Secrets of Gambale Sweeping! Ch. 2 - Ingredients of Economy

THE MAGNET CAMERA MOUNT IS NOW ON KICKSTARTER! Film your own playing just like we did with Frank! www.kickstarte...
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What eaxctly is "Gambale Sweeping" anyway? In this second installment, we look at what Frank's secret sauce of economized picking really entails, and why it brought certain types of lines within reach of more players than ever before. Watch the complete Frank Gambale interview here: troygrady.com/...

[@troygrady]

For detailed tablature for all these examples, including two four-minute takes of the ballad intro, check 'em out in Frank's full interview: troygrady.com/interviews/frank-gambale/

[@Superchixxx]

Troy Grady thanks for this, hope you are keeping well! Take care

[@batmandeltaforce]

I had commented on this, but I took it down, because I wanted to be sure... That angled pick technique is inferior. You are MUCH better off with the Non-angle technique and there is far less "bouncing" also, AND the up and down motion (angle technique) should ONLY be used as an "Effect". I do not angle, and I am fast as hell, and I ONLY use the angle thing for Effect. I "think" it is inferior and bad technique to use an "Effect" with every pick stroke:) There are times when you WANT the string to vibrate up and down, ESPECIALLY when you are trying a pinch harmonic... So I am challenging this technique and this philosophy:) Love you man... but yes, I dispute this:) hahahaha If you are in Atlanta, I will show you and prove it:)

[@sunnibird]

@@batmandeltaforce Probably the most obnoxious post I've seen in a while. You're actually stating that your sweeping technique is superior to Frank's? LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL Judging from your 2 vids I'm going to have to say. No. No it's not. But please, feel free to post vids of your 'superior' technique.

[@marclopez4269]

@@sunnibird i've checked out his videos also..i just wasted 5 seconds of my life because of that

[@troygrady]

@@batmandeltaforce No need for us to be in Atlanta. Get a camera, point it down the strings the same way we do in our features, and let's see what motions you're making. They may or may not be the ones you think!

[@terrycolletti8645]

You are by far the most professional and thorough and not to mention ridiculously talented guitar instructor on the internet today. Nobody Breaks this stuff down better than you. Keep it up

[@xzesstence8862]

Agreed

[@adonislajara6955]

True

[@forprogress999]

Agree.

[@fretbuzz59]

What he's doing is explaining and demonstrating techniques. He's not teaching *music*. I've gotten a few useful things from his videos--can't say I haven't. But I can say that I've never seen any actual music in any of his videos.

[@EOHRyan]

@@fretbuzz59 He teaches technique, this is his life's work and his approach is truly groundbreaking. If you want to learn about the music then go listen to someone who has dedicated their life to that part, everyone has their niche in the industry, plenty of the best guitar builders don't play guitar for example. Troy studies and teaches mechanics, and he does it better than anyone.

[@MartinMillerGuitar]

THANKS, Troy!!!

[@abrock2]

I’m shocked with the quality of this content. Can’t understand why there isn’t more views! Congratulations for this amazing work.

[@TheLochs]

Frank was one of my teachers at MI. I learned all my sweeping from him, the master. He's a great guy.

[@___and_memes_for_all]

Got any good licks?

[@TheLochs]

@@___and_memes_for_all sure

[@___and_memes_for_all]

@@TheLochs could u share em?

[@icecreamforcrowhurst]

Of course he’s a great guy! Never met an Aussie who wasn’t :)

[@MrDMF567]

Still just blows my mind that there are people who’ve mastered their craft to this extent. Insane

[@DirkRadloff]

Frank still don't get the attention he deserves, thank you for this video

[@panagiotiszacharatos3639]

Troy Grady should receive an award for the high quality and polish of his videos

[@snuggynuggy117]

My God. Gambale will definitely go down as the smartest guitar player of all time.

[@ATX0705]

He wouldn't be a bad pick, that's for sure.

