods I can. This helped a lot!

[@evilnick2885]

I literally watched 4 seconds of this hilariously flamboyant man and he is now my GO TO for videos on bass instructions! Love the guitarists hogging the glory line, I recently started a project to eliminate just that lol wicked skills man

[@BuildingCenter]

At the end, he details how even beginners can easily develop these skills. Dude's just golden. Also, I hope he got a copy of the magazine.

[@soadxmcr]

What I admire the most is how you don't feed it to us, you actually made me have to use brain to figure it out, props bro I'm definitely subscribing

[@luvmelongtim]

man i gotta use all of this on the ship!!! good stuff. i watched a video of yours when i first auditioned about how the cruise works but i had no idea you played like this

[@joshfossgreen]

Ableton Live. I'm not very good with the program but I know enough just to make basic drum loops, it was pretty easy to learn. You can use Garageband too, or just search "online drum machine" and you'll find something.

[@joshfossgreen]

Yes! Glad you liked it. Fun with Final Cut.

[@Durbandan]

Great lessons dude. Looking forward to ramping up my technique.

[@joshfossgreen]

Thanks Daniel, rock on!

[@eaglewings1934]

Sweep picking has been named after the right hand sweeping technique with the pick on a guitar, which basically is all about muting the strings that you don't play and going up and down motions, muting both ways so that no notes ring over each other. However your new definition which can be called appropriately a sweep arpeggio is something I definately want to learn on bass.

[@milesrezlab4268]

Thanks for the lesson, Josh!. The video helped me a great deal. I appreciate your style and humor.

[@joshfossgreen]

Yes, definitely! I'll talk about that in the future.

[@thebat2785]

as a guitarist who loves sweeping arpeggios , you are awesome man , I would love hear you doing fast sweeps with a guitarist in harmony ala , billy sheehan nd steve vai type harmonies

[@joshfossgreen]

Thanks! I would like that too!

[@patrickgresham5019]

Josh give Steve a call

[@joshfossgreen]

Haha, you got his number? :P

[@Christianonbass]

This is great stuff. I have to compliment you again. It is a lesson in humility to be learning from someone half my age, especially when I started playing when I was a kid. But, I often find out that I am just rusty and after some repetition I can do stuff like this again. I can thank you for that. I need to be pushed a little.

[@BaceBeat]

Please do the 2-octave sweep video. I really enjoy your stuff!

[@bpalm93]

Awesome video, love the free PDF. So many bass instructors on youtube say "go here for the free stuff" and it never is free. So thank you!

[@hahabass]

Dude. You're a real good teacher... and funny too, which helps. Seasons greetings, from London, England.

[@joshfossgreen]

hahabass Thanks! :)

[@sherbocopter]

man.. your lessons are some of the best

[@joshfossgreen]

You're welcome! Glad you liked it.

[@angelc.4422]

You should do a second video on sweep arpeggios covering the two octave arpeggios, please Awesome video like always, thanks a lot!

[@naiyalexic]

I like the word "fastly." :) You're great!!

[@hahabass]

Plus, I never knew Ashton Kutcher could play bass!

[@53xf]

You won my comment XD

[@gregoryjohnson4319]

hahabass Funny!!!

[@malumveneficus512]

Stumbled across this video immediately after a sweet Stu Hamm solo piece. You fucking rock, I'm subscribing, and you fucking rock.

[@joshfossgreen]

Thank you!

[@marcuscornall]

I really like the way you explain things .VERY clear.And I like your good humour too. THANKYOU !

