Why Most Can't Sweep and How To Conquer it!

[@mygabrielle7477]

Killer lesson. I’m 47 yo and have been playing for 30 years. Mostly blues and 70’s classic rock. I’ve never learned to sweep. I’ve fooled around with it a couple times but never stuck with it for longer than a few minutes. I watched this video and decided I’m gonna at least master the two licks you taught in this video. Picked it up in no time and it’s inspired me to learn more challenging licks. Might be a new tool in my bag. You did an outstanding job explaining it especially with how to hold the pick and understanding where and why you pick up or pick down. Thanks for the vid

[@Cognitoman]

Did you get it ?

[@bdaquatics7584]

I've been trying to sweep ever since Unearth's album the oncoming storm came out. That was 2005. It's taken me 15 YEARS to sweep properly and to make every note ring true. The pick angle was a huge part for me too. Practice SLOW on 3 strings sweeps then increase speed. Best advice I've gotten. Stellar lesson Robert! I hope I win that fender!!! Fingers crossed bud!

[@Cognitoman]

That’s what I’m doing, I got use to play on 2 strings now I can 3 strings at 165bpm, now I’m gonna try to add in 2 more strings tomorrow, so basically 5 strings

[@gearjmr]

Definitely the tastiest smoothest well rounded guitar teacher on KZbin. Been playing since the early eighties and I always get something good from watching you.

[@nesta8518]

Fluidity is a word and thank you for this. I’m not looking for speed, but clean sweeps. Practice, practice, practice.

[@joeurbanowski321]

Excellent point about starting the arpeggio over.! All good points really… Thanks man 🔥

[@ScottyBrockway]

You may want to explain your right hand tecnique for the students who can't pick up visually on it. You have a downward pick slant, which creates an escape on your upstrokes which makes it easier to change strings. You also do a slight circluar motion when switching directions when you play at speed that you don't when you play it slowly. It's kind of a feel thing that not everyone picks up on naturally.

[@BoogyWoogyCreep]

This is a great video for sweeps. I have seen Ritchie Blackmore in concert where he actually down picks and hammer-ons for the arpeggios on tunes like "Man on a Silver Mountain" and "Burn". Very cool stuff!

[@TheHallberger]

Thought it said "why most can't sleep", and thought Rob had a solution for that... But i guess sweep-picking is nice as well

[@Cpmnk]

i cant sleep because i cant sweep

[@GreatWhiteLionSnake]

If you have trouble sleeping, just drink until you pass out. Problem solved.

[@kcb5336]

@andydguitar You beat me to it. I was gonna say a night toke works.

[@Kiwaloayo]

I've got a solution, think of numbers and go to sleep before 12 am. it helps me out a lot.

[@martymiller9514]

Your simple explanation makes all the difference. I got it like never before. The elaborate examples from other sites were just too complex and I always thought no way.

[@Libertarianist2112]

Been playing for 23 years now. I cant sweep to save my life, but I honestly haven't even tried. Just never thought about it. Now I'll at least give it a shot!

[@peanutbutterisfu]

I got better with sweep picking when I started using a metronome but what really made the difference was this video I found about how to use ur fretting hand. The video showed the mechanics of it, how the dude would fret the note then while fretting the next note he didn’t pull his finger off the last note all the way he just gradually pulled his finger off the last note while fretting the next note which deadens the last note so the next note is clean and also getting the most out of each note. Idk why i needed to see that video, maybe most people don’t need to but I honestly spent 45 minutes a day minimum for a good 4 months which i did use a metronome the last 2 months a bunch but after watching that video about gradually lifting off a note while fretting the next note I got better with sweeping in 3 weeks then the entire 4 months because I was practicing properly. Now I did know what sweep picking was before the 4 months and I did sloppily play around with its but the 4 months I’m talking about was when I was seriously trying to get it down I just don’t want anyone to think I mastered it in 4 months. I also want to emphasize how crucial practicing to a metronome was for me. I would have figured out what I learned in the video at some point, I actually was kinda doing what the video was talking about but only because I started using a metronome and at a speed that I could play 100% cleanly. Playing to a metronome taught me better techniques overall because for me anyways I had some bad habits in some techniques but playing to a metronome forced me to learn better techniques. Its not like I used a metronome every second but imo it was crucial when learning something when ur playing it slowly then depending on how much u practice you bump it up 5bpm every week or whenever you can play it perfectly cleanly every time.

[@jktolford8272]

Fluidity is a perfectly good word that best describes what you're so ably teaching in this lesson. Very informative. Thanks.

