Sweep Picking & Rakes Guitar Lesson
Sweep Picking & Rakes
In this lesson, Matt shows you various techniques & exercises to help you master the art of sweep picking & string raking.
Taught by Matt Brown in Rock Guitar with Matt Brown seriesLength: 18:36Difficulty: 3.0 of 5
Before you begin to practice this technique, keep in mind that it is one of the most difficult guitar techniques to master. Few guitarists can perform this technique well due to the amount of practice time necessary to perfect it. When learning any new technique, patience is key! Also, remember that technique is a means to a musical end. It doesn't matter how fast you can play something if it doesn't sound like music. Make sure your sweep picking is clear and musical before you attempt to speed it up.
There are several important technical aspects that must be observed in order to pull off sweep picking effectively. Let's take a look at the right hand first.
Right Hand Technique
1. In order to decrease the amount of friction between the pick and the strings, the picking hand must be slightly tilted from its normal position. When performing a down-sweep, tilt your hand towards the floor so that the thumb is pulled slightly away from the strings. This will prevent the pick from getting stuck on an individual string. When sweeping upwards toward the bass strings, tilt your hand the other way. When going up, your thumb should be tilted towards the strings.Note: Check out the Supplemental Content for arpeggio patterns that occasionally involve playing more than one note per string. Chapter 2: (3:41) Left Hand Technique The main reason why guitarists perform sweep arpeggios poorly is because they fail to realize that the left hand component is just as important as the right. Follow these rules to ensure that your arpeggios sound smooth and fluid.
2. Sweep arpeggios must be played with the very tip of the pick only. If too much of the pick makes contact with a string, you run the risk of getting it caught, and the arpeggio will not sound smooth.
3. The pick must gradually "fall" across the strings. In other words, the velocity of the right hand must remain constant as the pick drags across the strings. You must not separate the motion of the pick into individual strokes. Do not momentarily pause on each string!
4. When more than one note occurs on a given string, alternate picking must be used on that individual string. Then, resume picking in one direction.
1. The left hand must prepare each finger before the string is plucked with the right hand. The left hand finger must fret the note just milliseconds before it is plucked. Otherwise, an unwanted hammer-on sound might be produced.
2. Each string must be muted after it is played by slightly lifting the left hand from the string. Do not let the strings ring together at all! If the same finger is to be used to fret the next string, do not lift it up. Instead, "roll" your finger by lightly pulling it down to the next string. Be careful that you don't create unwanted pull-offs while doing this.
3. The sweep arpeggio should sound like a series of rapid single notes, not a slowly strummed chord.
When Are Sweep Arpeggios Used?
A. Sweep picking is most commonly used in the context of a guitar solo. Scale-based lines can be interchanged with arpeggio-based lines to create variety within a solo. Check out an excerpt from Kirk Hammett's "Creeping Death" solo to see an example of how this works.Note: Click the "Supplemental Content" tab for a transcription of this introduction. Chapter 3: (7:12) String Rakes String Rakes are played in order to give a heavy accent to the note(s) that follows them. They are noted as "x's" in a musical score. As a result, the left hand fingers will mute strings marked with an "x." Use a finger that is not used to fret the subsequent note to mute the strings.
Note: This can be found under "Supplemental Content."
B. Sweep arpeggios are also used in substitution for strummed chords, to create melodic textures. The intro melody to Phish's "You Enjoy Myself" was composed using nothing but a series of sweep arpeggios.
Rakes are played as grace notes. Grace notes are the half-sized notes that are frequently written in musical scores. Grace notes are not counted. They are to be played as rapidly as possible as part of the beat that they precede.
Note: Click the "Supplemental Content" tab for several licks that contain string rakes.
Remember! Guitar specific techniques such as string rakes, tapping, tremolo picking, etc. should be used sparingly. If you overuse them, they will lose their effect. You can have too much of a good thing!
Supplemental Learning Material
Rock Guitar with Matt Brown
Found in our Beginner Lesson SetsChuck Berry among others pioneered the style of rock and roll in the 1950's. Today, rock and roll remains the most popular genre of music. Over the years the genre has progressed & spawned many sub-genres: soft rock, classic rock, punk rock, and more. Dive into this Phase 2 set of lessons to become a master of rock.
