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Double / Tremolo Picking String Changing Question - To Alternate or Sweep?
Joined: Jun 27, 2015 Posts: 223 San Francisco East Bay Area 
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Posted on Jun 10 2017 03:01 PM
I am a pretty strict alternate picker. When changing strings, should I generally sweep when possible? It seems like it would be more efficient but also more awkward rhythmically at times. Is this a technique I should be practicing along with my endless tremolo picking practice? Thanks! —Jonathan the Reverbivore The Reverbivores Please check out our latest album The Reverbivores Watch TV! www.thereverbivores.com Last edited: Jun 10, 2017 15:02:34 |
Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle
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Posted on Jun 10 2017 03:31 PM
You need to do what is best for your vision of the song you are writing or for how you want your technique to appear in your guitar playing. There is no right or wrong. Traditionally, double picking is held firmly when alternating strings or skipping strings. Double and sweep will produce two very different results. |
Joined: Mar 02, 2006 Posts: 11010 Berkeley, CA 
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Posted on Jun 10 2017 03:54 PM
Like Jake said, keep working on the song and you'll find your own way to robot. Either through technique or phrasing. —Danny Snyder Latest project - Now That's What I Call SURF I'm back playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta |
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Joined: Jun 27, 2015 Posts: 223 San Francisco East Bay Area
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Posted on Jun 10 2017 04:52 PM
Thanks, guys! That's sort of what I thought (and hoped)! —Jonathan the Reverbivore The Reverbivores Please check out our latest album The Reverbivores Watch TV! |
Joined: Jan 19, 2015 Posts: 3 |
Posted on Jun 10 2017 09:21 PM
Sweeping when changing strings (also called economy picking) is a good habit to develop if you want relaxed, efficient picking in general. You can get crazy fast and fluid with minimal effort. Trouble is, IMO it can sound too smooth and toothless for something like surf. I agree with these guys, unless you're straining or fumbling, keep on with what sounds good to you and what works for the music. |
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Joined: Jun 27, 2015 Posts: 223 San Francisco East Bay Area
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Posted on Jun 10 2017 11:11 PM
Economy picking! That's what I meant! I was indeed fumbling with part of one of my tremolo picky solos and economy picking seems the way to go. I've never tried it before and it feels weird of course, but even after practicing for 30 minutes, it's clear the investment will pay dividends in multiple contexts. Thanks! —Jonathan the Reverbivore The Reverbivores Please check out our latest album The Reverbivores Watch TV! www.thereverbivores.com Last edited: Jun 10, 2017 23:11:54 |
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Joined: Jan 19, 2015 Posts: 3 |
Posted on Jun 11 2017 11:06 AM
This is an economy-picked "tremolo picking" cheat I adapted from Sonic Youth but could apply to any music: Play unison notes on two adjacent strings and rapidly economy pick between them. For example, fret an e at the 12th fret of the high e string with your index finger, and fret the same e pitch on the 17th fret of the b string with your little or ring finger. Then pick using this down and up (or up and down) stroke pattern: e string Or reverse the sequence and begin with the up stroke. You can double your notes with half the effort. You might have to consciously slow down! You can also slightly bend one or both notes in an out of unison pitch to create a warbly effect. Any adjacent unison notes on the neck will work, all have different timbres. Try one open string and one fretted. The only limit is how much stretch you have between fingers. Have fun! edit: the post garbles the notation format but the picking sequence is simply picking each string with the same stroke you used to exit the previous string, back and forth in a circular back/forth up/down pattern.
Last edited: Jun 11, 2017 11:13:53 |
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Joined: Jun 27, 2015 Posts: 223 San Francisco East Bay Area
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Posted on Jun 12 2017 08:31 PM
That's really fascinating! Thank you, methinks! I'm going to practice this!!! —Jonathan the Reverbivore The Reverbivores Please check out our latest album The Reverbivores Watch TV! |
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