Soloing In Illustrations

Sweeping, Tapping, and other kinds of Arpeggios. First of all, what is an arpeggio? An arpeggio is built up by all the keynotes of a chord. For example:

A-minor arpeggio:  A C E.
A-major arpeggio:  A C# E.
A7-minor arpeggio: A C E G.
A7-major arpeggio; A C# E G.

And so on...

This is what you will learn:
1. Sweeping (10 different ways to play them, how to built different arpeggios, diminished arpeggios; basic scales)
2. Tapping (Three different ways of tapping)
3. Other arpeggios (three kinds of other arpeggios)
4. Exercises (tapping exercises, "other arpeggios" exercises and sweeping exercises).

01. Sweeping.
What does sweeping mean? Sweep is when you without changing the direction of the pick can sweep trough a chord without making the entire notes ring out together, in this lesson I will talk mostly about sweeping. After a note has been picked you must release it! To some this may be obvious, but if you don¨?t release the played note an arpeggio will completely loose its meaning and sound awful, especially if you are playing with distortion. You should know about some scales and some basic theory to start with this. You can find them like everywhere on this website but here is a few scales just in case:

A-minor pentatonic scale 
5______ 6______ 7______ 8 
|--(A)--|-------|-------|--(C)--|
|--(E)--|-------|-------|--(G)--|
|--(C)--|-------|--(D)--|-------|
|--(G)--|-------|--(A)--|-------|
|--(D)--|-------|--(E)--|-------|
|--(A)--|-------|-------|--(C)--|

Notes included are: A C D E G

A-major pentatonic scale
4______ 5______ 6______ 7
|-------|--(A)--|-------|--(B)--|
|-------|--(E)--|-------|--(F#)-|
|--(B)--|-------|--(C#)-|-------|
|--(F#)-|-------|-------|--(A)--|
|--(C#)-|-------|-------|--(E)--|
|-------|--(A)--|-------|--(B)--|

Notes included are: A B C# E F#

A-minor scale
5______ 6______ 7______ 8______ 9______ 10
|--(A)--|-------|--(B)--|--(C)--|-------|--(D)--|
|--(E)--|--(F)--|-------|--(G)--|-------|--(A)--|
|--(C)--|-------|--(D)--|-------|--(E)--|-------|
|--(G)--|-------|--(A)--|-------|--(B)--|-------|
|--(D)--|-------|--(E)--|--(F)--|-------|-------|
|--(A)--|-------|--(B)--|--(C)--|-------|-------|

Notes included are: A B C D E F G

A-major scale
5______ 6______ 7______ 8______ 9______ 10
|--(A)--|-------|--(B)--|-------|--(C#)-|--(D)--|
|--(E)--|-------|--(F#)-|-------|--(G#)-|--(A)--|
|-------|--(C#)-|--(D)--|-------|--(E)--|-------|
|-------|--(G#)-|--(A)--|-------|--(B)--|-------|
|--(D)--|-------|--(E)--|-------|--(F#)-|-------|
|--(A)--|-------|--(B)--|-------|--(C#)-|-------|

Notes included are: A B C# D E F# G#

The basic sweeping arpeggios. The first thing you need to learn is the basic arpeggios. There's many ways to play them and here is a few. I'm showing all of them in A, and if I want to play them in another key you just move them along the fret board. At first you must play them very relaxed and slowly. And as you get better you can speed things up.

1:a, 2:b etc different ways to play them
1,2,3,4 - fingers
D down stroke (towards the high E)
U up stroke (towards the low E)

A-minor arpeggio 1:a__ A-minor arpeggio 1:b
__3 1 2 1 2 1 3________ 1 4 2 3 1 2 1 2 1 3 2 4 1
|-------5-------------|-------------5-------------|
|-----5---5-----------|-----------5---5-----------|
|---5-------5---------|---------5-------5---------|
|-7-----------7-------|-------7-----------7-------|
|---------------------|-----7---------------7-----|
|---------------------|-5h8-------------------8p5-|
__D D D U U U U________ D__ D D D D U U U U U U

A-minor arpeggio 2:a__ A-minor arpeggio 2:b
__3__2__1__4__1__2__3____1__4__2__3__2__1__4__1__2 __3__2__4__1
|-------12-17p12-------|----------------12-17p12----------------|
|----13----------13----|-------------13----------13-------------|
|-14----------------14-|----------14----------------14----------|
|----------------------|-------14----------------------14-------|
|----------------------|-12h15----------------------------15p12-|
|----------------------|----------------------------------------|
__D__D__D__U____ U__U____U____ U__U__U__U__D____ D__D__D__D


A-minor arpeggio 3:a__A-minor arpeggio 3:b
__2 3__1 4__1 3__2______1 4__2__1 2__1 4__1 2__1 2__4__1
|------8-12p8---------|--------------8-12p8--------------|
|---10--------10------|-----------10--------10-----------|
|-9--------------9----|---------9--------------9---------|
|---------------------|------10------------------10------|
|---------------------|-7h12------------------------12p7-|
|---------------------|----------------------------------|
__D D D__U____U__U______D____D__D D__D U____U__U U__U

You should be able to figure out the ups and down strokes by yourself now.

