SWEEPS

Here is a blues lick (see Note*)

You`ll find this a lot easier to play if you learn how to sweep . Play it using the pick directions shown - down for the goalpost, up for the v.

To practice your sweeping, first Break It Down (see Step Learning ):

Damp strings with your left hand, rest your right palm on the bridge and sweep. As you play the bottom E string the pick comes to rest on the A string and so on. Practice like this for a while. Then double up the speed and let the open strings ring:

Stay relaxed while you practice.

Now bring in the left hand:

When you`ve got the left hand, alternate patterns up and down like this:

This exercise will also help you to get to know your blues scale better.

When you can play all these comfortably, try going up the neck with it:

This is an extract from one of the complete sweep exercises you can find on my "Guitar Workout" CD.

*Note: these TAB examples are written in the key of F minor. This makes them easy to follow as the fret number and number of the finger used to play the note are the same. You should practice the examples in all keys by moving your left hand up and down the neck. I have played these in the key of A minor (5th fret).

The exercises on this site are played at medium tempo (around 108 bpm). If you`re learning material that is new to you, practice slowly at first.

 

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