[@TheCrimsonIdol987]

Gamble's awesome, that's for sure. His playing is so precise, technical, and amazingly lyrical.

[@TriteNight1218]

Everyone should check out Frank's instructional books if you haven't already. He is an INCREDIBLY well organized and thorough teacher, and his books provide incredible insight into the way Frank approaches the instrument. Top notch stuff

[@tombstoneharrystudios584]

His “Modes-No More Mystery” tape introduced and demystified the diatonic modes, alongside with giving you a great insight into Frank’s easy going personality

[@TheDarrenJones]

Yeah, I didn't "get" modes until I got that video, and then it was just 'bingo!' - to this day, they make total sense to me purely because of the way Frank described them in that.

[@bens4295]

This dude must spend more time editing each minute of theses videos than most people do for the entirety of theirs. Well done Troy! Cheers 🍻🍻

[@TheRetrospective]

The production quality of this video is beyond belief. Love Troy's ability to look at things philosophically and systemically. Respect! 👏🏻

[@TomerBusidan]

Troy Grady is the Einstein of guitar teachers.

[@eudesfrancogt]

The Book 'Speed Picking' is, in my opinion, the best guitar technique book out there, and I advise every guitarist young or old to study it, even if just a few examples. The book is a great way to introduce how easy it is to play complex lines in the guitar.. together with Frank Gambale VHS videos, you can see the tequinique applied with no mysteries (ha) and very musically, studying hand and pick position with a clear view and a very musical approach. Every instrument has a set of rules to make it easier to play, more idiomatic.. Guitar is not a simple instrument, but it does not have to be hard to play, Frank Gambale helped a lot showing how effortless it can be... Now with Troy's videos that breaks down even more the observation parts of the study of Sweep Picking it will be even easier to get into the practice parts. I look foward for the next ones. Great series!

[@danvincent2600]

Defo. And also yngwie malmsteen ‘rising force’ transcription. It contains useful ideas for super fast alternate pickin’

[@Tyrell_Corp2019]

I will never forget seeing Frank Gambale on the same stage as Allan Holdsworth. It was a Halloween night performance in a converted movie theater somewhere in New Jersey that I can’t remember at the moment. It was a doubleheader. Allan Holdsworth featuring Chad Wackerman on drums, did a full set before Chick Corea with Dave Weckel , John Patitucci and of course Frank on guitar. Now get this: some ignoramus seated directly behind me shouted after Corea’s first song something like “bring Alan back.” It was beyond cringe worthy. I remember sinking down in my seat so that no one would think it was me. In fact, I may have turned my head around to indicate the guy. There was a pause. Corea leaned gently into the microphone and said something like: “this is not a competition. We are all friends here and that’s why we are playing. No one has opened for anyone.” He couldn’t of been more gracious. Needless to say, the show went on and Frank tore it up!

[@troygrady]

Awesome story!!

[@akphoto2010]

Best sweep picking video ever. This is amazing.

[@georgedyckiii3465]

This made me so happy. I could always hear Gambale was a monster, but now I know *exactly* why.

[@dreamwever87]

That transition from 11:40 - 11:50 though. 10/10

[@ourclarioncall]

Yes, AMAZING

[@nickcharles6530]

Someone needs to make a video on that damn “Power Licks” Shawn Lane video. The tab book that came with that thing is all whacked. I had to sit there and slo-mo the whole thing to figure out what he was playing, and re-wrote the whole Tab for that thing. That was a major lesson in itself. That and the Brett Garsed video. Jeez man, those old REH videos are a beast and one of the greatest gifts to us modern guitarists.

[@zogjones]

Nick Charles duuuuuude I’ve been fantasizing and waiting for Troy to get into Shawn Lane!! How awesome would that be?!?

[@DavidMakesNoise]

I agree completely!