A-major arpeggio 1:a__A-major arpeggio 1:b
__3 2 1 2 1 2 3________ 1 4 2 3 2 1 2 1 2 3 2 4 1
|-------5-------------|-------------5-------------|
|-----5---5-----------|-----------5---5-----------|
|---6-------6---------|---------6-------6---------|
|-7-----------7-------|-------7-----------7-------|
|---------------------|-----7---------------7-----|
|---------------------|-5h9-------------------9p5-|


A-major arpeggio 2:a__ A-major arpeggio 2:b
__2__3__1__4__1__3__2____1__4__2__2__2__1__4__1__2 __2__2__4__1
|-------12-17p12-------|----------------12-17p12----------------|
|----14----------14----|-------------14----------14-------------|
|-14----------------14-|----------14----------------14----------|
|----------------------|-------14----------------------14-------|
|----------------------|-12h16----------------------------16p12-|
|----------------------|----------------------------------------|


A-major arpeggio 3:a__ A-major arpeggio 3:b
__1 2__1 4__1 2__1______1 4__3__1 2__1 4__1 2__1 3__4__1
|------9h12p9---------|--------------9h12p9--------------|
|---10--------10------|-----------10--------10-----------|
|-9--------------9----|---------9--------------9---------|
|---------------------|------11------------------11------|
|---------------------|-7h12------------------------12p7-|
|---------------------|----------------------------------|

The fingerings for the following arpeggios: 1:a, 2:a and 2:b can be played with finger rolls, that would look like this:

A-minor arpeggio 1:a__ A-minor arpeggio 1:b
__3 1 1 1 1 1 3________ 1 4 3 3 1 1 1 1 1 3 3 4 1
|-------5-------------|-------------5-------------|
|-----5---5-----------|-----------5---5-----------|
|---5-------5---------|---------5-------5---------|
|-7-----------7-------|-------7-----------7-------|
|---------------------|-----7---------------7-----|
|---------------------|-5h8-------------------8p5-|
__D D D U U U U________ D__ D D D D U U U U U U


A-minor arpeggio 2:a__ A-minor arpeggio 2:b
__1__4__3__3__2__1__4__1__2__3__3__4__1
|----------------12-17p12----------------|
|-------------13----------13-------------|
|----------14----------------14----------|
|-------14----------------------14-------|
|-12h15----------------------------15p12-|
|----------------------------------------|
__U____ U__U__U__U__D____ D__D__D__D

You have to decide sometimes how you want to finger and sweep the arpeggios. Of course can you do all types of different arpeggios by adding or removing single notes like for example:

|-------5-8p5-----------5-8p-5-------|---------------------------|
|-----5-------5-------5--------5-----|---------------------------|
|---5-----------5---5------------5---|---------------------------|
|-7---------------7----------------7-|-------5-----------5-------|
|------------------------------------|-----5---5-------5---5-----|
|------------------------------------|-5h8-------8p5h8-------8p5-|

Or you can do arpeggios like add9 and maj7 or other kinds, for example:

A-minor add9 arpeggio
__1__4__2__3__1__2__1__2__1__3__2__4__1
|-------------------12-------------------|
|-------------12h13----13p12-------------|
|----------14----------------14----------|
|-------14----------------------14-------|
|-12h15----------------------------15p12-|
|----------------------------------------|


A7-arpegggio
__1__4__3__1__3__4__1__4__3__1__3__4__1__
|-------------------12-------------------|
|----------------14----14----------------|
|----------12h14----------14p12----------|
|-------14----------------------14-------|
|-12h16----------------------------16p12-|
|----------------------------------------|

And so on... The only thing you need to do is to look at the basic arpeggio and then add the single missing note of the other arpeggio. In my exercises (at the bottom of the page) you will also learn other different kinds of arpeggios.

Diminished Aarpeggios.
Diminished means that it is a scale were there is one note on every third fret:

3____ 4____ 5____ 6____ 7____ 8____ 9____ 10____11____12____13____14__
|-----|-----|-(£)-|-----|-----|-(£)-|-----|-----|-(£)-|-----|-----|-(£)-|
|-----|-(£)-|-----|-----|-(£)-|-----|-----|-(£)-|-----|-----|-(£)-|-----|
|-----|-----|-(£)-|-----|-----|-(£)-|-----|-----|-(£)-|-----|-----|-(£)-|
|-----|-(£)-|-----|-----|-(£)-|-----|-----|-(£)-|-----|-----|-(£)-|-----|
|-(£)-|-----|-----|-(£)-|-----|-----|-(£)-|-----|-----|-(£)-|-----|-----|
|-----|-----|-(£)-|-----|-----|-(£)-|-----|-----|-(£)-|-----|-----|-(£)-|

This is an A C D# and F# arpeggio scale. These scales are very common in classical music or for example Yngwie Malmsteen, Steve Vai or any other neoclassical music. Diminished arpeggios sometimes sound out of key, but it's very effective sometimes because it doesn't have any major or minor, because an A diminished arpeggio is also a C, D# and F# diminished arpeggio. That's because they always look the same. For example when someone tell you to play a G diminished arpeggio they also tell you to play an A#, C# and E arpeggio. An A-Diminished arpeggio doesn't fit well to an A-minor song. Why? Because; first of all, an F# is not a part of the A-minor scale, it's a part of the major scale. And second, and probably most important, of all, a D# isn't a part of the A-minor/major scale at all. But of course you can play what ever you want to.

What sounds best to an A-minor song then? Well that would be a B-Diminished arpeggio because all of the four notes are included to the A scales. One of them is G# though (that's a A-major note) but that doesn't really matter. After all that's what makes Diminished to what it is, right! So for example to a song in:

D-minor use E-Diminished arpeggio
F#-minor use G#-Diminished arpeggio
etc.

To songs in major:
G-major use F#-Diminished arpeggio (that's what you would use to an E-minor which has the same scale as G-major)
B-major use A#-Diminished arpeggio
etc.

