Sweep
Picking Exercises

By
Mike Campese

 

This
lesson we will be covering sweep picking. A technique used a lot
in shred playing, also known as economy picking, basically you
are playing downstrokes and upstrokes on 2 or more strings consecutively,
raking the pick across the strings, imagine a violin bow brushing
across the strings. The notes cannot run together like a chord
and it is good to start with a couple strings at a time and then
add 3 strings, 4,5,6. For example, start with a 2 string idea
like this Am arpeggio, (Fig A) master this first then move to
3 strings etc. It is important to practice this, slow and even,
using a metronome. Many players first learning this technique
sometimes rush and leave notes out, take your time and be patient
and it will pay off believe me. Ok, Let me show you some examples………


Ex.1 We have a 3 string arpeggio run in the key
of E min moving up the chord scale (Em, F# dim, G, Am, Bm, C,
D). The right hand picking pattern is the same through the whole
run, down pick the first note, then pull off, down pick the second
string and the up pick the last three notes consecutively. You
must lift each finger off every note after you pluck them.

Exercise
1 Audio (.mp3)

Ex.2
This is a 4 string pattern based off the E min pentatonic
scale (E,G,A,B,D) following the 5 main scale patterns. The right
hand uses the same pattern all the way through, 4 down strokes
then 3 upstrokes. Be sure to follow the fingerings playing this
one, start slow and then build up speed.

Exercise
2 Audio (.mp3)


Ex.3 Now we have a 5 and 6 string arpeggio pattern
in G minor using 4 Gm arpeggios (G,Bb,D) They are linked together
across the whole neck using sweep picking with hammer ons and
pull offs.This one covers a lot of fretboard territory, make sure
you follow the right and left hand symbols on the notation and
practice very clean without skipping notes.

Exercise
3 Audio (.mp3)

Ex.4
Here is a line constructed with 4 extended arpeggios. The first
one is C 6/9 (C,E,G,A,D), then Bm11 ( B,D,F#,A,C#,E). Move the
same shape down 2 frets to Am11 (A,C,E,G,B,D) and finally F 6/7
(F,A,C,D,E). The first 3 notes of each arpeggio are alternate
picked, for the rest i use sweep picking. Be sure to follow the
proper fingerings, start slow and then build speed.

Exercise
4 Audio (.mp3)

These
examples only scratch the surface, be sure to
experiment and write your own sweep picking lines. Check
out some of my music, I use this concept in my writing.