Strunz & Farah and the Art of Swiping

[@ChicagoBeaver]

I can't believe I'm just now watching this. I bought "Heat of the Sun," in Portland OR. Around 2002 or 2003 and went out and bought a nylon stringed acoustic guitar and learned how to play it. Thanks to Strunz and Farah. Thanks to "Heat of the Sun," the CD that changed my life.

[@LeviClay]

Troy Grady - somehow he just keeps getting better and better!

[@scotthayes-nylonstringguit8592]

Icon's! I first saw them in 1990 at Celebrity Theater in SoCal and 2 more times at Hyatt Newporter. They are my biggest inspiration/influence in my nylon string playing. They changed my direction of playing, at a time when I played progressive metal and did not even own an acoustic guitar. Very nice, humble guys when I met them. To see them playing live is almost unbelievable. They make it look so easy. Simply amazing.

[@NicknLex]

So lucky I was exposed to Strunz & Farah by my mom and dad. Same with Al Di Meola. When I picked up the guitar the first time I knew what I wanted to play! Still my favorite acoustic guitar duo 20 years later!

[@alexeltroll]

thanks troy i didn't knew these guys!! glad i know them now

[@artina.i5069]

Alejandro Ramirez ardeshir Farah it's Persian and me to😊

[@DrakeSteve]

What Troy is calling "swiping" I call "skimming" because the pick literally skims lightly over the top of the next string before it's plucked. But it's all good. Troy is a fabulous player and teacher!

Troy, this is amazing. I've been playing S & F's musical work for years by ear and both manage an amazing custom technique. I love Farah's technique. But both techniques are amazing. Congratulations for this work.

[@Twice_Marvel]

You're a very underrated channel. Don't stop.

[@interestingthings8598]

When i first saw this i thought they were two old guys trying to shred. Then i heard one then another and yet another of their songs and then i bought Five of their albums and then i thought „Oh my God. Wow”

[@maxympol]

Troy, I just want to say that I have learnt more from your "mechanics" video than from years of blind picking. Now I don't need to think about holiday presents for me ;)

[@danielsheltraw8773]

Troy Great video and just what I was looking for! Comments/questions to follow: All the examples you gave were of ascending 3-note-per-string lines. If you are descending playing 3-notes-per-string starting with a downstroke and strictly alternating then when going from a higher string (eg G string) to a lower string (eg D string) there is an opportunity to swipe across the higher string (G) when going to the upstroke on the lower string (D). Alternatively when playing the last downstroke of the 3-notes-per-string on the higher string (G) one could swipe through the next higher string (B) thereby escaping on a down stroke and setting oneself up for the lower string upstroke (D). On second thought can is that swiped downstroke really an escape stroke when doing typical downward gypsy reststtoke pick slant? Have you seen either of these sweeps used? Lot of potential in swiping!

[@3dw3dw]

Ive been stumbling over playing strunz and farah songs since the early 90s and i had no idea i was doing that, but i checked and no shyt! I suck at it of course but wow!

[@TheAgentAssassin]

The stuff that you are documenting is second to none in the land of guitars.

[@patrickruiz8458]

Thanks Troy for all your help. i have made leaps and bounds in my playing from attention and intention as well as your picking vids. thanks again

[@TheNylonStrings]

Fascinating as ever! Thanks Troy and Co

[@chriswilliamson8984]

Great work. At about 10:57 that looks like rest stokes on the downstrokes AND upstrokes...with a tiny amount of forearm rotation changing the amount of pronation. It looks as though it is happening constantly.

[@troygrady]

Indeed, it could be continuous, and maybe slightly more pronounced during the changes. I haven't seen anything like this before in the players we've interviewed.

[@Moozart]

paul gilbert interview please! 😁

[@Bmxmusikian]

Razor IRL omg yes

[@shesellssin]

Paul definitely swipes, and most of us learnt to swipe unconsciously by years of trying to fumble through his fast runs

[@JustinArmstrongsite]

Strunz swipes as his primary string switching technique? That's amazing. What were their responses to your analysis?