OK, now I'm going to give you some examples (still in A) of how to play them:

|------5-8p5-----------5-8p------|------8-11p8----------8-11p8------|
|----7-------7-------7------7----|---10--------10----10--------10---|
|5h8-----------8p5h8----------8p5|11--------------11--------------11|
|--------------------------------|----------------------------------|
|--------------------------------|----------------------------------|
|--------------------------------|----------------------------------|

|----------------------------------------|
|-------------------10-------------------|
|--------------8h11----11p8--------------|
|---------7h10--------------10p7---------|
|-----6h9------------------------9p6-----|
|-5h8--------------------------------8p5-|


|-8p5-----5-----------------------------------------|
|-----7-----7------7--------------------------------|
|-------8-----8p5----8p5---8--------5-------2-------|
|------------------------7---10p7-----7p4-----4p1---|
|---------------------------------9-------6-------3-|
|---------------------------------------------------|

etc.

It's very easy to make different kinds of diminished arpeggios, just go after the scale. That's enough with the sweeping for now, more of it in the exercises section below.

02. Tapping.
What is tapping? Tapping is an art of playing that was popularized in the late seventies by Eddie Van Halen. The point with tapping is to play with an extremely high speed that otherwise would be almost impossible to play using the sweeping technique. But there is also a "feeling" with the tapping; it sounds very clean and can be played just because of its amazing sound.

How do I tap? When you tap, you use your right finger (the one that holds the pick) to hammer on a note and then release it. You can either do like Eddie Van Halen and use your index finger and then hold the pick with your middle finger. But some feel comfortable with using the middle finger as tapping finger.

Here are some examples of tapping, Play them over and over again the fastest you can. You should be able to play it at 600-700 npm (1 npm = 1 note/minute). If you are good you should be able to handle it at 900 npm:

If you want to tap - you hammer your right index or middle finger directly on the (in this case) 12th note. As you pull it of it you already have your left pinky on the 8 fret. So you will then hear a C. When you then pull the C off you already have your left pointerfinger on the 5 fret, you will then hear an A. After that you simply hammer with your left pinky on the 8 fret and then with your right index on the 12 fret. After that you repeat it over and over again.

p=pull off
h=hammer on

____A-minor__________________________

____T________T________T________T____
|---12p8p5h8h12p8p5h8h12p8p5h8h12p8p5---|

Like that. If you want to play for example paschendale, which starts with E you pick that with your finger and not with the pick. It will be easier that way.

T - tap with right finger. The most common way of tapping:

____A-minor____________________ F__________________________ 

_T______T______T______T______T______T______T___ ___T 
|12-5-8-12-5-8-12-5-8-12-5-8-13-5-8-13-5-8-13-5-8-13-5-8-|
|--------------------------------------------------------|
|--------------------------------------------------------|
|--------------------------------------------------------|
|--------------------------------------------------------|
|--------------------------------------------------------|


__G______________________________ A-minor

__T______ T______ T______ T______ T______ T______ T______ T
|-15-7-10-15-7-10-15-7-10-15-7-10-17-8-12-17-8-12-17-8-12-17-8-12-|
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|


__A-minor____________________________ F__________________________ 

_T________T________T________T________T________T ________T________T
|12-8-5-8-12-8-5-8-12-8-5-8-12-8-5-8-13-8-5-8-13-8-5-8-13-8-5-8-13|
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|


__G

	_T__________T__________T__________T
|-8-5-8-15-10-7-10-15-10-7-10-15-10-7-10-15-10-7-10-|
|---------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------|


__A-minor

__T__________T__________T__________T______ 
|-17-12-8-12-17-12-8-12-17-12-8-12-17-12-8-12---|
|-----------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------o-|
|---------------------------------------------o-|
|-----------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------|

Using a loose string. Another way to play is by using a loose string. This exemple is from the intro to iron maidens paschendale. It's very easy and shouldn't be any problems.

E-minor

|0-8-12-0-7-12-0-5-12-0-3-12-0-5-12--0-7-12-0-5-12-0-3-12-0-2-12-0-12|
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|

This exemple is from the intro to van halens "hot for teacher." This, on the other hand, is a bit harder than paschendale. Start with it slowly and build up the speed so it doesn't get all bad.

A-minor

________T____________T____________T____________T
|-----------------------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------------------|
|-0-3-7-12-7-3-0-3-7-12-7-3-0-3-7-12-7-3-0-3-7-12-7-3-0-5-9-|
|-----------------------------------------------------------|


D-major

__T____________T____________T____________T____T___ _ 
|------------------------------------------------------|
|------------------------------------------------------|
|------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------12-0-3-7-|
|-12-9-5-0-5-9-12-9-5-0-5-9-12-9-5-0-5-9-12-9----------|
|------------------------------------------------------|


__D-minor__________________ 

__T____________T____________T____________T
|-----------------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------------|
|-12-7-3-0-3-7-12-7-3-0-3-7-12-9-3-0-3-7-12-7-3-0-5-9-|
|-----------------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------------|


__G-major

__T____________T____________T________ T
|----------------------------------------------|
|----------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------12-0-3-7-|
|-12-9-5-0-5-9-12-9-5-0-5-9-12-9----7----------|
|----------------------------------------------|
|----------------------------------------------|


__G-minor__________________ C-major

__T____________T____________T____________T
|-----------------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------------|
|-12-7-3-0-3-7-12-7-3-0-5-9-12-9-5-0-5-9-12-9-5-0-3-7-|
|-----------------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------------|


__G-major

__T____________T____________T
|---------------------------------|
|---------------------------------|
|-12-7-3-0-3-7-12-7-3-0-5-9-12-9--|
|---------------------------------|
|---------------------------------|
|---------------------------------|


A-minor scale

__T______T__________ T__________ T__________ T__________ T
|-12-5-8-12-8-7-5-------------------------------------------|
|-----------------h8-12-8-7-5-------------------------------|
|-----------------------------h8-12-8-7-5-------------------|
|-----------------------------------------h8-12-8-7-5-------|
|-----------------------------------------------------h8-12-|
|-----------------------------------------------------------|

|------------|
|------------|
|----------2-|
|----------2-|
|-10-7-5-0-0-|
|------------|

Switching strings. The examples I'm giving you are pretty easy, if you do them fast, it sound really cool. You can use these tricks in many songs and especially blues or jam. I've put out the fingerings that I use.

