John Petrucci's archives

Sweep-Picking: Are You For It or Against It?

Posted by admin in Wednesday, January 27th 2010   
Topics: John Petrucci, Picking Technique    
5 Comments 374 views

Sometime back I started a thread on thegearpage.net titled “Outlaw sweep-picking?” and I meant it – sort of. I meant it in the sense that 9 out of the 10 times I’ve seen or heard sweep-picking in the rock arena, it’s been pure “wankage.” It may even detract from all-important TONE.

On the Other Hand/Finger

Posted by admin in Wednesday, October 22nd 2008   
Topics: John Petrucci, Paul Gilbert, Picking Technique    
No Comment 82 views

On the subject of switching your picking from thumb/forefinger to thumb/first two fingers — well, you can go the other way too. Paul Gilbert used to play with two fingers and a thumb, but switched to thumb/forefinger, apparently just to get a cooler, cello-like pick attack — and because of a little thumb pain.