[@EKomar-z6h]

Very informative and well done. So cool S&F let you video them like that.

[@giordanquesada4417]

Amazing! Thank you! Huge follower of S&F!!

[@mgcnashville6615]

The joscho lick- I find it's easiest to do if you don't think about pushing through the string, but focus on the upward picking motion instead. Once you get it up to speed, you'll go through the string without thinking about it.

[@courtcomposer]

Troy. Congratulations on such good show. Thanks. Love your videos.

[@ElectromagneDikk]

We also call that economy picking and hybrid picking oh, I don't know if there's a proper term for it or whatever, but I was amazed when I started doing it a few years ago how well it applies to not only gypsy jazz But Metal as well, it's almost fucking weird how similar those two styles a playing truly are. With such a different outcome sonically. Damn I fucking love music so much

[@DigitalValleyUSA]

Man this is just great. Clearly so much time and effort is put into making these videos. I don't know how you do all this... like getting a hold of all these top musicians, the professional quality of the videos, all the post production work, etc. Bravo! I will visit your online store to see what I can buy. Thanks, Reza Los Angeles, CA

[@evanccj]

Seems like the little click of the muted string that comes with the swipe gets covered up by the sound of the last sounded note that comes before it because of the incredibly high speeds.

[@briann8911]

Interesting. I would really like to know how many guitarists use swiping for dealing with periodic one-note-per-string patterns (ie Paul Gilbert pattern) at very high speeds.

[@sigiligus]

The overwhelmingly vast majority of them, I presume. Possibly all of them once you get to certain speeds such as 200+ bpm 16th notes.

[@arielpuig7302]

I think this specific sweeping technique of passing through the string in your way as if it wasn’t there is great to do more fast the passages that otherwise you would needed to do crosspicking.

[@mjs28c]

Cool technique! But as I sit here practicing the swipe (Joscho riff), my right hand wants to do economy (sweep) picking. Right after that 3rd note.....going to that 4th note..... I'm fighting the urge to use one downstroke to hit notes 3 and 4. Practice.....................................

[@reginaldolegora9360]

This technique cancels reverse tension ! My favorite picking technique.

[@rustyshackleford4743]

The free tab and track you put out of their intro is actually perfect to practice fast alternate picking because the fretting hand patterns are really convenient. So I can just focus on my right hand. But I must say, this is probably the toughest time I've had memorizing a piece because it just MEANDERS so much! Once I have this down to memory 100%, I know it's going to be easy to speed up (compared to other pieces), but memorizing it is definitely a bitch lol.

[@plk5520]

Absolute genius idea to do this.

[@paulthoresen8241]

Playing by the bridge is probably the advantage here, the dead note is so quiet in comparison it is less noticeable

[@massimilianocastellani669]

Wonderful thanks Troy

[@curoimacdaire3630]

These guys are amazing.

[@Bomberomusician]

Looks like in this session Jorge is using his trusty Maldanado with RMC pick-ups. Ardeshir appears to be using the Carlos VIP set-up . Which they both use the RMC solution live in concert

[@robertodowney1963]

Hi Troy, have you listened to Rodrigo y Gabriela? Gabriela's crazy right hand percussive technique and Rodrigo's fast picking technique are just awsome!

[@AlMarconiOfficial]

I'm sure he has but they aren't even in the same ball park as these two. Why consider milk when you have here the cream!

[@bubba4001]

This is great and thank you Troy.

[@knutzensmeats7957]

Thank you for your attentions to amazing details in all your productions. I really enjoy the content and am inspired by your mission. Do you sell the cell phone camera holders that you use in your videos? Thank you!

[@Guitaroverkill]

They’ve been playing together for 40 years and this is the first time I’ve seen them. Who’s playing was first, these guys or DiMeola? Similar techniques.