[@richardwilliams3497]

I’ve always wanted to upstroke that top note on the way back up, really prevented me from seamlessly connecting arpeggios. Good lesson✌️

[@lichkrieg4898]

me too, so I usually just leave it off or add a note somewhere else in the context of a band it's barely noticeable. however the only way to get better is to learn it and get through it.....but you know...reasons.

[@Roberto-nn6kb]

Same

[@tgstk2]

holy crap... i mean i have trying to learn sweeping for quite a while...and sometimes it sounds like i'm john petrucci, and many it sounds like it's the first time i ever try to... this explanation of the mixing up the up and down is such an eyeopener.. as i hav ALWAYS have done that... my god that might have been the best lesson this year!! thank you so much for this!

[@chrisking6695]

The "fall through the strings" feeling is so good! I'm a beginner and everytime I get that feeling I know that in getting closer to nailing it (at least on the way down).

[@n35h20]

Oh man this was so helpful, I was playing my sweeps (what I thought was the right way) but they didn't seem to sound quite right, I was messing up at 5:54 by starting the next loop with an up. it's taking a bit of unlearning but it already sounds better. Thanks for all your help man!

[@artrogers3985]

Very good. That pick angle was something I never thought of. Thanks

[@megatron804]

more vids like this please your the only one who can explain it that makes sense to me

[@fredericadda]

For having spent years practicing sweep picking, these are all very good advices, and I wish I had them when I began learning it.

[@Conch582]

This is video I have been waiting for, thank you!

[@mcmusterd]

super help, appreciate specifying the picking with the hammer on/pull off on the high E and well as restarting the phrase.

[@davewilkins4954]

Great video, thank you. It finally clicked for me after watching this.

[@badalicemusic]

“Fluidity” is indeed a word. “Awesome lesson” would be two.😎👊

[@JeighNeither]

Yeah, Yo BOB!!! This guy, he's got your answer; FLUIDITY is a word... not only a word, but a bad ass word that should be used often.

[@TRose-hc9pv]

WOAH! Your explanation is very precise. That's exactly where I mess up is not following the pattern in the picking. Thanks Robert! #Wooo

[@ronaldkane7938]

You are my favorite youtube guitar teacher, and thanks for the techniques! Do more this kind of vids!

[@robtoc]

As I fall deeper into your channel Prof. Baker, I realize that you are just a FANTASTIC teacher. I'm not just going to say only 'guitar' per se, because I'm guessing you could probably teach anything that you're passionate about. I can't 'sweep' for shit, but I believe I may be able to, after watching this video! Well done!

[@ozoneswiftak]

Well.... nice birds. Prs, are pretty good, but I love your les paul or fender. And your charvel. .I cant get over the birds. I'm a paragliding pilot and this reminds me I need to go. Flying.

[@shanewright9735]

Who's downvoting this video? This is a great lesson

[@kaiying74]

Thanks for this Robert, these are a nice set of drills. You're a very engaging communicator and educator dude.

[@MrRocknroIl]

Woooooooooo for the Ric Flair t-shirt!

[@nattyboyo2404]

Your spirit animal is an Afghan hound

[@chrisgmurray3622]

Thanks Robert, I know this is going to help as I make a transition back to playing more electric after not having played much over the last three years!

[@bustercrack788]

I’m getting closer ~ will be the first to post one day ~ great stuff as usual 🇬🇧👍 Fluidity smooth elegance or grace. "they moved with supreme skill and graceful fluidity"

[@manuelmesamusic]

After this video I think I actually want to learn how to sweep. Thanks man!

[@TheDanNobles]

Great lesson, I noticed you move your right hand back towards the bridge a bit when you go downward and back to the neck moving upward. Not sure if this is on purpose or not and I don't think you mentioned it but that one thing seemed to help clean up my technique some. Maybe because it's helping the thumb mute better.

[@scrap8930]

Excellent breakdown of the simple mechanics. 👍🤙

[@hughmoss9884]

sometimes I wonder if I should lower my action, or lift my fingers higher......to play like you, Robert !

[@hearpalhere]

Awesome lesson Robert! Love the finish on that guitar and the fretboard looks really stunning too.

[@arcanagardens7977]

how did u know i just subscribed the other day and was looking for sweep videos? Also been working on ur EJ excersize a lot of fun. thank u bro

[@GreatWhiteLionSnake]

Show you how clueless I was, I never even realized I could even do this until I watched a video I taped for a studio session and watched myself do it. When I think about it, I stumble. When I just play, no problem. I guess my lazy picking techniques my teacher always told me I had actually paid off. Its a good thing I'm brain dead, or I'd never get these techniques down.