[@FatPeaceman]

nice to see that experimental ppl are uploading lessons great thing dude you really rock \m/

[@manueltolentino]

A little trick for when you hit a "plateau" at any given speed (BPM) of this (and/or most) exercise(s): go back to your previous "successfully mastered" bpm, but in this particular case, instead of starting the exercise on the 3rd string,12th fret, start it on the 4th string, 5th fret (= one octave below). Spend a while in there... a couple of minutes will do... Since this position is a bit more "physically challenging", once you get back to the 12th fret, it'll feel a lot easier... use that "boost" to get comfortable with the new BPM... repeat if you ever hit another wall :)

[@Christianonbass]

Good idea

[@jonathonvillella1614]

I have a bass set up with dead strings that I play regularly. It builds muscle. When you get on a decently set up bass you fly on it

[@logananglin2074]

Excellent lesson sir. I will definitely add this to my technique. Also enjoyed your work in "That 70s Show".

[@joshfossgreen]

ha

[@pgraham7528]

Thanks for another smokin' lesson. Excellent use of split screen. Will continue to be used, yes?

[@Arael4]

I can't believe this video got thumbs down. What the hell? No one explains bass any simpler than this guy. Videos are funny too.

[@ashleydeane1907]

Thanks for the videos buddy, definitely helping me take my bass playing to the next level from the comfort of my home. Keep em coming!

[@betelgeuse3274]

your awesome, keep these lessons coming

[@galuhardiana9616]

Thank you for the lesson, ! This is very useful for my bass playing

[@Tanglangfa]

This video was amazing, as they all are. Can you please speak on how sweep arpeggios might be used in a blues solo? It's be a neat trick to pull out in a blues jam, since they usually expect us to just play the same thing for our solos, just without guitar. Thanks!!!!

[@MichaelD8393]

I can sweep pick on guitar & now I'm intrigued to try it on bass.

[@jimbarnett6713]

This is the best video instructional I've found. My only suggestion would be to include just a bit of the theory behind each lesson. This would help to familiarize students with the concept of theory and how it relates to each lesson, and it helps to kick start the musical curiosity each musician has which inspires them to seek answers. At least it helped me. Theory isn't the big scary bug-a-boo everyone thinks it is, it's actually fun. Good job Josh, and congratulations for making the magazine, that's very cool. :)~ Jim.

[@ThrowingSpoon]

Thanks man I subbed, I hope to see more videos like this!

[@coleanderson9050]

Great lesson! I would love to see more lessons on sweep arpeggios like the 2 octave ones if you haven't already posted some

[@PieceOfMind14]

Sweep without any pick, respect!

[@arturogomez805]

Excelent lesson bro. I'm just meeting your channel and is awesome. Awesome, I really feel the work in my left hand. That's pretty nice. Greetings from Venezuela Josh. Thanks for that great leeson, you earned a new loyal suscriber. ;)

[@joshfossgreen]

Thanks Arturo! :)

[@XAnimeBroX]

superb! I would love to learn more about sweeps & arpeggios and dominating guitars in the shred department.

[@zxyx453]

thnks Ashton

[@Maxthemartyr]

Josh. Thank you so much. Totally following you

[@joshfossgreen]

Thanks Martin!

[@Basslead]

Awesome Josh. Love the lessons and thanks for putting them up for free.

[@Cookieonbass]

Do you have any lessons on full bass arpeggio sweeps? like all 4 strings? I usually just use my thumb to sweep but your idea wasn't too bad either

[@TheSepl95]

It took more than one hour for me to watch the video, but now i can sweep that :))

[@idiotickidful]

Thank you, loving it. Never really thought there was something like this!! And i love expanding my bass knowledge. Thank you :)

[@patrickgresham5019]

Josh, great lesson I've been working on this lesson (really paying attention to fret and pluck fingers has made a world of difference. I'm wondering the theory behind a Bflat in with Aminor. I've tried searching on my own but can't find (or figure out precise search terms). Thanks much Basskateer

[@joshfossgreen]

Tritone substitution of the dominant, baby! :P

[@patrickgresham5019]

+Josh Fossgreen Awesomeness, I'm thinking with the normals and not unleashing my inner Black Sabbath, hallowed be their name. Thanks much for your videos and advice. Also The Waltz is amazing. It's not because of the shredding but the musicality is top notch.