[@JuddOakes]

Awesome stuff in deed I will add the new upward pick slanting licks to my repertoire now Also watched the Andy wood video and it appears he uses a similar cross picking technique that Albert lee uses sometimes from what I've seen so far

[@BrianAuer]

One off the wall question.. You pronounce Farah unique. Is that how Ardeshir said to say it? I have always said Far-uh. Some say Fur- ah.. and you say Fair-ah.. Kind of a silly question but just a curiosity aside from the playing.

[@TheHerreraSound]

Great stuff here!

[@reyesplace1096]

Seen them a number of times, and got jorge's pic, fender medium, tho I prefer fender heavy pics

[@DChunk]

I tried this idea and thought I came up with something cool!

[@brunofelixmusic]

Do it with Paul Gilbert, please!

[@clarkfeeley1959]

Would have loved to have seen what happens if you were to plunk down a distorted strat in there hands. And use the same technique.

[@troygrady]

Jorge played high gain electric with his earlier band Caldera, and was apparently blazing. But I haven't heard it personally.

[@jimnikas4302]

I have all four of their records (yea lp). It was on par with return to forever and mahavishnu. Awesome late 70s fusion that was a little morr accessible with funk and Latin influences. If you scour KZbin, you can find some of the music. If I remember, time and chance was a stand out.

[@aliensporebomb]

Some of the Caldera recordings are on youtube. Well worth seeking out if you like that exotic high octane 70s jazz fusion music. Great playing and interesting composition. I think it's apt their album covers showed erupting volcanoes.

[@clarkfeeley1959]

aliensporebomb I'll check it out. And yeah, I often watch The Mahavishnu Orchestra - Live in Munich 1972. For the pure insane musicianship alone sometimes.

[@jaybecerra]

you'll get Neal Schonesque sounds for sure!

[@tonyrobertsguitar]

These guys should be household names. Frontera my fave, not to mention Passion Grace and Fire by DiMeola, deLucia and MacLaughlin

[@MrSpaceAngel]

where can I find this camera holder? Very useful thing.

[@marshwetland3808]

I wondered, too. Came up with this: troygrady.com/magnet/

[@rafuxec]

Is Strunz & Farah Swiping any different from Batio's swipe?

[@troygrady]

Same concept! Different mechanical execution.

[@TheGor54]

I always thought they were finger picking like wizards... So thats how I learned. It could have been so much easier. I now cannot even hold a pick!

[@MindsEyeMuseGuitar]

Troy, what are your thoughts about swiping vs. downward pick slanting on distorted electric guitar? i.e. Do you feel that swiping is primarily useful on a clean acoustic? Or equally applicable to both?

[@troygrady]

You'll find swiping in all styles of music, on all kinds of guitars, with all kinds of setups. It's probably even less audible on high-gain guitar in certain situations because of the sustain of the played notes covering up the chunk of the muted ones.

[@DOKITT]

Can you make a vid on Shawn Lane's picking technique? For certain stuff like his 18 note per second runs you see him pick parallel to the strings.

[@75groove]

Thanks Troy. I'd be interesting to see Neal Schon technique.

[@roathripper]

I'm still reeling from the 'robot arm' of MAB

[@PeterLe61]

Have you tried this technique on an electric with distortion?

[@jpritch69]

It's in the Antigravity series chapter 15

[@Dang...]

Excellent thanks!

[@highoctanehummus6564]

Do a video on speeding up left hand speed

[@jimnikas4302]

So this Is what Ardeshir does as well or exclusively Jorge?

[@troygrady]

Ardeshir does use some swiping, but he's mainly an upward pickslanter, like McLaughlin.

[@artina.i5069]

Thank you very much it waz perfect video it's help to me to much

[@TheDragon7t]

Holy shit. Thank you so much for these vids. I will elaborate later.lol Well done.

