Little sweeping problem, Please Help.

Lord-Skroppy

Hi.. Im ultra noob to this forum and a relatively new guitarist (3.5 years)

I have a strange problem. When I play 5 string sweeps i can play almost any form without problem at pretty fast speeds. The problem is when i try 4 or 3 string sweeps. I can play the first two or three up down motions just fine but when I try any more my fretting hand (left) kinda dies. I thought it was a lack of practice but its been bugging me for months now. My 3 and 4 string sweeps are faster than if I alternate pick them, but they are slow for sweeps. My hand just spasms up after a while no matter how slow I try them. (ok, if i play really slow i can go on fine,but any decent speed kills me)

Martyr

try this product:

http://www.bidorbuy.co.za/item/9027274/Perform_like_A_Pro_Fitness_Egg_for_superfast_technique.html

it exercises your hand to help the spasms stop and improves your hand stamina A LOT!!!!

but then again it could just be me,i would give it a shot,worked for me

Wessel

The cramps could be because of your left hands position. I know you said the pain is only there at faster speed but it is usually something rooted in your slower technique that just gets worse when you speed up. Try to do the sweeps as slowly as posibble and note for note and feel where you feel any strain on each note. Try to get your technique down to the minimal amount of effort.

Manfred-Klose

First learn to play it slow, then take your your time and work up your pace.
Play with a metronnomme(spelling sorry).

Manfred-Klose

Whats your location, i can you give you some videos.

Manfred-Klose

try this product:

http://www.bidorbuy.co.za/item/9027274/Perform_like_A_Pro_Fitness_Egg_for_superfast_technique.html

This is only going to make you slower,building muscles at the wrong places,could mean the end of your guitar playing days, believe me!!!

Renesongs

+1 Manfred

IMO the only way to build strength and agility is to practice more often and longer. The first reason is that for guitar you develop a highly specialised group of muscles that are not used squeezing rubbereggs or even playing piano. The second reason muscle memory, deep inside your brain there is a place where instinctual reaction are stored like remembering to put your arms out before you fall on your face, if you repeat a sequence of muscle movements often enough they become instinctual.

Having said all that I am going to contradict myself and say that playing bass guitar helps improve finger strength and agility for guitar, but only in the left hand

Manfred-Klose

Rene

I also recently started playing bass(2 months now), when i play guitar after i played bass, the electric guitar is alot easier to approach, same applies to classical guitar.

About the right hand bass, After 2 months the finger in my right hand still hurts after playing 8 notes for a while with middle and index finger.
Any tips for the sore fingers with bass?

Renesongs

Any tips for the sore fingers with bass?

Aah the most common complaint of guitarist playing bass. Turn your volume up, brighten your tone and pick softer, electric bass is meant to be tickled not plucked ?

Martyr

This is only going to make you slower,building muscles at the wrong places,could mean the end of your guitar playing days, believe me!!!

like i said,worked for me...

i only use it when i'm sitting in lectures and all i'm thinking about is getting home to jam on my axe ?

deanBailey

Renesongs wrote +1 Manfred

IMO the only way to build strength and agility is to practice more often and longer. The first reason is that for guitar you develop a highly specialised group of muscles that are not used squeezing rubbereggs or even playing piano. The second reason muscle memory, deep inside your brain there is a place where instinctual reaction are stored like remembering to put your arms out before you fall on your face, if you repeat a sequence of muscle movements often enough they become instinctual.

Having said all that I am going to contradict myself and say that playing bass guitar helps improve finger strength and agility for guitar, but only in the left hand

+1 0000000

Bane

I had a problem with my right arm once. Everytime I tried to sweep my upper arm would stiffen up. Then I just used my left hand...fine. Just the right hand...fine. Together...stiff. So i practiced them individually and then together but slowly. Woke up the next day and my right arm no longer stiffened up. Was weird and it worked. Sweeps are a piece of cake once your mind clickz!! Just like Dean said, muscle training and muscle memory. Play it slowly over and over, and also practice both hand motions individually.

Bane

Ooops meant 'just like renesongs said' ?