[@coisa985]

Love Shawn lane's playing, he takes Eric Johnson's pentatonic technique to a whole new level, amazing, though brett garsed I haven't approach him much yet, just discover them both through MVP Centrifugal Funk album

[@christophervaca7116]

I loved that Shawn Lane vid. I remember him alternating between 4 and 5 note patterns. Awesome player.

[@aeksinsang932]

Ya that book and video was Shawn on auto pilot and caused more confusion

[@pietrobattiston1155]

THIS IS THE BEST CHANNEL ON KZbin

[@cc_1983]

Recently picked this book up again to have another go about 15 years later! Haha. KZbin being psychic again! Looking forward to watching

[@scotch340]

Thank You for an Incredibly well-made and professional production.

[@raybergstrom]

Great to see you do an in-depth series on Frank! I had the privilege of taking classes with Frank for a year at the LA Music Academy (now LACM) when he was head of the guitar department there. Frank is lauded - and rightfully so - for his amazing technique, phrasing, and improvisation skills, but I don't think people realize how deep his harmonic knowledge and fretboard knowledge are. Frank's favorite artists are Steely Dan and Chick and he can improvise on any kind of chord progression you can think of. He can play the whole Steely Dan discography at the drop of a hat. He can also take any kind of melodic or chordal idea and instantly sequence/permute/invert/contort it anywhere on the neck. He had the deepest fretboard knowledge of anyone I had ever encountered.

[@troygrady]

Totally! I've heard good things about his most recent harmony course from Levi Clay who did the transcriptions for it. It's not fretboard mapping, though just harmony in the general sense, e.g. here's what I like to play over this tonality, that kind of thing.

[@raybergstrom]

@@troygrady I'm sure it's a great course! His books, "The Frank Gambale Technique Book 1 & 2," are great for harmony too. Somewhat confusingly, they aren't about guitar technique per se, but rather harmonic techniques and vocabulary.

[@arosalesmusic]

I have been following his career since the mid 80´s, have all his books and videos and taken his course, he is truely amazing, as a complete musician and teacher. To me he is just as innovative as EVH, Jimi Hendrix and Allan Holdsworth.@@troygrady

[@CC-qb9sm]

Thank you Troy and Frank.

[@troygrady]

Many props to Frank for sitting for this!

[@mokabbalist]

Nice to see Frank on here! My 1st Guitar Teacher went to G.I.T. with Frank back in the day and I wore out my VHS Tapes of Modes: No More Mystery & Monster Licks & Speed Picking!

[@VM0451]

Chick Corea? I'm sold. Time to listen to all of Gambale's stuff.

[@davidlambo]

This instructional it’s just ridiculously incredible! So accurate that it reach the point of laughable! Just pure genius! What a piece of work art Troy! 👏👏👏👏

[@Mazinga]

That is so fantastic explained. You should have millions of views!

[@ToneD5150]

Why would any guitarist dislike this video?

[@15MinuteGuitar]

Shazam! Back in the day it really seemed like Frank was doing the impossible. These days, nothing has changed.

[@bonifaciodachuva]

This video was masterfully crafted, you should be thanked more often, thanks!

[@JOVO1971]

so much work to show perfect the unbelievable technique of the king of guitar, Frank Gambale, thank you!!!

[@LordFingers1]

troy, you are a true genius. what you've done with guitar is remarkable. on top of that, you are a monster player. well done sir.

[@petedambski3792]

Hey Troy. I met Frank at MI in Hollywood in 1983 I was in the same class with him. He did NOT sweep when he started school. I believe he was 24 years old at that time ,he was more of a blues player then. But after watching him play for a few minutes on the first day of school,I told him he is going to win guitar player of the year award and he did. He was always really nice and polite He would sit and play keyboards and sing with his pink Fender stratocaster hanging from his neck. He was teaching there the following year, Super talented guy, Frank basically took what Yngwie did and applied it to jazz which actually has more possibilities and voicings for sweeping technique then diatonic arps.