[@FVIIFrost]

Hi Josh, thanks for the awesome video. Unfortunately; the links in your description don't seem to link to your PDF anymore, do you have them hosted anywhere else, or could you possibly re-upload them? Cheers!

[@aristidesmiranda7566]

Diggin it. Good lesson. More sweep arpegios!

[@beaukincade1195]

Thanks for not being a bass Nazi, and making learning fun. Plus I'd like to request a remark you made by weather report... One of Jaco's coolest bass lines ever

[@jared_s2]

The best arpeggios i've ever heard are in a song called Skitzo By Adam Nitti. The begginning bass line of the song is arpeggios.

[@joshfossgreen]

Nice! He's a shredder!

[@MrMacGaunaa]

Info for reduction of confusion between bass- and guitar-players: For guitarists, sweeping refers to a picking technique where a single note is played on each string (the pick sweeps over the strings, picking each string once); usually used for playing wide-interval stuff such as arpeggios (kzbin.info/www/bejne/rpi8oZVsgMiZbJI) In guitar-land playing arpeggios up and down with other techniques (string skipping, tapping or plucking with fingers) is usually not called sweeping even though the sound from it can be percieved as a "sweeping" sound.

[@zaccds]

Thanks for the lesson, it was really helpful.

[@responsibleparty]

The term "sweeping" refers to the technique of picking strings sequentially and in the same direction. For example, picking down on a string, then picking down on the next string, etc. Sweeping can be very efficient because it is, in effect, one sweeping motion with the pick in the same direction. This video is interesting. I wouldn't call it sweep picking though. If I think about sweeping with a bass, I really can only see doing it from high strings to low. Perhaps you could go the other way using the thumb. I don't know. BTW, nice bass. If it's bubinga, I had one just like it. Decided to sell it and I just haven't been able to find a replacement in good shape these days.

[@squirrelxk2]

Yeah, most bassists that do sweeps have a thumb downstroke, index or middle finger upstroke. It's a pretty uncommon technique to see outside of the more technically oriented metal genres. If you want a really good example I recommend looking up the song Omnipresent Perception by Beyond Creation. There's a video on here of the bassist playing it and there's some good examples of sweeps, the first being about 40 seconds in.

[@matthewgillespie1981]

awesome vid josh, would love to see maybe a vid or two about sweeping over 2 octives :)

[@contrabbastanza]

What kind of effect do you use at 1:30? It sounds amazing :D

[@ulasgursoy2838]

distortion

[@AbdullayProductions]

+Federico Perna just turn up the gain or buy a distortion pedal

[@Tard6661]

+Federico Perna best bass distortion pedal is darkglass b3k or b7k

[@Stringbassman112]

Just a thought, has anyone thought of playing that bottom A on the E string? It would add an extra right hand articulation, but you wouldn't have to slide at all in the left hand.

[@GaryR55]

Technically, this isn't sweeping, as you're picking the strings with your individual fingers, as opposed to strumming them all in one motion with your thumb or a pick.

[@joshfossgreen]

Guilty as charged! :P

[@Cosme422]

yeah I'm pumped about this!!! awesome! Thank you!

[@MC-ep8cu]

PDF link dead. really wanted to look at it. You explain it well enough, just would have liked a hard copy :(

[@fabionegro4682]

Are those exercises suitable for pick users?

[@enlighteninghumor6526]

Thanks again for another great lesson. Keep those arpeggio lessons comin man!!! BLAMMO!!!

[@JamesReubenGruta]

Can you try franck hermanny style sweeping?

[@clementdaniel4650]

Thanks for the lessons bro!!

[@blackhawkchalk]

Is it really a sweep without using only one picking utensil? or just an arpeggio?

[@FVIIFrost]

Do you have any advice for bassists playing on an instrument with a less accessible lower horn cutaway? on a standard precision bass, it's easy enough to fret as far as the 19th; though I cant help but envy you your unrestrictive 24th

[@morrisman64]

Great lesson what brand bass you are playing?

