Sweep picking 101
CHOOSE YOUR GOAL!
How To Develop Pick Technique For Sweep Picking - Start Here!
In the video, we will:
Look at sweep picking fundamentals for our picking hand
Talk about an easy way to know if we’re picking correctly
Go over ways to control our right hand at various speeds
Daily Exercise: Pick Technique
Practice along with the following video!
Make sure your pick is angled and not sticking too far into the string
Adjust your speed as necessary
Recommended Speeds:
Beginner: 0.40x
Intermediate: 1.00x
Advanced: 1.40x
You’re Doing This Right When:
Your pick cuts easily through the string both ways, and doesn’t get stuck going up or down.
Picking Hand Control For Sweeping - Start Here!
In this video, we will:
Look at an exercise to develop control over your picking hand
Expand the exercise to cover more strings
Warm up and prepare your picking hand for sweep picking
Daily Exercise: Controlled String Rakes
Practice along with the following video!
Make sure your pick is angled and not sticking too far into the string
Adjust your speed as necessary
Recommended Speeds:
Beginner: 0.40x
Intermediate: 1.00x
Advanced: 1.40x
You’re Doing This Right When:
Your pick cuts easily through the string both ways, and doesn’t get stuck going up or down. You can maintain control and relaxation in your right hand no matter how many strings you pick through.
Fretting Basics For Sweeping - Start Here!
In this video, we will:
Learn about the two different types of fretting hand motion
Learn how sweep picking works as a technique
Review difficulties of sweep picking
Daily Exercise: Fretting Fundamentals
Practice along with the following video!
Make sure your pick is angled and not sticking too far into the string
Adjust your speed as necessary. Feel free to learn the shapes before jumping into the video.
Recommended Speeds:
Beginner: 0.40x
Intermediate: 1.00x
Advanced: 1.40x
You’re Doing This Right When:
You can easily roll your fingers through the shape as if typing on a keyboard, while keeping notes separated without ringing out over each other. Your pick slices easily through the strings in sync with your left hand, and uses minimal motion - resting on the strings on the way down or up.
Learning Horizontal Motion For Sweep Picking - Start Here!
In this video, we will:
Learn what horizontal motion is
Look at different examples of horizontal motion
Daily Exercise: Horizontal Motion
Practice along with the following video!
Make sure your pick is angled and not sticking too far into the string
Learn these shapes first - they’re big! Take it slow, and adjust your speed if necessary.
Feel free to play these on your own first.
Recommended Speeds:
Beginner: 0.40x
Intermediate: 1.00x
Advanced: 1.40x
You’re Doing This Right When:
You can easily roll your fingers through the shape as if typing on a keyboard, while keeping notes separated without ringing out over each other. Your pick slices easily through the strings in sync with your left hand, and uses minimal motion - resting on the strings on the way down or up.
Learning Vertical Motion For Sweep Picking - Start Here!
In this video, we will:
Learn what vertical motion is
Look at different examples of vertical motion
Daily Exercise: Vertical Motion
Practice along with the following video!
Make sure your pick is angled and not sticking too far into the string
Learn these shapes first - they’re big! Take it slow, and adjust your speed if necessary.
Feel free to play these on your own first.
Recommended Speeds:
Beginner: 0.40x
Intermediate: 1.00x
Advanced: 1.40x
You’re Doing This Right When:
You can easily roll your fingers or bar through the shape as if typing on a keyboard, while keeping notes separated without ringing out over each other. Your pick slices easily through the strings in sync with your left hand, and uses minimal motion - resting on the strings on the way down or up.
Learn 2-String Sweeps - Start Here!
In this video, we will:
Look at a series of two-string sweeps
See how we can change the sound of a sweep by changing one note
Daily Exercise: 2-String Sweeps
Practice along with the following video!
Make sure your pick is angled and not sticking too far into the string.
Rolling your first finger across the first string will help on the first shape.
Learn the shapes first! Take it slow, and adjust your speed if necessary.
Feel free to play them on your own first.
Recommended Speeds:
Beginner: 0.40x
Intermediate: 1.00x
Advanced: 1.40x
You’re Doing This Right When:
You can easily roll your fingers through the shape as if typing on a keyboard, while keeping notes separated without ringing out over each other. Your pick slices easily through the strings in sync with your left hand, and uses minimal motion - resting on the strings on the way down or up.
