The Art Of Sweep Picking. Part 1 - Two String Arpeggios

The important thing that lot of guitar heads forget is that you have to learn technique to make music and not to just make stupid ultra fast arpeggios that musically sound like shit and make no sense at all. Now, if you want to learn to sweep pick you have to understand some things:

1. Be patience
2. Read again rule number one and understand it
3. You have to find the hand positions (Not the fingerings) that feel more
natural to you (if you watch different guitar players you will see that
their hand positions are different).
4. The more you practice, practice, practice the better you get

Symbol Guide.
p - pull off
° - natural harmonic
€ - down stroke
¡ - up stroke

When you practice you have to really focus in all the movements you make. By this I mean don’t just look how your fingers move. Your mind has to be really into what you are doing. And this is not easy because once you start playing if you pay attention you will see how easy your mind starts to think in another things that have nothing to do with what you are practicing. You don’t have to practice 3 hours to learn any technique. It takes time. So I think the practicing an exercise for 5 or 10 minutes really concentrated is enough. It depends on every person. Some people learn fast and for others take more time. Just spend at least one hour every day. And you will notice the improvement. You will feel that in your hands.

Another thing is to have a pretty decent tone from your amp. And use the
neck pickup, it might help to get a better and cleaner tone but it’s pretty much the same really. Just avoid trash scooped equalized sound here.

Okay with that said I just wanted to remind you that this lesson has the basic two stings arpeggio paterns. Once you learn the technique you will be able to make millions of arpeggio etudes and licks to show your buddies how good you play guitar. Here we go!

The first exercise is oriented to your picking hand, to learn the picking motion. It’s not that hard really. Another things that you have to keep in mind are:

1. Use a heavy pick. So it doesn’t bend when you play and change to another string.
2. Play softly! You don’t have to pick hard. That’s really important.
3. Don’t separate the pick strokes.

You really need to master this one. Looks easy. Hope it is. Don’t play with distortion Fx. Clean channel and if you want a little reverb.

EX.1:
Put your 1 finger on the 7th fret from the 4th string to the 1st. You have to play natural harmonics here so don’t press the strings. Strum slowly and hear if you can make all the harmonics on each strings sound. When you are ready play the exercise tapping with your foot and count 1 & 2 &. Repeat.

 e|-----------7°--7°-----------|
 b|---------7°------7°---------|
 g|-------7°----------7°-------|
 D|-----7°--------------7°-----|
 A|----------------------------|
 E|----------------------------|
        € € € €   ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡

Congratulations you are sweep picking! Now, this lesson is about two string sweeping. I made that exercise because it feels more natural for the picking hand.

EX.2:

 e|-------7°-7°-----7°-7°--------|
 b|-----7°-----7°-7°-----7°------|
 g|------------------------------|
 D|------------------------------|
 A|------------------------------|
 E|------------------------------|
        € €  ¡ ¡  € €  ¡ ¡

It’s basically the same as Ex. 1 But a bit trickier. Practice and try to keep a constant tempo. Then try it backward, starting in the 1st string with an up stroke.

EX.3:

 e|-------7°-7°--7°-7°--------|
 b|-----7°-----7°-------------|
 g|---------------------------|
 D|---------------------------|
 A|---------------------------|
 E|---------------------------|
        € €  ¡ € €  ¡

This one feels different because of the triplets. Accentuate the first note of each triplet so you don’t loose the feel and how it has to sound. Try it backwards. It's harder. I know that these 3 exercises can be boring as hell. But if you really learn them you will be able to play really cool stuff. Two string sweeps!

Now try these arpeggios. They are basically Major, Minor and diminished chords patterns played in the 1st and 2nd strings you have to look for patterns in other strings too. Now you may use distortion (A nice shred guitar tone). Don’t use reverb.

EX.4:
Use your 4th finger for the D note in the 1st string 10th fret, 1st finger for the B and your 2nd finger for the G note in the 2nd string 8th fret. It’s a G Major Arpeggio with the root in the 2nd string. Now you have to do an up stroke in the first note and then pull-off. And then play a down stroke in the G note 2nd string and keep the motion and down pick the first string. Repeat that pattern. Now you can see why was important to learn exercise 2.

 e|-----10-7----7-10-7---7-----|
 b|----------8---------8-------|
 g|----------------------------|
 D|----------------------------|
 A|----------------------------|
 E|----------------------------|
         ¡ p €  €  ¡ p € €

If you hear background noise try doing this. Just before you down pick in the 2nd string try lifting your 1st finger a bit and kill the sound with the rest of your 2nd finger. You press the G note with the tip of your 2nd finger then let it rest softly in the first one like if you where playing a natural harmonic. It’s difficult to explain really. But it’s not that hard to play.

