Sweep Picking

by Mike Campese (17 Jul 06)

This lesson we will be covering sweep picking, a technique used a

lot in shred playing. It's 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. (Also check out A closer look at
sweep-picking for more basic exercises -Ed.)

For example, start with a 2 string idea like this Am arpeggio:

Master this first, then move on to 3 strings etc. It is important to

practice this slowly and evenly, use a metronome. Many players who
start learning this technique sometimes rush and leave notes out, so
take your time, be patient and it will pay off, believe me.

The examples I will be showing you are from my latest DVD "Creative
Speed-Building Picking Techniques" Ok, let me show you some
examples...

Ex.1: In our first example, 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:

Hear Mike play the example

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:

Hear Mike play the example

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 cleanly without skipping
notes:
 Hear Mike play the example

Ex.4: This 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:

Hear Mike play the example

Ex.5: Let me show you some arpeggios going across the neck. Here we
have 2 arpeggios Am (A,C,E) and G (G,B,D). The first 3 strings I use
sweep picking and then I alternate pick the rest. Be sure to use the
fingerings supplied and experiment with other arpeggios moving across
the neck:
 Hear Mike play the example

These examples only scratch the surface, be sure to experiment and

write your own sweep picking lines. If you have any questions, feel free
to contact me using the article feedback feature by clicking on 'rate
article' below. Be sure to check out my DVD "Creative Speed-Building
Picking Techniques" and check out my Latest CD release, "Hidden
Treasures". Also visit mikecampese.com for more information.

Click HERE for a Powertab-file containing all examples from this

article, or click HERE for a pdf-version of that powertab-file (for
Adobe Acrobat Reader).