[@tinkusharma6868]

i really want you to do a video comparing Zakk Wylde and Dimebag Darrell !!!\m/ i love your video !

[@inUR2teeth]

Awsome thank you 👍

[@interestingthings8598]

here /watch?v=Yc66LIjmWTg , at 8:13, you can hear swiping in action, I heard it immediately because it is strong and I knew this licks are difficult to be played cleanly

[@OhJHS]

I wish I could see Shawn Lane as a quest.

[@rustyshackleford4743]

Those are nylon strings???

[@artina.i5069]

And armik can do swiping very fast and beautiful

[@djazzsomething]

I just clicked the 1000th like

[@chrischoir3594]

great

[@TommoGuitar]

Wait a second, he can also swipe on inside string changes? :O

[@troygrady]

Jorge Swipes all the time! It's pretty unique.

[@Lioanimals1977]

Great video... BUT! I can't stop thinking that "Strunz" in southern Italy means "a**hole" :)

[@troygrady]

Non è "strunz", è "stronzo", and non parliamo di quelle cose qua!

[@xxxnstuffxxx]

LIO92 Yeah....and Farah means Farah Fawcett-Major....

[@bahrammokhtare8696]

Farah means happiness in Persian. It is used as a surname in Persian and as a first name for girls. As in F F Major or the last Iranian Queen Farah.

[@PINCHSHOTGUITAR]

Biréli Lagrène ?????? Greg Howe ????? John Petrucci ??????Gurthie Gorvan ?????Malmsteen ??? PLS

[@mmaker83]

Any chance to see Rodrigo y Gabriela in one of these interviews?

[@monsterzero1965]

They let you give away their secrets because they know none of us out here can do that anyway even with their help

[@utubehound69]

Can you do Lil Wayne? hehe

[@jmcpherson8772]

Watchman4u please noooooooooo

[@AndyXiong]

So weird! It's like economy picking, but with an even amount of notes.

[@jhovanny1317]

Paco de lucía Único the beast

[@joserobertocarmona3285]

Arrange all this patterns?? There are only 7 patterns in the guitar and in music in general: A B C D E F G ( La si do re mi fa sol), and each one has a very similar pattern BECAUSE ALL SCALES ARE MADE WITH THE SAME 7 NOTES the difference is wich note you use to start your scale, each scale have a pentatonic skeletal body and once you find out that the other musicians are playing in a G chord, well you have the A pattern just in front of the G and the F before the G, so there is no way you can be lost improvising. Stop doing music so painful! Nobody needs to suffer to understand something so easy and intuitive for the human mind.

[@xxxnstuffxxx]

At last...

[@joserobertocarmona3285]

A lil bit more approachable? Man you keep living that story they told you... That there are only a few enlightened beings on the Earth, and maybe with this lessons we should be able to crack their mysteries... all the mysteries are solved when you are committed to get your scales in shape, when you are committed to take your instrument, see what its all about and what we as human beings have been doing for the past 400 years with that instrument... Suddenly when you do your homework you realize that Alonso de Mudarra or John Dowland (renaissance guitar), they have already unraveled a lot of the "modern guitar" mysteries solved 600 years ago... So stop praying that only in this "modern era" we are the enlightened ones, discovering boiling water...

[@TheSwilliams92]

this is economy picking

[@troygrady]

That's the key -- it's not. Economy picking involves using a single pickstroke to play multiple notes. In Jorge's case, each pickstroke only plays a single note. The other note is muted and not heard.

[@rustyshackleford4743]

Not economy picking at all

[@DevonRyeTheDragonfly]

Sick guitar playing but hell, this video is wayyy too nerdy for my taste.

[@evadesc]

Post the whole interviews on youtube. Too much hassle to go to another site. Considering youtube is a huge chunk of global internet traffic wouldnt you gain more exposure by posting more content on youtube.

[@carapungo]

too much talking from this guy....just show Strunz and Farah play.