If you can’t get it. Do the exercise playing just the 3 first notes of it
and let the note in the 2nd string ring. Up stroke, pull of, down stroke and hold the G note. This is the best way to solve the problem. With all this information you are ready to play all the patterns. Some of them are trickier because you have to use 1 finger to play a sweep like you did in exercise 2.

EX.5:
A minor arpeggio. Use 4th, 1st and 2nd fingers for each note.

 e|-----12-8----8-10-8-----8-----|
 b|----------10---------10-------|
 g|------------------------------|
 D|------------------------------|
 A|------------------------------|
 E|------------------------------|
         ¡ p  € €  ¡ p   € €

EX.6:
E major chord. Use 4th, 1st and 2nd fingers for each note.

 e|-----12-7---7-12-7---7-----|
 b|----------9--------9-------|
 g|---------------------------|
 D|---------------------------|
 A|---------------------------|
 E|---------------------------|
         ¡ p € € ¡  p € €

EX.7:
Diminished arpeggio. Use 4th finger for the D, 1st finger for the B and 2nd or 3rd for the G# note.

 e|-----10-7---7-10-7---7-----|
 b|----------9--------9-------|
 g|---------------------------|
 D|---------------------------|
 A|---------------------------|
 E|---------------------------|
         ¡ p € €  ¡ p € €

Okay now the next one is a bit more difficult.

EX.8:

 e|--------8-12-----8-12-----|
 b|-----10-------10----------|
 g|--------------------------|
 D|--------------------------|
 A|--------------------------|
 E|--------------------------|
         € €  ¡   € €  ¡

Practice all the arpeggios given using the same picking pattern. If you can’t play it, practice Ex. 3 and when you get the feel try again. If you get to this part and you can play all the examples then congratulations. You have learnt all the basic stuff you need to know to sweep pick in two strings.

As I said before you have to come up with your own ideas. You can do Pull Off’s, Hammer on’s between strings sweeps, Slides to change to different arpeggios, tapping, etc. Thanks for reading my lesson, and keep practicing.

Comments

[robak]

very nice

[fingersofflame]

Seems a bit simple, considering it only covers two string sweeps...I mean this is definitely fundamental to sweeping, sort of, but I think you should have done this lesson on more than 2 string sweeps;

Michael

[BlackicN]

fingersofflame wrote:

Seems a bit simple, considering it only covers two string sweeps...I mean this is definitely fundamental to sweeping, sort of, but I think you should have done this lesson on more than 2 string sweeps;

Michael

3 strings would have been good

[lp08]

thanks, that will be in part 2
watch out for that

[overmaars]

for the complete begginers ..

[ShredIsNotDead.]

overmaars wrote:

for the complete begginers ..

actually, a lot of people, like me, that aren't begginers, don't bother learning these and move straight on to the big sweeps , and find that they have trouble with the smaller ones.

Cheers, great lesson. I look forward to part II.

[fingersofflame]

ShredIsNotDead. wrote:
actually, a lot of people, like me, that aren't begginers, don't bother learning these and move straight on to the big sweeps , and find that they have trouble with the smaller ones.

Lol I am exactly that way ^_^

[ShredIsNotDead.]

oooh, i just noticed that the solo in dying in your arms by trivium uses this technique... i didnt realise that when i worked it out. it makes it tonnes easier to play

[yonathon]

wicked lesson mate, i havent started sweeping so this for me is good to get me into it and playing arpeggios better
cheers

[logan547213]

Awesome cant wait for lesson 2;] But will/can it cover more strings

[lp08]

yep it will cover more strings since more people want that i'll put together something

[humpacow6]

ShredIsNotDead. :
oooh, i just noticed that the solo in dying in your arms by trivium uses this technique... i didnt realise that when i worked it out. it makes it tonnes easier to play

trivium uses just about every technique i know

[Bazing]

Thanks this really helps.. I had trouble for awhile because when I first started I only downpicked. Even if it is only two strings like other people said it still helps a lot. Nice lesson!

[Cha0sThe0ry]

humpacow6 wrote:
trivium uses just about every technique i know

Its funny that Matt Heafy only knows like 3 scales that he can make the sound he does.

[Einzig]

i like points 1-4 hahah it is all you need to learn how to sweep pick

[Josué]

fingersofflame wrote:

ShredIsNotDead. wrote:
actually, a lot of people, like me, that aren't begginers, don't bother learning these and move straight on to the big sweeps , and find that they have trouble with the smaller ones.