[@jhonesmidtimbang]

It really helps dude I always having trouble with 3 strings sweeps than 5 strings.

[@hellreiser6663]

What hair products do you use???

[@DarrenRayYagle]

Hello Robert! I just got a notification to watch this.. Dunno why but glad it happened. You remind me so much of myself from 15 years ago. I used to teach guitar and had that long hair too. Taught on a custom 24 even. Mostly a custom 22 tho.(Brazilian) Still have the guitar but the chops are gone. 🤣 Just started playing again. Acoustic has been my go to lately. Great instruction my dude!! Oh yeah... Subscibed and notified!!! 👍👍

[@LewisShieldsUS]

Is that guitar I hear? I'm back on the roof! Ha! Love the lessons, they're keepers, thanks.

[@michaelcorbett4236]

I often find that sweep picking practice works better on an acoustic (steel strings though). You may have to stretch your hand a bit more but you'll often only get the feeling if it's done in a certain way. Then it sounds like a harp.

[@maidenian5074]

Man you have good taste on choosing great looking guitars and that is a sexy prs

[@ampcruz2540]

Awesome ! Thanks allot bro I'm on it now ,,, your a great teacher and I appreciate your videos 🎶🎸🎶🎶🎸🎶🎸🎶🎸🎶🎸🎶

[@ajizzle4rizzle]

Thanks for this video. This little sweep run is going to be part of my practice session.. It sounds like it's part of a song and not just a boring exercise.. I may have missed the song disclaimer if there was one.

[@corn1078]

I love the video! maybe one day i will be able to play some Synyster gates licks.. in my dreams er actually i don't know but I'm 14 years into playing and have always struggled here

[@PJCobi]

Thanks so much for posting this. I never thought about angling the pick when sweeping. Man, what a difference it makes! Congrats on having one of the best guitar related KZbin channels! 🤘🎸

[@seldonsinq]

I read this too fast. Been listening to the Beatles and I thought the title was about why most of our guitars don’t gently weep.

[@redearthpaul178]

George Harrison sweep game was weak

[@Deauxtje]

Hahaha

[@joebloggs8636]

@@redearthpaul178 you obviously do not play guitar..just saying.

[@joebloggs8636]

@ihate names you are a baffoon..just saying.

[@redearthpaul178]

@@joebloggs8636 you not saying nothing

[@camiloortega5452]

Which one is that PRS? Beautiful 🤩

[@vandyman9957]

I can't do it, but I will... thank you Robert!

[@williammassi567]

Thanks for the tips, I’ll give it a try

[@bluesrockguitaristmikesall2708]

Robert since I don't use a pick,the only sweeping I do is with a broom,and that really dirties up the guitar strings !

[@williamtaylor1433]

Great Lesson! What Pickups are in your PRS

[@spivvo]

Great lesson, thanks!

[@VioIetRamirez]

Woa. COOL Btw thas some beautiful hair man💚

[@christopherdavis8248]

super awesome lesson today! appreciate it!

[@howardcunniffe8738]

I like the style you play.

[@patrickian8843]

Gorgeous guitar Robert

[@jazvfx]

thanks, i guess my down stokes are okay but my up ones are really terrible. i learned the first exercise in 2 min. but the second one in reverse is like trying to write with the oter hand. Damn !

[@bgeraldc]

Great video!! Do you have one on practicing arpeggios?

[@yose1402]

When I will have my electric guitar. I Will try it. Nice video RB chanel. Sweep your guitars guys.

[@andypearce5537]

CE for the win!

[@penchhalimboo3587]

Nice..always learned from u n keep on learning from u..thank u very much.

[@PlouplePoupi]

Thanks Robert, so helpful🇫🇷👍🏼🍒

[@BeefNEggs057]

Yes fluidity is a word. Spell check agreeees. But seriously it is.

[@RJsCave]

Great lesson Rob. Thanks!

[@akinlabiaderibigbe7491]

Much love and respect from Nigeria

[@truckercowboyed2638]

Can you discuss raking as well ??? To get a nice percussive rake while doing the sweeping??? I can sometimes do it but usually its without thinking about it, how can i consistently get a good rake when playing a solo or something that needs feeling ???

[@lichkrieg4898]

most people never learn to sweep because vacuum cleaners are a thing.

[@alisbc1]

Or Miyagi won’t teach them

[@honkytonkinson9787]

When you opt for the carpeted fingerboard on that 70s era gibby

[@DeadmanRides]

You are a genius

[@honkytonkinson9787]

Alastair Cauchie there's no knees in guitar!

