photo credit: the other Martin Taylor
Here is the quick and easy way to learn from Howie Simon’s Sweep Pickin’ for electric guitar. The sweeping effect is actually not done by just one hand. You must use both hands – to perform an integral motion in unison to achieve the desired effect. It makes you sound like a real pro! It’s not easy or preferrable to do this on an acoustic guitar, and that’s why you see players like Frank Gambale and Yngwie Malmsteen always performing the sweep on a distorted electric guitar sound.

Try it for yourself – and remember – don’t worry if you cannot do the electric sweeping function on your first day. Keep plugging away as you are – and by the weekend, you’ll be able to showcase a new technique! Enjoy this video and arpeggio-based approach to finger lickin’…