IMPROVE YOUR SWEEP PICKING

In the latest instalment of his series on technique improvement, Simon Barnard showcases the slippery and impressive sound of sweep picking.

- 

Sweep picking is an efficient technique, combining elements of alternate picking with logical economy of motion. Typically, sweep picking found favour in 80s rock to play fluid arpeggio runs, where for the most part, a single note is played on each string. However, sweep picking is found in many genres where the use of arpeggios is prevalent such as jazz and fusion as well as rock and metal. I have chosen to focus on the latter two genres this month, and have showcased a number of common three and five-string arpeggio shapes.