Lol I am exactly that way ^_^

...yeah me too! It's weird, five string sweeps seem to be easier than two!

[Josué]

Cha0sThe0ry wrote:

humpacow6 wrote:
trivium uses just about every technique i know


Its funny that Matt Heafy only knows like 3 scales that he can make the sound he does.

Yeah, in some guitar magazine, he said that he only knows three(!) sweep picking patterns.

[TheSixthWheel]

Nice work. Not often do you find people who have the 'less is more approach' when it comes to sweeping arpeggios. Every bastard I know just wants to do massive intricate 5 string sweeps straight away (which as you mention do tend to sound like shit when rushed), without working on the foundations of them. Looking forward to your next installment.

[sueycide]

Nice article, but rule number one is confusing. How can i be patience?

[SixStringsVII]

I've got all of this stuff down...Please post Part 2!

[fender2006]

yay i can sweep!!!

[Shaveen]

awesome lesson. cheers

[prettynoose]

seems like a good lesson, although whereas im a complete newbie, i dont know what natural harmonics means. :/ help please?

[fendera7x]

prettynoose wrote:

seems like a good lesson, although whereas im a complete newbie, i dont know what natural harmonics means. :/ help please?

a natural harmonic is when you slightly place your finger on top of the guitar string so you don't push it down (put your finger on top of the correct fret or on the bar between the frets) it is easyest on the 12th fret.

[asystemdown]

great lesson, the exercises are great for building speed and acuracy

[ali Bear]

wish i cud sweep pick like the greats but anyhow good exercise, i think im a long way off malnsteen tho!!!!!

[init24]

rly helped
amazing beginner lesson
ive read other sweep articles, but they were always a bit much to start on, so thnaks

[jasonho1987]

i've been playing for about 6 or 7 years now, but mainly hardcore punk and rock, so this lesson helped me alot as sweep picking is an unknown area for me.

:P

[Pedz221]

Nice lesson, easy to understand (and u dont get alot of that with some lessons)

[tyrons]

great submission

[hartman]

kewl

[Timus]

After a week of solid practice (I spent 2 hours on this everyday, no joke ¬_¬) you can get this nail right on the head. Let your fingers warm up for 5 - 10 minutes though, then you'll be ready to start doing it faster n faster etc so on ... But yeah ace lesson hope to see more, one more thing. (Trivium can't Finger pick ^^)

Checked.

[rokstar666]

i thought it was pretty good dude. i know we hear it alot but startn slow n building gradually really helps with stuff like this. good job keepin a tricky technique simple

[c'lox]

dude, can u tell me the serrana arpeggios? coz i really love jason becker,

[JacobCork]

"1. Be patience "
So are we supposed to be the essence of patience?
To exist as patience? lol

good job, I'd like something a little more complex too though.

[gibsonlespaul37]

woah dude. gnarley.....dude!

[Honkers]

very good for just learning Sweep Picking =)

[recca_patt]

good very helpful ....

[matt121]

Very nice lesson for me! I've been trying to nail those great metal solos but they're all with sweep picking in it. Looking forward to the next lesson

[Brandon_leigh]

I actually learnt something :d This is my favorite lesson! and therefore I will give a 10/10

[Brandon_leigh]

great lesson, I learnt from this and to the people who find it a little bit simple, read the title
it's only part one :o:o:o yaay ^^

[Brandon_leigh]

[quote]Josué wrote:

fingersofflame wrote:

ShredIsNotDead. wrote:
actually, a lot of people, like me, that aren't begginers, don't bother learning these and move straight on to the big sweeps , and find that they have trouble with the smaller ones.


Lol I am exactly that way ^_^

I agree 100% btw

[Brandon_leigh]

...something went wrong lol

[bassthunder]

good lesson, there should be more like this one

[Gib-Gib-son-son]

great lesson im sure begginers wuld find this really uselful

[franZka]

i know how to do arpeggios but i´m practicing with your lesson coz i dont wanna lost the learnt
thanx guy =]

[reaper2751]

prettynoose wrote:

seems like a good lesson, although whereas im a complete newbie, i dont know what natural harmonics means. :/ help please?

