u = upstroke d = downstroke |-17---17p14---17p14------17p14-------17p14---------| Try practicing slowly with one note at a time untill |--------------------15---------15---------15-------| u can play the whole downward part of the sweep. |---------------------------------------------14----| |---------------------------------------------------| |---------------------------------------------------| |---------------------------------------------------| d u u d u u |-17p14----------17p14-------------| Just start practicing the downward sweep first until you are |-------15-------------15----------| comfortable with it and try not to let each note run into each other. |----------14-------------14-------| The speed will come naturally as you practice.(Downward sweeps are easier |----------------------------------| than upward sweeps). |----------------------------------| |----------------------------------| u d d d u d d d |-------14-17-----------14-17------| |----15--------------15------------| |-14--------------14---------------| |----------------------------------| |----------------------------------| |----------------------------------| d u u d d u u u d d |-17p14----------14-17p14----------14---------| This is the way i play sweeps |-------15----15----------15----15------------| if you are not comfortable with this way |----------14----------------14---------------| play the same pattern slowly and see what |---------------------------------------------| notes you hit on an upstroke and a downstroke |---------------------------------------------| and adjust your style to it and play it slowly and |---------------------------------------------| practice it every day. d u u u u d d d d |-17p12----------------------------12--| Here is a five string sweep and beleive it or not it |-------13----------------------13-----| is actually easier to do than a 3 string sweep. |----------14----------------14--------| Marked above the tab line is the way i prefer to |-------------14----------14-----------| use my fingers to fret the notes. I think this sweep |----------------15-12p15--------------| is harder to do at slow speed. |--------------------------------------|