Lesson: Sweep Picking

In this lesson we are discussing a type of economy picking often referred to as "Sweep Picking". This technique allows you to play a series of notes that would be next to impossible to match using other techniques such as alternate picking. Sweep picking is a hard skill to learn but once you've got the basics down it is actually pretty easy. You just need to start out slow and work on your coordination between your right and left hands. Always practice using a metronome.

More often than not if you are trying to learn to sweep pick than you are interested in playing shred/metal guitar. Sweep picking is used more in metal than any other genre. Yngwie Malmsteen and Michael Angelo Batio are two guitarist who have mastered the technique of playing blazing fast arpeggios using sweep picking.

Okay, now how about we begin the lesson?

The basic idea behind sweep picking is playing 2 or more notes in series on adjacent strings all in one fluid picking motion.


The tab above is a very basic example of a sweep picking exercise.Remember, when sweep picking you do not lift up your pick after each note, let your pick "Sweep" over each note in one fluid motion. It is kind of like doing a slow motion strum, only you are accentuating each individual note and not letting notes ring out. Do not fret each note as if you were playing a chord, fret each note only as you are playing the note and then release onto the next note in the sweep. Practice sweep picking down and up, pay attention when you are changing directions. You need to keep a steady rhythm.

Sweep picking can be one of the most rewarding techniques when properly executed!

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