Like the other guy said:
1.) lay your fingers over the fret (12th fret is easiest) ***DO NOT PRESS DOWN ALL THE WAY***
2.) strike the string like you would to make a normal note and if you didnt press down on it (lay it so it touches but doesnt press down on it) then you will make a unique sound... which is the natural harmonic)

Natural harmonics occur at the 12th fret, 7th fret, and 3rd fret.... normally
There are also artificial harmonics... which are a bit harder to do, but just look up a lesson ^ ^ good luck

[deathmask666]

Just slap my ass and call me patience!

Good lesson!

[Ich_Bin_Ibanez]

Good Lesson...Pretty Basic and to the POint

[Led_Zeppelin_27]

in my opinion a nice riff to try for lower string sweep picking would be the intro to welcome home by coheed and cambria, it isn't really hard to get the hang of but it sounds cool

[lung assault]

fingersofflame wrote:

ShredIsNotDead. wrote:
actually, a lot of people, like me, that aren't begginers, don't bother learning these and move straight on to the big sweeps , and find that they have trouble with the smaller ones.


Lol I am exactly that way ^_^

yep!!! me too!!! i can do some pretty cool 3 n 4 string sweeps but found i was struggling a little with these!!!!lol!!!

[ely07]

great!just what im looking for..after all these years,.

[ely07]

great!just what im looking for,...after all these years,...

[ely07]

great!just what im looking for..after all these years,.

[ely07]

[ollie=]thrash]

i way reccommend the 2 string sweeping by malmsteen on the track rising force at 2:15 ish. pratcice it slow with a metronome and built it up.

top advice tho =]

[zebackq]

Thank you so much

[DustyBannister]

BlackicN wrote:

fingersofflame wrote:

Seems a bit simple, considering it only covers two string sweeps...I mean this is definitely fundamental to sweeping, sort of, but I think you should have done this lesson on more than 2 string sweeps;

Michael

3 strings would have been good

Agreed also.

[DustyBannister]

DustyBannister wrote:

BlackicN wrote:

fingersofflame wrote:

Seems a bit simple, considering it only covers two string sweeps...I mean this is definitely fundamental to sweeping, sort of, but I think you should have done this lesson on more than 2 string sweeps;

Michael

3 strings would have been goodAgreed also.

Just thought of this right after, sorry for the double post. But being only two strings it feels more like an lesson on directional picking rather than sweeping.

[UberBenny]

Incredible.

Thanks for the help---I really needed to learn this.

[andrewpledger]

Thanks, once i've mastered this I can move on to 3 string. Only gave it 9/10 because of the fact that 3 string shapes could have been added at the end. Still an amazing article.

[lambofgod0127]

I have only one issue, those tabs are breaking on of the rules of sweeping, that is, an even number of notes per string will change your direction and an odd amount will keep you going in the same direction. But other than that, it was good.

[cholo11]

Too easy, prefer to make arpeggios without the pick, the classical way. It sounds brighter and more natural but might be harder for some because of the use of from 3 to the 5 fingers of your right hand.

[Pyroduck]

I'm looking forward to part II
This is definately going to help me with the scale in beast and the harlot Yay for lp08

[08don]

a good song to practice sweeping is the beggining of stairway to heaven, just keep playing it faster and faster

[k0rdstryker]

this would help if i read the damn thing

[Stoned Belief]

Nice lesson....Simple but affective...

[jimbojetuk]

Great lesson! i will be using this an hour a day for the next few months. gave a 9 because I couldnt manage the final exercise, it wasnt as clear as the rest.

[batboy420494]

i say this is everything you need to know for basic sweep picking. and i want to say for everyone that read this, your arent advanced. if you have to read this to know how to sweep pick, you arent good enoughf to cratique the awesome dude that put it up. so shut up and shred.

[WaterLock]

a comprehensive collection of all sweeping arpeggios would be nice:

[1339]

I'm not finding being patient bloody easy on this :P, but great work!

[DEATHbyBLOOD]

this is a great lesson, simplify it, and build from there.
awesome, dude.

[Mr. spikyhair]

thanks a ton looking forward to part 2 i really needed to learn this
and waterlock that would take forever

[lumpy890]

Although I dont sweep myself, (I play mostly acoustic), I tried this lesson and found it pretty solid, nice job man.

[faesaia]

i think it should be "be patient" not 'patience'.
but anyways, this lesson helped me. great. *thumbs up* ^^

[jcj]

very simple but still good

[intrface]

everyone has to start somewhere

[dragonball]

be patience lol

[crazy8rgood]

I woulnt call myself a complete noob, but i had never really know what sweeping WAS... i mostly play stuff that DOESNT have sweeping, like incubus and stuff like that, but this is a great lesson. i could really play some cool stuff with this, thanks!