[@MrVladalv]

Peavey Cirrus

[@morrisman64]

Thanks for the info

[@MrVladalv]

no problem

[@teknstuff1]

Great stuff! 'Bar that finger'

[@gavinhobbs3831]

Wow another fantastic tutorial , listen dude I'd gladly buy your book's money well spent I'm sure but I'm like seriously broke and im trying to get by on a government disibility grant soooo it sucks but it's all good , playing bass is giving me hope and when you crack a difficult riff or when you finally understand tabs wow best feeling in the whole world aside from a ketamine drip I suppose.. Thanx for all the fantastic tutorials... Cheers.

[@joshfossgreen]

Hey Gavin, shoot me an email to josh @ joshfossgreen.com, I'll hook you up. :)

[@TWKamil]

You're moving fingers too much, it's endurance run to play longer passages with your technique. Look for Billy Sheehan arpeggio idea when he talk about economy of motion. I bet it will help you improve. Still cool you share what you already practiced with others! :-)

[@gayjustinbieber6225]

Bootsy be praised. This is dope AF

[@AzureSunwind]

Yea, I'm super interested in more sweep arpeggio lessons :o.

[@tinghuichronicles]

Hello, just wondering if you have a practical song examples whereby we can apply these sweep techniques to? Thanks! :)

[@BartoszZasieczny]

tinghui lee In the middle of "Knights of Cydonia" you could play it by sweeping - normally Muse plays that with synthesizer.

[@berryndrapratama9]

Thanks Josh..

[@Ream359]

Man you´re awesome!!! great job!!

[@TheKing1789]

Great video!!! Helped me a lot! :) Keep up the spirit!

[@beardbytes4332]

Middle Earth Map... I'm SOLD! I love my Cirrus, I hope they make a comeback.

[@Cadmior]

Thanks for the video, will try and improve my speed in the next days :)

[@jupianna]

Hi Josh, very nice, do you have tab to help me please?

[@jsgovind]

Hi Josh. Isn't it easier to keep the sweep pattern within 4 frets and use an additional string instead? Need not focus on left hand sliding across to access the notes. Eg. G 12 15(tap?) 12 D 12 12 A 13 13 E 15 15 You can optionally tap the 10th for extra effect. :P

[@joshfossgreen]

That is another option. It depends on the sound you want - they articulate different depending on which strings which notes are on. If you were actually "sweeping" with your right hand, your suggestion would probably allow for that more. The way I have it structured in this video lets you get a "sweepy" sound by using a lot of hammerons and pulloffs so that the notes aren't as articulated as if you plucked every single one. End essay! :)

[@reiniervanzwieten7092]

sweep arpeggios means arpegiating with sweep picking at least if i am not mistaken

[@andrewincavo3893]

more! great lesson

[@TheGuitarBassist]

Do you teach how to do two hand tapping as well?

[@joshfossgreen]

Check out my old videos, there are at least a couple tapping videos back there.

[@smgrest]

Dude! awesome vid!

[@truesouljs4352]

This guy is like the Yngwie Malmsteen of Bass...absolute ripper!

[@williamlandin2646]

Dig it, thank you!

[@boltwolf666]

you look like badger from breaking bad haha you're videos are awesome though, i got my bass before christmas 2013 and your videos have helped exceptionally

[@vanquishtheshadow]

Try playing some Scott plummer..

[@Giltindor]

Frank Hermanny does sweeping on 6 string bass ;)

[@maxtacos]

Awesome. Thank you man

[@suwandigoh2323]

Thanks for uploading!! It was really helpful! =)

[@jadelouisetidman7400]

More like stroke arpeggios, sounds sweet though!

[@AjipaAlive]

nice bass

[@KyleCarrington]

sick. this got me subbed! :) thanks

[@eshaandutta5536]

Thanks helped a lot

[@darkenedskies9766]

I want more sweep lessons son!!!