sweep picking or fast alternate picking?

i think really complicated 6 string sweeps are more impressive, but they don't always sound better. i also like solos that have a message/emotion but they don't always apply in stuff like thrash or death metal where its just blistering in your face.
 
I guess my opinion probably would be in the minority of many lead players because I'm all about the riff. A good SOLO, not a good technique, IMO is based on the amount of feeling conveyed through the guitarist. Is the guitar saying what he wants to say? If so, that's a good solo, IMO.

words to live by: "THE POWER OF THE RIFF COMPELS ME"

Not sure who's yelling it, Pepper? Phil? doesn't matter.
 
So judging by all this straight sweeping dissing, you guys don't like the Fermented Offal Discharge solo?

Epic solo.
 
If you want to impress people that do not have a large knowledge of guitar just play some tapping. They will be impressed to see two hands doing something that appears rather complicated. But any kind of sweeping is very cool in its own sense, even PG type string-skipping arpeggios will wow an audience.
 
So judging by all this straight sweeping dissing, you guys don't like the Fermented Offal Discharge solo?

Epic solo.

yeah, it is epic, a little cheesy, but a great solo nonetheless.

marty friedman said that technique opens a lot of doors for you in terms of soloing (riffs too). So the better your technique is the more you can do with your instrument, and you can have that one measure of shred in your solo that makes your solo sound amazing (due to the feel it gives, not the impressivness of the technique used in the shred lick). Think about the sentient 6 solo
 
words to live by: "THE POWER OF THE RIFF COMPELS ME"

Not sure who's yelling it, Pepper? Phil? doesn't matter.

Sounds more like Pepper. Listened to that disc today though, and decided that, with the possible exception of the last track, I don't care for any of the tunes after 'New Orleans Is A Dying Whore'.

If you want to impress people that do not have a large knowledge of guitar just play some tapping. They will be impressed to see two hands doing something that appears rather complicated. But any kind of sweeping is very cool in its own sense, even PG type string-skipping arpeggios will wow an audience.

That really shouldn't be a guitarist's primary interest...
 
So, I'm a tad confused. Fast alternate picking mean just like sweeping, but plucking the individual notes, or getting more notes per string and going across the strings?
 
Sweeping means consecutive strokes in the same direction. Alternate picking means alternating pickstroke direction - up, down, up, down, up, down...

Jeff
 
I know that. I was wondering why or how you were comparing the two. Mainly how though.

In my opinion, getting down a consistent speed while alternate picking and changing strings is a tad more difficult. For me at least.
 
My mistake, I couldn't tell what you were after. I'd agree about the changing strings problem, but most people tend to have more of a problem with either inside or outside picking and then have to either practice their weaker spot or work lines around what they can do well.

Jeff
 
I suppose it hides bad technique. I:E Not rolling your fingers across strings on sweeps, leaving your fingers on the strings as you hit strings ahead/behind them.

Sweeping is a very precise technique, but allows a lot of room for error. A person who's not a musician wouldn't notice it though.
 
I suppose it hides bad technique. I:E Not rolling your fingers across strings on sweeps, leaving your fingers on the strings as you hit strings ahead/behind them.

Sweeping is a very precise technique, but allows a lot of room for error. A person who's not a musician wouldn't notice it though.

It was a rhetorical question

I was merely trying to expose the fact that Dragonforce sound sloppy regardless of the choice of technique.