Sweep Picking: Arpeggios

By Shane Chess
1/10/02

    Hi everyone.  In this lesson I would like to talk about sweep picking. Sweep picking is used a lot in Neo-Classical playing.  It is an easy way to build up speed.  It can also be used to give the illusion of speed.

    When striking you're your strings you must you must strike the first string and drop the pick to the second string, then drop to the third, etc.  It is almost like you stop before you strike the next string.  You want the notes you pick to be clear.  Also you want to mute the strings when you sweep pick so the notes don't run together!  Also, try to have your fret hand fingers on the notes they are going to fret.

Example 1 is a simple exercise to get you used to sweep picking.

# DOWN STROKE ^ UP STROKE

#------------- ^--------I
________2 ____2____________________________
I_____3_________3__________________________I
I___4_____________4________________________I
I_5_________________5______________________I
I__________________________________________I
I__________________________________________I
 

Example 2 is a A minor arpeggio.

    This will get you used to sweep picking on all 6 strings.  Be sure to start out slow and work your speed up.  Try sweep picking with different arpeggios and scales.  This is a great technique and will benefit you greatly if you apply it to your soloing!

Shane