7______ 8______ 9______ 10______11______12
|--(B)--|-------|-------|--(D)--|-------|--(E)--|
|-------|--(G)--|-------|--(A)--|-------|--(B)--|
|--(D)--|-------|--(E)--|-------|-------|--(G)--|
|--(G)--|-------|--(A)--|-------|-------|--(D)--|
|--(E)--|-------|-------|--(G)--|-------|--(A)--|
|--(B)--|-------|-------|--(D)--|-------|--(E)--|

E-minor pentatonic

__T__1 4__T__2 4__T__1 3 T__2 4__T__2 4 T__2 4
|-12-7-10--------------------------------------|
|---------12-8-10--------12-8-10---------------|
|-----------------12-7-9---------12-7-9--------|
|---------------------------------------12-7-9-|
|----------------------------------------------|
|----------------------------------------------|

__T__2 4 T__2 4 T__1 4__T__1 3 T__1 4__T__1 4
|----------------------------------------------|
|----------------------------------------------|
|-12-7-9---------------------------------------|
|--------12-7-9---------12-7-9-----------------|
|---------------12-7-10--------12-7-10---------|
|--------------------------------------12-7-10-|

A-minor pentatonic string switching with a loose string:

__T________T________T________T________T________T__ ______T________T
|-12-0-5-8----------------------------------------------------------|
|----------12-0-5-8-------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------12-0-5-7----------12-0-5-7----------------------|
|----------------------------12-0-5-7----------12-0-5-7-------------|
|-------------------------------------------------------12-0-5-7----|
|----------------------------------------------------------------12-|

|---------|
|---------|
|---------|
|---------|
|---------|
|-0-5-8-5-|

This sound's cool:
__A______E______C______G______D______A
__T______T______T______T______T______T
|-12-5-9--------------------------------------|
|--------12-5-9-------------------------------|
|---------------12-5-9------------------------|
|----------------------12-5-9-----------------|
|-----------------------------12-5-9----------|
|------------------------------------12-5-9-5-|

try to play them in different ways. for example:
__T______T______T______T______T______T
|-12-5-9------------------------------------|
|--------12-5-9--------12-5-9---------------|
|---------------12-5-9--------12-5-9--------|
|------------------------------------12-5-9-|
|-------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------|

__T______T______T______T______T______T
|---------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------|
|-12-5-9--------------------------------------|
|--------12-5-9--------12-5-9-----------------|
|---------------12-5-9--------12-5-9----------|
|------------------------------------12-5-9-5-|


__T______T______T______T______T______T______T_____ _T
|--------------------------------------------------12-5-9-5-|
|------------------------------------12-5-9-----------------|
|----------------------12-5-9---------------12-5-9----------|
|--------12-5-9---------------12-5-9------------------------|
|---------------12-5-9--------------------------------------|
|-12-5-9----------------------------------------------------|

Same thing with all the other string switching; try them in different way's.

03. Other Arpeggios.
I don't really know if you could name this type of arpeggios, but anyway here they are.

A-minor
____4 1 1 4 1 1______ 4__1 2__4__1 2________4__1__2__4__1__2
|---8p5---8p5-----|---12p8----12p8------|---15p12----15p12----|
|-------5-----5---|--------10------10---|---------13-------13-|
|-o-------------o-|-o-----------------o-|-o-------------------|
|-o-------------o-|-o-----------------o-|-o-------------------|
|-----------------|---------------------|---------------------|
|-----------------|---------------------|---------------------|

A
____4 1 1 4 1 1______ 4__1 2__4__1 2________4__1__2__4__1__2
|---9p5---9p5-----|---12p9----12p9------|---15p12----15p12----|
|-------5-----5---|--------10------10---|---------14-------14-|
|-o-------------o-|-o-----------------o-|-o-------------------|
|-o-------------o-|-o-----------------o-|-o-------------------|
|-----------------|---------------------|---------------------|
|-----------------|---------------------|---------------------|

This example is from the solo to Dio's "Don't Talk To Strangers." It's very useful when you want the taping sound when it's difficult to tap. Play it slowly and then speed things up, it's not easy, but it's a common shredding technique.

D-minor

|---10h13p10----------10h13p10------------|
|------------13p10h13----------13p10h13---|
|-o-------------------------------------o-|
|-o-------------------------------------o-|
|-----------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------|


|---10h13p10----------10h13p10------------|
|------------11p10h11----------11p10h11---|
|-o-------------------------------------o-|
|-o-------------------------------------o-|
|-----------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------|


|---12h15p12----------12h15p12------------|
|------------13p12h13----------13p12h13---|
|-o-------------------------------------o-|
|-o-------------------------------------o-|
|-----------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------|

|---13h17p13----------13h17p13------------|-17-20^22--|
|------------15p13h15----------15p13h15---|-----------|
|-o-------------------------------------o-|-----------|
|-o-------------------------------------o-|-----------|
|-----------------------------------------|-----------|
|-----------------------------------------|-----------|

Here is another way to play an arpeggio. This is an example from Yngwie Malmsteens ⌠Arpeggios from hell¡ö. This technique allows you to play big arpeggios without sweeping.