[@troygrady]

Interesting. If he wasn't sweeping, what was he doing? He usually explains that it took him 10 years or so to make sweeping habitual, which really wouldn't leave enough time for this to happen in the short time he was there. Was it something he was working on but not actually using? Because by 86 or so it looked totally habitual.

[@petedambski3792]

@@troygrady Hey Troy, He probably just started sweeping but kept it quiet like EV and his tapping, I would see Frank jamming almost on a daily basis just did not see him sweep in the early days, I had a 1958 Fender strat that I bought In Hollywierd for 35 bucks on the street and Frank was bugging me to sell it to him for $800. I didn't but then I got paranoid with it cause everyone wanted it at MI so I sold it to someone else for $1000 and bought a car with the cash LOL If you look Frank has a guitar strap with an Alien head on it on some videos I gave him that strap many years ago that was my company back in the 90's Vai is got one too Just a little fun trivia. take care.

[@mesabman]

This is a very informative and diagnostic video that really helps me understand economy picking. Even though I can clearly see how much more efficient economy picking is over alternate picking, the fact is alternate picking is far more simple because all the brain has to do is constantly do an up-down picking action. Economy picking, however, requires the brain to have to think about when to use consecutive up or down-strokes when changing strings. I'm very trained at alternate picking but trying to learn how to effectively use economy picking is far harder and takes a lot of mental processing to get it down, especially when playing super fast or complex stuff like Frank Gambale does.

[@gsus1567]

Absolutely insane video!!! It’s a very Great job!!!!

[@jackduxbury1632]

Wow, such a fabulous video, all my thanks to you and your team for making such an immacualte video. Thanks to Frank too for just being Frank, all my very best wishes to you all X

[@PaoloCoruzzi]

This video is just amazingly done and enlightening...thank you so much Troy!🤩

[@chechog112]

Thank you for this Troy. You have worked soo hard to be the best at this! You have considered every possible detail in every of your videos. Just thanks man, keep it up!!

[@guts2112]

The visual element of the chord part is fantastic.

[@raphexe]

This video/channel is top of the line, it should be a netflix special. The content and the production value are just .. wow.

[@icecreamforcrowhurst]

Thanks for posting this, much appreciated. As great a guitarist as Frank is, and in spite of revisiting this content many times throughout the years, I find his teaching beyond useless. He tells you a little about the mechanics but somehow never puts the pieces together in a way that is useful to me. Major respect for his playing though, he’s a monster.

[@nickkellie]

what a great video - thanks Frank and Troy!!

[@DavidAddis]

Your videos are a public service Troy! Thanks for this 👍

[@glenjamin2703]

Everything about this video is nothing short of damn freakin epic! Why anyone would dislike this is beyond me.

[@gonicjon]

Your detailed approach has led to many “Ah Ha” moments in the hearts and minds of many creating much inspiration and encouragement

[@donatobaonguis4315]

wow... what an explanation and demonstration....genius!

[@tradingwithwill7214]

After decades of shredding satriani, malmsteen etc I’ve been reworking my picking with Frank’s courses. He’s even reworked his pentatonic scales to allow for the traditional positions.

[@cazziebb1707]

It's the synchronicity of Gamble's left and right hand that is incredible. I always watch his left hand and how smoothly he fingers those arpeggios.

[@nylonsteel]

He is also a great Teacher to boot.

[@jorgeley]

Awesome!!! You have mastered the art of educational animation so far!!! Incredible, thumbs up !! an Thanks a lot for the content

[@GMHG777]

Frank was so far ahead of his time, yeah there are masterful sweep pickers out there but he pretty much revolutionized this style of playing

[@travisjamsonall]

I only stumbled upon this channel a week or so ago; all the content is so well thought out. The guitar concepts are really interesting too. Great work man!

[@troygrady]

Thanks for watching!

[@Nedwin]

The best guitar lecture I've ever watched!