Lesson 1
Proper Practicing
Learn how to get the most out of your time when practicing.
Length: 29:00 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Introduction to Lead
Matt Brown discusses some of the fundamentals to playing lead.
Length: 15:41 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Figuring Out Notes
Matt shows you the basics of figuring out any note on the guitar.
Length: 7:00 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Scales
Learn the basic minor, natural, and major scales. Quite a few techniques & ideas start with scales - they're an essential building block.
Length: 34:15 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Major Scales
In this lesson, Matt takes you through the major scales & helps you to understand how they can be used.
Length: 20:25 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Natural Minor Scales
Matt teaches the most common natural minor scale patterns.
Length: 13:24 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Bending
Learn & master the most popular types of bends.
Length: 27:48 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Sweep Picking & Rakes
Learn sweep picking and string rakes.
Length: 18:36 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Solo Techniques
Learn various techniques to use when improvising / soloing.
Length: 12:51 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Tuning Down
Matt explains the most effective way to tune your guitar down.
Length: 7:18 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Barre Chords
Learn how to establish finger independence and a few tips and tricks with barre chords.
Length: 37:18 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Rock Licks
In this lesson, Matt Brown introduces a rock lick and shows how several famous players have modified it.
Length: 19:30 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Rock Sequences
In this lesson Matt teaches some crucial rock sequences. He also explains how these sequences can be integrated in to your playing.
Length: 34:52 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
String Skipping
Matt Brown focuses on string skipping technique. He provides several exercises designed to improve this aspect of your playing.
Length: 33:09 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Intervals
Lesson 15 in Matt's rock series is all about intervals.
Length: 34:47 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Rock Lead Guitar
Matt Brown demonstrates lead guitar techniques using Aerosmith's "Sweet Emotion" as an example.
Length: 29:24 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Solo Using Diatonic Scales
Matt Brown explains which scales can be used when playing a solo over a diatonic progression in a major key. As an example, he teaches the solo section to Candlebox's song "Far Behind."
Length: 33:02 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Diatonic Natural Minor
This lesson covers the natural minor scale and diatonic natural minor progressions. Matt uses the solo section to "Stairway to Heaven" as an example.
Length: 24:55 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Right Hand Technique
In lesson 19 Matt provides instruction on developing right hand skills including string skipping.
Length: 26:38 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Non-Diatonic Progressions
In lesson 20, Matt discusses chord progressions that don't follow a diatonic tonality.
Length: 29:07 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Harmonic Minor
Matt begins to discuss and demonstrate the harmonic minor scale.
Length: 29:46 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Improvising Over Harmonic Minor
In lesson 22, Matt continues his discussion of the harmonic minor tonality.
Length: 14:36 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Sweet Child O' Mine
In lesson 23, Matt takes a look at the solo section for the song "Sweet Child O' Mine."
Length: 19:43 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Today
Matt will be taking a look at the solo section from the live version of the Smashing Pumpkins song "Today".
Length: 7:29 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Back In Black Solo
Matt Brown reviews and discusses the solo section to AC/DC's hit "Back In Black".
Length: 9:34 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Brother
In lesson 26, Matt covers the solo section from the Alice in Chains song "Brother".
Length: 9:42 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Matt's Rock Manifesto
Matt Brown discusses lead guitarists, what makes a good solo, and tips for your own lead playing.
Length: 41:06 Difficulty: 0.5 Members Only
Legato Playing Exercises
Matt Brown teaches a number of exercises aimed at improving your legato playing technique.
Length: 37:16 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Right Hand Exercises
Matt Brown demonstrates a few exercises to build skill and speed in your right hand.
Length: 15:06 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
String Skipping Etude
Matt Brown teaches Heitor Villa-Lobos' 1st Etude as a lesson in string skipping.
Length: 38:47 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Three Octave Scales
Matt Brown demonstrates how to play three octave versions of the minor pentatonic and the major scales in all 12 keys.