E-minor
__________________________________________________ 
|-----------------------------------------------7--|
|-----------------------------------------8---8---8|
|-----------------------------------9---9---9------|
|-----------------------5---5-9-5-9---9------------|
|-----------------7---7---7------------------------|
|-0-0-3-0-3-7-3-7---7------------------------------|

 __________ (E-minor scale) 
|--7-12-0-0-15p14p12-15p14p12|
|----------------------------|
|----------------------------|
|----------------------------|
|----------------------------|
|----------------------------|


(E-minor sweeping)
|-19p15-----------------------------------------------------|
|-------17----17--------------------------------------------|
|----------16----16----16-----------------------------------|
|-------------------17----17-14-17-14----14-----------------|
|-------------------------------------14----14-10-14-10-----|
|-------------------------------------------------------12~-|

(A-minor)
|-------------------------------------------12----12-15^17-|
|----------------------------------13----13----13----------|
|-------------------------14----14----14-------------------|
|-------10----10-14-10-14----14----------------------------|
|-12-12----12----------------------------------------------|
|----------------------------------------------------------|

(Diminished)
|18-15-------------------------------------------------------------|
|------17----17----------------------------------------------------|
|---------18----18-15-18-15----15----------------------------------|
|---------------------------17----17-14-17-14----14----------------|
|---------------------------------------------16----16-13-16-13----|
|---------------------------------------------------------------15~|


|17-14-------------------------------------------------------------|
|------16----16----------------------------------------------------|
|---------17----17-14-17-14----14----------------------------------|
|---------------------------16----16-13-16-13----13----------------|
|---------------------------------------------15----15-12-15-12----|
|---------------------------------------------------------------14~|

E-minor__ B________
|---15-12----14-11----15-12----14-11------|-15-14-|
|---------12-------12-------12-------12---|-------|
|-o-------------------------------------o-|-------|
|-o-------------------------------------o-|-------|
|-----------------------------------------|-------|
|-----------------------------------------|-------|

(E-minor harmonic scale)
|-15-14-12\11------------------------------------------------|
|-------------13-12-10---------------------------------------|
|----------------------12-11-9\8-----------------------------|
|--------------------------------10-9-7----------------------|
|---------------------------------------10-9-7\6-------------|
|------------------------------------------------8-7-5\3\2-0-|

Now I've got some sweeping exercises for you, you should by now be able to figure out the fingers and the way to use the pick by yourself. All the exercises are based on real songs, but you don't have to hear them to understand. If for some reason have to, you can always download them at DC++ or something (except for the first exercise, witch is from a Swedish book).

Exersise 1.
This is a beginner lesson that I got from a book.

___A-minor______________ D-minor______________ E
|--------12-17p12--------------10-13p10--------------12-16p12------|
|-----13----------13--------10----------10--------12----------12---|
|o-14----------------14--10----------------10--13----------------13|
|o-----------------------------------------------------------------|
|------------------------------------------------------------------|
|------------------------------------------------------------------|

__A-minor add9______________A-minor
1th________________________2nd__________________
|-------12-17p12----------|-------12-17p12-------|
|----13----------13\12----|----13----------13----|
|-14--------------------o-|-14----------------14-|
|-----------------------o-|----------------------|
|-------------------------|----------------------|
|-------------------------|----------------------|

A7__________________________________ D-minor            
|-------12-15p12----------12-15p12----------13-17p13----|
|----14----------14----14----------14----15----------15-|
|-14----------------14----------------14----------------|
|-------------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------------------|

                   G7__________________________________ 
|------13-17p13-----------10-13p10----------10-13p10----|
|---15----------15-----12----------12----12----------12-|
|14-----------------12----------------12----------------|
|-------------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------------------|

_C                                    F maj7_________
|------12-15p12----------12-15p12----------8-12p8----|
|---13----------13----13----------13----10--------10-|
|12----------------12----------------10--------------|
|----------------------------------------------------|
|----------------------------------------------------|
|----------------------------------------------------|

 _________________B-Diminished                                
|------8-12p8----------10-13p10-----------10-13p10----------10|
|---10--------10----12-----------12----12----------12----12---|
|10--------------10-----------------10----------------13------|
|-------------------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------------------------|

|-13p10----------10-13p10----------13-16p13-------|
|-------12----12----------12----15----------15----|
|----------13----------------16----------------16-|
|-------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------------|

Exercise 2.
From the bridge of "Man On The Silver Mountain" by Rainbow. This is easy when you play it slowly, but when you speed things up it suddenly becomes really hard! Blackmore plays this at about 450 npm.

__D-minor________________________ A#
|-5-------5-------5-------5-------6-------6-------6-------6-------|
|---6---6---6---6---6---6---6---6---6---6---6---6---6---6---6---6-|
|-----7-------7-------7-------7-------7-------7-------7-------7---|
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
__U U D D U U D D U U D D U U D D U U D D U U D D U U D D U U D D

__________________________________
|-5-------5-------5-------5-------|
|---6---6---6---6---6---6---6---6-|
|-----7------7--------7-------7---|
|---------------------------------|
|---------------------------------|
|---------------------------------|

 F                                            A#_____________________
|8----------8----------8----------8-----------10----------10---------|
|--10----10---10----10---10----10---10----10-----11----11----11----11|
|-----10---------10---------10---------10-----------10----------10---|
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|

 _C______________________ A#                       
|-12----------12----------10----------10----------|
|----13----13----13----13----11----11----11----11-|
|-------12----------12----------10----------10----|
|-------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------------|