[@DizzyKrissi]

wow - Troy is back with those highly polished videos which once made me subscribe to his channel

[@albertolattanzi8452]

Una Master class. Una genialidad .Gracias.

[@billsequins1490]

Great visuals. thanks.

[@dustinmylesdiou2649]

This was awesome, thanks dude! You help keep the blues-box at bay :D

[@chadgarber]

Excellent video!

[@martinpalmer3575]

The production value of these are so so good Troy, and as informative as ever, you should be proud of your self mate. Well done, and THANKYOU!

[@someguy4505]

Neat. Alternate picking fast is fun in bluegrass stuff. Great to build the chops.

[@dwhyte8320]

This is a great series.

[@jonathanangeles1881]

I already saw them on CTC, five exquisite episodes! Troy thanks for all your knowledge

[@troygrady]

Thanks for watching our stuff!

[@angusorvid8840]

Great video Troy! Your videos are fantastic. I've been playing for almost forty years and trying to perfect my technique for just as long. Your videos are extremely helpful to beginners and veteran players. Your lessons just make sense.

[@karilamervo5343]

Far more power to Troy Grady, you are a treasure yourself.

[@wintertime331]

So good! Thank you for this! I remember years ago a buddy noticed that I had the economy style of picking ( which I had never heard off ), and didn't realize that I ( for the most part ), had developed, since then i really worked on my alternate picking and lost the economy side😩

[@troygrady]

Yep. It's amazing how you can "figure out" stuff you don't even know you're figuring out. A lot of times just knowing what you're already doing can be super powerful all by itself.

[@vitorniskier]

This really should have more views, amazing editing and really insightful. Thanks for the content!

[@dillonsamaroo2057]

This is some great video work. Wow

[@houseofshred3725]

These videos are incredible. EDIT: The price tag on that video set is pretty reasonable too given the amount of effort that goes into your stuff. I'll be purchasing this weekend. Well done, guys!

[@jjcarter6539]

Awesome material and edition! keep up the great work mate! ! ROCK ON!

[@bardiabahri2860]

I definitely gonna follow these series closely!!!! Thank You

[@bradsmithstudios8881]

This video is so amazing!

[@tonybhai2]

Chop builder was one of the easiest instruction video to follow and master 😅. Its the best possible workout

[@SteveSecateur]

Stunning vid. Thx 🙏🏻

[@localpyro]

Love these videos , great artistic flare in the production & of course Frank is a legend

[@alwolf2325]

Great video. Time to revisit Marshall Harrison tho, AKA the GOAT.

[@mattpeterson3002]

People can subjectively argue which guitarist is the best, in regard to originality, phrasing, and composition. However, I think it can be objectively said that no one else on earth can sweep/economy/swybryd pick as good as Marshall!

[@aeksinsang932]

He’s a real dick to talk to and denies techniques he uses that Troy noticed. He’s envious Troy is more successful than him. I switched off by his attitude. He can play buy can’t teach worth a shit

[@CarlosFlores-ty7dy]

Awesome animations and analysis Troy! I am very surprised with this video, well done! :D

[@ricksalt6860]

Damn , Troy's vids are next level

[@johnnythekewl]

thanks for the amazing effort you put as usual ! Amazing job Troy

[@civilibot]

awesome video! can't wait for the next one.

[@LarryCorban]

Thanks for posting Troy!

[@chadgarber]

This makes a lot of sense.

[@panavisionnot7180]

Great graphics ! to Have this technique mastered and have nothing to say musically is like having a high - tech oven and nothing to roast in it ! ( technique is only a by products of Frank's genius )

[@troygrady]

Nobody creates in a vacuum. It's clear that many of Frank's ideas were inspired by the techniques, and really couldn't be played any other way. It's hard to write those kind of phrases without actually having the techniques. Of course he's a creative dynamo, that's why we like listening to him. And not everybody who learns these techniques will write amazing stuff. But there is a lot of interplay between instrument technique and improv/songwriting ideas, they feed each other.

