sweep picking motion help
 

|-----12-17-12---------|
|---13----------13------|
|-14--------------14----|
|-------------------------|
|-------------------------|
|-------------------------|

for this arpeggio, i use down stroke for 14, 13, 12 up stroke for 17, downstroke for 12, up stroke for 13 and 14. BUT if i were to do the arpeggio over and over again like

|-----12-17-12------12-17-12---------|
|---13----------13-13----------13------|
|-14--------------14--------------14----|
|------------------------------------------|
|------------------------------------------|
|------------------------------------------|

should i go down stroke on 14, 13, 12. upstroke on 17, down stroke on 12, upstroke on 13, but this time down stroke on the 2nd 14 so i sweep onto the next 13 and 12 easier? or should i just upstroke on the 2nd and then down stroke on the 13


ANOTHER QUESTION: to get this straight, i mute the strings by letting go of the string after i play, then why do some people need to palm mute? unless theyre rolling (then i totally understand).

thanks for reading, and thanks for the help in advance

Yes, downstroking 14 to 12, up 17, down 12, up 13, and down 14 is how it is generally performed. It is much easier than upstroking the 14, but if its comfortable and clean... :shrug:

As for the palm muting question, palm muting you could call it the 'back up' mute if your fingers don't come off properly. All that really matters is getting the desired sound.

I'd pull off from 17th to 12th and then continue the upwards motion. Like down down down up pull-off up down. That's how I roll with these three string-sweeps anyways.

Ah, don't forget legato changes the sound especially a critical point such as that. Eliminate the 12-17-12 picking for legato and the picking will still be the same, you still start the second 14 with a down stroke.

I know it changes the sound, but I don't think that sound was a factor here. He didn't state anything like that, so I thought that I'll give another way of approach.
I find pulling off much easier to do than to continue picking. Anyways, it's much easier to learn at least. If you really want it sound all even, then yeah, you should pick.
However, to me it doesn't matter. As long as it sounds good and clean I don't care.

I'd probably hammer and pull the 17th

this, for me hammer and pull the 17 would make me easier to do the upstrokes for the 13 and 12

Downstroke14,13,12 then upstroke on 17pulloff to 12 continue upstroke13 ok now this depends on you either continue the up to 14 but then down on13 and repeat or do it like this after the up on 13 down on 14and repeat.sumarry down,down,down,up,pulloff,up,up or down,down,down,up,pulloff,up,down.

Down, down, down, up, pull off, up, up. But depending on the context I might just alternate pick the whole thing instead.