__G-minor__________D#______________F__________________ ____ G-minor
|-6-------6---------------------------------------------------|
|---8---8---8---8--8-------8-------10----------10----------8--|
|-----7-------7------8---8---8---8----10----10----10----10----|
|----------------------8-------8---------10----------10-------|
|-------------------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------------------------|

Exersise 3.
1 minute into the song "No Boundaries" by Michael Angelo Batio. This is not a so well known bit, but I think it is very good. It's pretty easy to play slowly, but Michael Angelo, believe it or not, plays it at 840 npm!

|-------13-17p13----------13-17p13----------13-17p13----|
|----15----------15----15----------15----15----------15-|
|-14----------------14----------------14----------------|
|-------------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------------------|


|------13-17p13-----------13-18p13----------13-18p13----|
|---15----------15-----15----------15----15----------15-|
|14-----------------15----------------15----------------|
|-------------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------------------|


|------13-15p10----------10-15p10-----------10-17p13----|
|---15----------11----11----------11-----11----------15-|
|15----------------12-----------------12----------------|
|-------------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------------------|

|-------13-17p13----------17-22-17----------17-17p13----|
|----15----------15----18----------18----18----------15-|
|-14----------------19----------------19----------------|
|-------------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------------------|

|-------13-18p13-----------13-18p13----------13-15p10----|
|----15----------15-----15----------15----15----------11-|
|-15-----------------15----------------15----------------|
|--------------------------------------------------------|
|--------------------------------------------------------|
|--------------------------------------------------------|


|------10-15p10-----------10-17p13----------13-15p13----|
|---11----------11-----11----------15----15----------15-|
|12-----------------12----------------14----------------|
|-------------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------------------|


|------17-22p17-----------------------13--18p13----|
|---18----------18-----------------15-----------15-|
|19----------------19-----------15-----------------|
|---------------------19---------------------------|
|------------------------20p17---------------------|
|--------------------------------------------------|


|------13-18p13----------10-15-10----------10-18-13----|
|---15----------15----11----------11----11----------15-|
|15----------------12----------------12----------------|
|------------------------------------------------------|
|------------------------------------------------------|
|------------------------------------------------------|


|------13--17p13----------13-17p13----------17-22p17-|
|---15-----------15----15----------15----18----------|
|12-----------------14----------------19-------------|
|----------------------------------------------------|
|----------------------------------------------------|
|----------------------------------------------------|


|---------------------13--18p13----------13-18p13----|
|18----------------15-----------15----15----------15-|
|---19----------15-----------------15----------------|
|------19--------------------------------------------|
|---------20p17--------------------------------------|
|----------------------------------------------------|

|------10-15p10----------10-18p13----------10--15p10-------------|
|---11----------11----11----------15----11-----------11----------|
|12----------------12----------------12-----------------12-------|
|----------------------------------------------------------12----|
|-------------------------------------------------------------13-|
|----------------------------------------------------------------|

|----------------10-15p10----------------------------12-17p12-|
|-------------11----------11----------------------13----------|
|----------12----------------12----------------14-------------|
|-------12----------------------12----------14----------------|
|-10h13----------------------------13-12h15-------------------|
|-------------------------------------------------------------|


|---------------------------10-13p10----------10-12p9----------|
|13----------------------11----------11----11---------11----11-|
|---14----------------10----------------10---------------12----|
|------14----------12------------------------------------------|
|---------15--8h13---------------------------------------------|
|--------------------------------------------------------------|


|9-15p11----------11---15p11----------11-17p13----------13-17p13|
|--------13----13------------13----13----------15----15---------|
|-----------12------------------12----------------14------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------------|


|----------13--18p15----------15-18p15----------15-20p17----------|
|-15----15-----------16----16----------16----16----------18----18-|
|----14-----------------15----------------15----------------17----|
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|


|-17-20p17----------17-20p17----------17-\17p14----------14-17b18-|
|----------18----18----------19----19-----------16----16----------|
|-------------17----------------20-----------------17-------------|
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|

|(17b)19r17-14-14b15-|
|--------------------|
|--------------------|
|--------------------|
|--------------------|
|--------------------|

Exercise 4.
My last exercise will be the intro arpeggios for Eugene's trick bag from crossroads (Paganini's 5th, performed by Steve Vai). It's kind of difficult but like everything else just learn it and play it a thousand times and you will be able to handle it perfect. Steve Vai plays this as fast as 550 npm!

A-minor
|-----------------8-12-8---------------|
|--------------10--------10------------|
|------------9--------------9----------|
|-------7h10------------------10p7-----|
|-----7----------------------------7---|
|-5h8--------------------------------8-|
__1 4 1 1 4__3 4__1 4__1 4__3 4__1 1 4

E7
|-----------------7-----------------|
|---------------9---9---------------|
|-----------7-9-------9p7-----------|
|-------6-9---------------9-6-------|
|---5-7-----------------------7-5---|
|-7---------------------------------|
__3 
A7
|-----------------5---------------|
|-------------5-8---8-5-----------|
|-----------6-----------6---------|
|-------5-7---------------5-7-----|
|-----7-----------------------7---|
|-5-9---------------------------9-|

D-minor
|--------------------10-13-10------------------|
|-----------------10----------10---------------|
|--------------10----------------10------------|
|---------7h12----------------------12p7-------|
|-------8---------------------------------8----|
|-5h10--------------------------------------10-|

B-Diminished
|--------------------------------------------|
|----------------------12--------------------|
|----------------10-13----13-10--------------|
|-----------9h12----------------12-9---------|
|------8h11--------------------------11-8----|
|-7h10------------------------------------10-|

A-minor_____________________________E-major
|-------------------5---8----12p8/--16-----|
|---------------5-----5---10---------------|
|-----------5-----5------------------------|
|-------7-----7----------------------------|
|---7-----7--------------------------------|
|-5---8----------------------------------0-|

I hope this was a good lesson, although it was my first. I'm sorry about the mess-ups, if you copy and paste this into a word document it will fit better (size 9 Courier New).