[@alisbc1]

@@honkytonkinson9787 tell that to Chuck Berry!

[@wheelchairtestdummy3059]

Thanks for your content Robert🤘

[@retroquest3579]

Very cool lessons!

[@ErikPehrsson]

Nice PRS!

[@RabidGerry]

I'd say I'm an ok guitarist, I really only play my own music though and I have my own style born out of limitations from things I never quite managed to conquer. An example would be, I do tonnes of legato lead stuff because I can't quite get speed picking on ever note but I think it's ok what I do. Well sweeping is another one of these things for me and even though I utterly despise how it sounds sometimes I recognise it would be useful in the arsenal. So your video I've only watched a few minutes off and I already know I might be able to learn something from this so this is getting saved to my "watch later list" and I will be back!!!! Thanks for putting things up like this.

[@Spondon.M]

Thank you for the lesson

[@Wargasm644]

Also, I use inside picking and continue up on that first arpeggio. I can’t quite get the same speed at your stopping point. 🤔 but I will give it a whack.

[@artytoney2057]

Freakin great video for beginner sweepers

[@BobK5]

Like it Robert 👍😎

[@jacombo7]

Main thing I have never been able to get past is being able to keep the previous string muted when moving to the next. I've seen some teachers suggest using their picking hand to mute and some even use their fretting hand. Any thoughts?

[@MadassAlex]

Fretting hand. The key is the control each string that isn't meant to be ringing with a light touch, but only where necessary. e.g. when sweeping from the 8th fret of the high e string to the 10th fret of the b string, the high e string is at risk of ringing out. Your index finger will be free to mute that string gently as your pick passes strings and your middle finger lands on then string. Also, you should practise sweeps at three gain levels imo. Fully clean, your preferred level of gain, and excessive gain. Clean for raw technique and excessive gain to find where notes bleed together.

[@scottbronder]

that tone.. so meaty

[@reallyeffingcooltechnodude]

I remember having this problem. Then I started practicing sweeping.

[@JeighNeither]

Haha, right! You do have to get the concept down, then it's really all about timing, & to get that perfect, you have to practice a lot. Which is why I'm here looking for more things to sweep. Luckily it becomes addictive in a neurotic kind of way...

[@Wargasm644]

What size pic are you using? Jazz 3?

[@j200man]

Thanks! Much appreciation! Question: can you sweep pick with a thumb pick?

[@Burnt_Gerbil]

As long as the mechanics are the same, I don’t see why not. 🤷‍♂️

[@macelbayardi8453]

Hi bro, you see I have a problem, when I'm playing a riff-scale with the left hand, the middle and ring finger, tend to do kind of a pull off to 0 ( no fret ) for example Im picking down and comes middle finger 9 on G, then ring finger 10 on B, but when I have to release time by time the fingers I make a pull of; middle finger 9 on G pull of to 0, and ring finger 10 on B pull of to 0, and obviously this sounds noisey and out of tune, how could I fix this?

[@donsimon63]

Fluidity is a word. Confirmed. 👍

[@artificialharmonic3527]

How can one train these insane finger stretches? These seem to be very important in conjunction with this technique.

[@dzejkobteremenus473]

Damn this PRS sounds great

[@suetruett3812]

I too can do sweeping but mostly it's when I'm not thinking about what I'm doing.... wish I could consistently sweep but this will need practice. As all things guitar require practice. I don't mind practicing though. Glad cause I thought this was about housekeeping.......

[@suetruett3812]

@ihate names Thanks for the info. I use all of it I can...

[@gabrielvelloso9834]

Robert, I love all your videos, but we want more Zeppelin videos, and we want it now!

[@anmolatwal]

What are the Pickups in the red icon evolution sd!!

[@KuppaKwafee]

Can you get that kind of tone out of a blues jr?

[@richardpayne9092]

I learned sweep picking with Europe's Final Countdown solo. I mean, I still can't do it, but that's where I learned the technique.

[@Sean_Plays_Guitar]

Fluidity is definitely the word, bro 🤘🏻And in the dictionary, next to the definition, is a picture of you shredding 😂

[@Tokestaf77]

Thanks man

[@alecuys1033]

Nice.

[@clem_chret]

That rolling technique with the major finger is freaking hard. My sweep is pretty clean when not too fast but your technique ruins my tries ahah

[@ryan.m990]

1:21 .. Lol I'm literally here bcus I wanna play miracle man from ozzy . 😄

[@yetimatzenightcat8702]

I have to work on this 🤔..😄