[@panavisionnot7180]

@@troygrady Partially agreed.. FG may not be the first player to use sweep picking, but unlike typical ( trained ) sweep pickers he used his jazz education and talent to load it up with musicality that leaves one smiling. What sets him apart from the majority of shredders is his ability to hear it before he shreds it rather than twitch his fingers along worn out fretboard patterns hoping to make up a melody. Here is an example of a monster shredder from our shores with supremely articulate chops kzbin.info/www/bejne/rqqQnH-kgbGKa5I

[@iLanFrid]

Incredible investigative work Troy. We all have our preferences, of course, but I wasn't into the flat picking, country stuff. Gambale is definitely a study.

[@lilikura]

Amazing! Absolutely brilliant! Please do one with John Petrucci. Request aside, the guitar community is indebted to you and the amazing work you are doing. ❤️🙏🏽

[@JeffNucci]

I would subscribe for life and write over my 1st born if he ever got John Petrucci on here

[@lilikura]

Jeff Nucci I think JP would be amazing (might as well be the best study subject) since he himself is highly methodical and an excellent academician. Man, if only JP is featured, don’t know what I’m gonna do!

[@itsianwood]

Troy - Sorry...I wrote a stupid comment yesterday after Ch.1 ('so, where's the video?') - I thought the rest would be paid only. I feel stupid now :-) THANK YOU! This is AWESOME!

[@zogjones]

itsIANWOOD it SHOULD be paid! Damn, Troy is such an awesome dude. I WILL toss him some money someday!

[@Guitarmon8]

Thank you Troy - you are amazing.

[@jsudra]

Amazing analysis.. Bravo!

[@georgoroth]

I learned guitar on my own and never knew alternate picking existed till i compared my way with other musicians, I'm a sweeper from day one, in the 90's, i couldn't believe that people played alternate, alternate always seemed wrong to my, if you watch my videos you'll see, only sweeping

[@eliacazzato4039]

Your videos are awesome man

[@MusicWorldKaraoke]

Great job friends, greetings from Barcelona

[@JazzGuitarScrapbook]

Sweeping is easy enough (at least for a few licks.) Keeping it in time not so much - almost everyone rushes when doing directional picking. Gambale is one of the few I’ve heard who can do it dead in time, and with juicy tone and snappy articulation, because for most players it’s just a gimmick they trot out for a few arpeggios (yes even jazzers) while FG has clearly sweated blood to get this approach to work for him musically. flash and speed is just the icing on the cake when you get a technique working to support your *music*. For many it’s all they wanted right away from Frank’s approach and it’s all they took away. You have to commit to some extent and work through its challenges, and that’s scary. See also - Allan Holdsworth, John McLaughlin, George Benson... all players that took one approach and worked through it...

[@troygrady]

Right on. It's the swing tempo groove stuff that really sells his approach, where you can't tell what technique Frank is using until you actually watch him. He'll use sweeping for sextuplet type accents just like the next player, but getting straight time bop eighths is the hard part.

[@pratyushdhadwal]

Amazing video!!! Very helpful ❤️

[@ThrashRebel]

😂 I still have the “Speed Picking” book & cassette from decades ago. In fact, I digitized the cassette (broken down into individual examples) about 5 years ago & have the files on my phone as I type this.

[@w.e3012]

excelente trabajo.. me gusta y es muy util

[@ZuQoRoss]

My brother sent me here. And my life has changed for the better 😮😮😊😊

[@sanjaybalachandran]

Excellent

[@TheLucidDreamer12]

Many left-handed guitarists who play right-handed figured this out as a way of not using their non-dexterous right hand as much, as well as using a lot of tight legato to use their left hands more

[@13bit19]

Nice vid!!!!! I wanna see a video of paul Gilbert string skipping arpeggios too

[@linsaku1150]

frank is totally god of guitar!