Comments

[Trapman870]

you need to explain much more clearly. you obviously know what your talkinbg about but its really muddy and hard to understand.

[abigape]

i like it

[Virulent]

I havent gone through the whole Lesson yet, But for a while ive been stuck as a beginner/intermediate, Now im going to force myself to go through that whole lesson till i have mastered it because already on learning the first Arpeggio my playing skill is increasing and im realising how most professional guitarists get those lovely sounds, Forget what the other guys say about it being hard to understand, they just need to learn more Theory, i find it very simple and concise and its helped improve both my finger positioning on the fretboard whilst sweep picking (plus it looks SOOO cool when you do it fast) and this lesson is going to be what pushes me up to high intermediate on Guitar.

Great work dude, Thanks

[heggazz]

What a ***ing sweet lesson, kudos to author.

[Kurt_Morrelo]

Why havent people read it? Oh, by the way, eighth. I really liked it, although I learned most of this from the guitar 1 DVD with Jimmy Bruno.

[Dozzy896]

Great work thanks

[You Play Bass]

hey hey hey what ya got to say

[Beau W]

I nice big fat lesson! 5 stars

[Mr Fevpump]

i bought that edition of guitar one... but the guy lost me *sigh* but o well i learned alot from this nice article bro 5/5 stars

[ace_brendan]

awsome it really works ive only been playing for a couple of weeks and i flew through it and my freidn a player of 5 years had a feild day with it thanx

[BassDude2737]

awsome lesson thanx

[podaisprodip]

appreciate your effort for this great lesson. ppl like u help ppl like us to improve without any guitar teacher. thanks a lot.

[Resiliance]

How can Am7 and Amaj7 have the same 7th?


Wrong.

[shadows666]

Nice lesson. I have been having a hard time with sweeping and arrpeggios. this was very informative. nice job

yeah, at the start there would be a G# if that arpeggio was Amaj7

[sito]

Nice long lesson. I couldn't have made on like that not even in 1 year!!!

[Freepower]

*cough* im with ya resi, the theory on this is off. You're technical explanations are decent, but tbh, a diminished scale has a minor third and you were saying it has no major or minor...

[Wickerman_18]

I want to know wat it u skip theory and just play notes and see which notes sound good for a tune and which dont and figureing it out for ur self one step at a time is that possible or will it takes 50 years to master notes like that pls temme .oh and im not talking about exercises. im talking about ear training and learning to reconize notes

[davemustaine138]

Dio's "Don't Talk To Strangers
|---8p5---8p5---..|
|---..5---..5---|



i have a question about this , do you barre at fret 5 with your index finger or do you roll it or do you jump with your index finger to the other 5 ??

well it might be a stupid question but i want an answer

[SteaM]

great article really taught me somthin.

[star_playa619]

awesome

[theboss]

vary nicly done my friend because of you
im one no two steps higher in my playing
abilitys!!??

[Flashback4]

good. good

[our band rules]

thanks. great lesson

[Gabuydachk]

great article
keep em coming

[fredhank]

Not bad. Not bad at all. I am Hank.
Hank will rule all. I am the angel of death.
Slap wobble honk honk

[alblues]

hey bud thx for your guitar lesson i got refreshed on sweeps and arps and how to use them and i learned a few tricks on useing dim arps thx

[newcomer]

sweet lesson, techniques we all want to learn, right on.

[Hong Siah]

pretty cool..thanks a lot dude..did a pretty good job

[cowfab]

This was a great lessson. lots of good examples and explanations. riggght onn

[DropD_Todd]

Dude that was a sweet lesson

[nosyrbp99]

haha im really sry lol but its too long so i dont feel like reading the whole thing and figuring out how to do it all and plus some of your theory is off

[Zeppelin08]

Awesome lesson

[duffmansweenie]

im trying to play f#m but it sounds like shit, myu bm is ok but that f really sucks, what do i dso

[pommegrenade]

wow man...u rock

[guns n rex]

well.....not bad.....

[cobeer]

What sounds best to an A-minor song then? Well that would be a B-Diminished arpeggio because all of the four notes are included to the A scales. One of them is G# though (that's a A-major note) but that doesn't really matter.

Actually, it is not a B-diminished arpeggio but a G#-diminished one. In (classical) music theory the 7th note of a scale often gets raised a half tone (here to G#) and that form of minor is called harmonic minor. So the (7th) chord build on this note is G#-B-D-F. The (7th) chord build on B would be B-D-F-A.

[clearnoise]

I really enjoyed your lesson, it's very informative. 10!

[Raven1990]

good job dude...this one helped me alot

[elliano]

Excellent lesson with heaps of examples. Well done!

[pink_guitarist]

superb lesson dude

[nofx_2525]

Dude i got a question...great lesson and..how do i get video lessons?

[ironwill]

very helpful, thanks a lot

[uptheirons17]

hey man great lesson! and i dont know if any one noticed but "No Boundaries" by Michael Angelo Batio is pretty damn close to "Bleeding Mascara" ( the intro ) by Atreyu if you drop it into CGCFAD.

[hillbilly13496]

nice job dude

[Drew11]

awwww man!!! im ****ing confused!

[sTx]

nice explanations!