Length: 16:56 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Diatonic Intervals
Matt Brown demonstrates how to play all seven of the diatonic intervals within the framework of a horizontal major scale.
Length: 23:01 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Diatonic 7th Arpeggios
Matt Brown discuss diatonic arpeggios as a theory lesson as well as demonstrating the technique.
Length: 9:55 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Diatonic 7ths Across the Neck
Matt Brown explains how to play the diatonic seventh chords of the major scale. Similar to lesson 32, this lesson takes a horizontal approach to the fretboard.
Length: 10:46 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Solo Ideas #1
Matt Brown teaches a progression and accompanying solo to demonstrate ideas for creating your own.
Length: 21:34 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Solo Ideas #2
Matt Brown takes a look at another chord progression and solo.
Length: 17:29 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Legato Playing Ideas
In lesson 37 of the Rock Series, Matt Brown demonstrates and talks about legato playing ideas.
Length: 21:24 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Rhythm Concepts
Matt Brown switches gears in lesson 38 to start talking about rhythm concepts for rock playing.
Length: 27:44 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Compositional Techniques
Matt Brown discusses some often used techniques to build effective rock compositions.
Length: 17:27 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Creative Chord Voicings
Matt Brown shows off some ways to add some creativity and originality to your rock chord voicings.
Length: 11:59 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Lead Approach
Matt Brown takes another look at his approach to soloing. He demonstrates ideas you can use in your own playing.
Length: 12:10 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Lead Approach #2
Matt Brown adds practice to his lead approach by giving you another chord progression to solo over.
Length: 7:14 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Lead Approach #3
Matt Brown has another chord progression and solo exercise to go over in this lesson on lead approach.
Length: 10:25 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
String Skipping Revisited
Matt Brown takes another look at string skipping. He breaks down some key areas of Matteo Carcassi's Allegro as an exercise.
Length: 16:29 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
About Matt Brown
View Full Biography
Matt Brown began playing the guitar at the age of 11. "It was a rule in my family to learn and play an instrument for at least two years. I had been introduced to a lot of great music at the time by friends and their older siblings. I was really into bands like Nirvana, Alice In Chains, and Smashing Pumpkins, so the decision to pick up the guitar came pretty easily."
Matt's musical training has always followed a very structured path. He began studying the guitar with Dayton, Ohio guitar great Danny Voris. I began learning scales, chords, and basic songs like any other guitarist. After breaking his left wrist after playing for only a year, Matt began to study music theory in great detail. I wanted to keep going with my lessons, but I obviously couldn't play at all. Danny basically gave me the equivalent of a freshman year music theory course in the span of two months. These months proved to have a huge impact on Brown's approach to the instrument.
Brown continued his music education at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. He completed a degree in Classical Guitar Performance in 2002. While at Capital, he also studied jazz guitar and recording techniques in great detail. "I've never had any desire to perform jazz music. Its lack of relevance to modern culture has always turned me off. However, nothing will improve your chops more than studying this music."
Matt Brown currently resides in Dayton, Ohio. He teaches lessons locally as well as at Capital University's Community Music School. Matt's recent projects include writing and recording with his new, as of yet nameless band as well as the formation of a cover band called The Dirty Cunnies.
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Member Comments about this Lesson
Discussions with our instructors are just one of the many benefits of becoming a member of JamPlay.Your lessons really helping:) Thank you:)
Hooray! I'm really glad that they are helping. If you ever have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. I check these comments fairly regularly. Keep practicing!!
There is no tab fo the Phish song
wheres the tabs for the rake lick?
It will be added today. Sorry about that!
"You enjoy myself" does not print.
thanks for the comment! I'll let the administrators know. Hopefully we'll get it fixed soon.
Hi Matt, I have been playing for less than a year and this exercise has really helped me gain more control over each individual finger while fretting. I am up to stanza 12 but would love to see each stanza broken down after that initial Bb chord.
SUCKS
you enjoy meself very good song. not just for practice the sweep picking but for play.
Cool I just watched the bending lesson, was great seeing him play part of the solo from One. We need more solos! Nice lesson Matt.