[dream theater7]

well done dude.

[xxxdudeman14xxx]

waffles

[Hells_bell45]

yea dude... GOOD waffles

[ledcaveman]

f.u.k.i.n.g awesome lesson!! i'll probably be up all night going through it as there is a fair share of it!!!! nice one

[AmandaR*420]

very nicley done!!!!!
good job

[icekf]

this cool thanks

[shreder666]

****ing nice dude

[Gib-Gib-son-son]

Its amazing dude, really got my into sweeping now its awwesom well done!

[Leroy Jenkins]

Nice Stuff Man Really Helped me Out Alot. Sounding Sick Now!!

-=LEROYYYYY JEENNNKKKIIIINNNNNSSS!!!=
-

[Leroy Jenkins]

Jamms On Guitar

[RS-GUITARIST]

LEEEEROOOYYYY!!!!!

[sheepboy135]

thamks so man. this thing relly helped.

[ns2max]

tis XCELLENT dude!!!!!

HAAAAALLLLLOOOOO

[METAL4LYF]

i dont get it

[sithrob]

that was a big help for me man thanks

[Gosman]

-=LEROYYYYY JEENNNKKKIIIINNNNNSSS!!!=

-

[xXJOSHXx]

[Mr. Bubble]

nice.... learnt heaps. Thanks dude

[zocarl]

cool.....astig!

[EddieRocks83]

that was sweet like some sweet sweet sauce.

[EddieRocks83]

this lesson was sweet like a sweet sweet sauce.

[Painless]

good for you!

[whitebluesboy]

A lot of the fingerings were off for the intro sweeps.

[vai&satch767]

GREAT LESSON MATE!!! Great theory and explinations! maybe explain a bit more about sweeping for those who dont know...I do so it was extremely helpfull. Thanks alot man.

[axe-maniac]

I dont know if its me but doesnt A minor have a raised 7th? I think it needs a G# rather than a G im pretty sure. F***in good lesson anyway, i learnt a lot from it.

[SayDie123]

i practiced sweeping using the intro of
Question - System of a down ^^

[leadlix4emblem]

how am i freakin supposed to hammer-on 5 frets, man?
I've been pullin a Van Halen two-hand tap in efforts to get that 12h17.

[leadlix4emblem]

i got to the tapping part. Now i feel stupid reading my last message. soz.

[crazybandit3]

i still cant tap

[guitarcello]

Very good lesson man, but I have a question: is the direction of picking of the Am arpeggio 2:b right?
would't it be D____ D__D__D__D__U____ U__U__U__U?

[thrashmaster500]

That is the most confusing stuff I have ever seen in my leef life lofe.

[xubxero]

Its really confusing haha but i'll practice n practice till i get it... thats the way to get good i'm guessing...

[Bongofdestiny]

Wickerman_18 wrote:

I want to know wat it u skip theory and just play notes and see which notes sound good for a tune and which dont and figureing it out for ur self one step at a time is that possible or will it takes 50 years to master notes like that pls temme .oh and im not talking about exercises. im talking about ear training and learning to reconize notes

It is possible personally i think if ur good enough you can just learn it but for all those without supposed natural talent you might have to learn properly. just try notes n go to others n if it sounds wrong slide to one that does n if u can't after lots of attempts or u don't know what sounds good then get learn your scales blues scale and major scale is pretty much all you need to start off.

[TOB00]

too long! good any way tho.

[CorBe]

One of you amazing guitar players should be a doll and write a small lesson on effects with 1 up position and fifth position and 7th postion and things like that abecause I am stupid.

[webbster87]

i can play it all but only at a slow speed not fast! i suck!

[billytalentROKS]

im an idiot!what the hell is an appregio?!

[SynSchecter]

billytalentROKS wrote:

im an idiot!what the hell is an appregio?!

an arpeggio is a broken up chord, played individual, instead of all at once

oh yah, by the way, great lesson

[dumbwolf]

Is it possible that in the a minor arpegios from the 12 are wrong?. it says UP but it has to be DOWN because you are going down, (opposite movement)

[henkka_potku]

npm? Couldn't understand very much... this is too... confusing... just little more practice

[guitargod0113]

wow this is really good, but it is a little confusing at parts. still very very good

[Stormwinds]

This was nice, it kept me busy for a good while. Go slam you own work or shut up.

[gibson!]

pretty cool for a beginner

[brokenanthem]

Resiliance wrote:

How can Am7 and Amaj7 have the same 7th?


Wrong.

The seventh isn't what defines if the chord is major or minor, it's the third.

[marcoRAKIZTA]

w0w nc lesson, but i have a problem every time i Practice those shredding lessons it always comes up that my finger's dont acclrate their speed and accuracy...gRRrR

[sayhi666sal]

can some1 help me get this???

[ATNeo]

Cool. Thanks to you

[matadragones22]

brokenanthem wrote:

Resiliance wrote:

How can Am7 and Amaj7 have the same 7th?


Wrong.

The seventh isn't what defines if the chord is major or minor, it's the third.

Actually the 7th also defines if it is a maj7 or a m7
or a dominant7 chord they can't have the same 7th note

an Amaj7 is A-C#-E-G#
an Am7 is A-C-E-G
an A7 (dominant) is A-C#-E-G
so the 7th note also changes

[hardrockmusicX]

Thank You man, Now I know how to do solos

[WhiteWTHStripes]

I can play eugene's trick bag (the entire thing) after playing guitar for only a year, is that good average or bad?

[Ryan_Higgins]

really good arpeggios
best lesson on here

[pesoli09]

so i guess "under the bridge" is a bad song? the intro is mostly an arpeggio that rings out