Learn 3-String Sweeps - Start Here!
In this video, we will:
Look at a series of three-string sweeps
See how we can change the sound of a sweep by changing one note
See how we can go up and down sweep shapes
Daily Exercise: 3-String Sweeps
Practice along with the following video!
Make sure your pick is angled and not sticking too far into the string.
Aim with the points of your fingers.
Learn the shapes first! Take it slow, and adjust your speed if necessary.
Feel free to play them on your own first.
Recommended Speeds:
Beginner: 0.40x
Intermediate: 1.00x
Advanced: 1.40x
You’re Doing This Right When:
You can easily roll your fingers through the shape as if typing on a keyboard, while keeping notes separated without ringing out over each other. Your pick slices easily through the strings in sync with your left hand, and uses minimal motion - resting on the strings on the way down or up.
Learn 4-String Sweeps - Start Here!
In this video, we will:
Look at a series of four-string sweeps
See how we can change the sound of a sweep by changing 1-2 notes
Add multiple notes to our major shape
Daily Exercise: 4-String Sweeps
Practice along with the following video!
Make sure your pick is angled and not sticking too far into the string.
Aim with the points of your fingers.
Learn the shapes first! They’re getting bigger Take it slow, and adjust your speed if necessary.
Feel free to play them on your own first.
Recommended Speeds:
Beginner: 0.40x
Intermediate: 1.00x
Advanced: 1.40x
You’re Doing This Right When:
You can easily roll your fingers through the shape as if typing on a keyboard, while keeping notes separated without ringing out over each other. Your pick slices easily through the strings in sync with your left hand, and uses minimal motion - resting on the strings on the way down or up.
Learn 5-String Sweeps - Start Here!
In this video, we will:
Look at a series of five-string sweeps
See how we can access major and minor shapes traveling left or right on the fretboard
Learn major and minor shapes in two keys
Daily Exercise: 5-String Sweeps
Practice along with the following video! Adjust your speed as needed.
Make sure your pick is angled and not sticking too far into the string.
Aim with the points of your fingers - bar when crossing strings if necessary.
Learn the shapes first! Take it slow, and practice going up and down.
Feel free to play them on your own first.
Recommended Speeds:
Beginner: 0.40x
Intermediate: 1.00x
Advanced: 1.40x
You’re Doing This Right When:
You can easily roll your fingers through the shape as if typing on a keyboard, while keeping notes separated without ringing out over each other. Your pick slices easily through the strings in sync with your left hand, and uses minimal motion - resting on the strings on the way down or up.
Learn 6-String Sweeps - Start Here!
In this video, we will:
Look at a series of six-string sweeps
Learn how to play a major and minor shape starting on the 6th string
Daily Exercise: 6-String Sweeps
Practice along with the following video! Adjust your speed as needed.
Make sure your pick is angled and not sticking too far into the string.
Aim with the points of your fingers - bar when crossing strings if necessary.
Learn the shapes first! Take it slow, and practice going up and down.
Feel free to play them on your own first.
Recommended Speeds:
Beginner: 0.40x
Intermediate: 1.00x
Advanced: 1.40x
You’re Doing This Right When:
You can easily roll your fingers through the shape as if typing on a keyboard, while keeping notes separated without ringing out over each other. Your pick slices easily through the strings in sync with your left hand, and uses minimal motion - resting on the strings on the way down or up.
How To Play Major Shapes - Start Here!
In this video, we will:
Look at ways to play major shapes across all strings
See major shape patterns laid out in real time across our guitar neck
View multiple options for playing major shapes starting on our 5th and 6th strings
Daily Exercise: Major Shapes
Learn the shapes in the following tabs! Practice sweeping up and down slowly. Use the onsite metronome if you need one.
Get comfortable first - only speed it up when it feels easy and you’re not thinking about it.
You’re Doing This Right When:
You can easily roll your fingers through the shape as if typing on a keyboard, while keeping notes separated without ringing out over each other. Your pick slices easily through the strings in sync with your left hand, and uses minimal motion - resting on the strings on the way down or up.
How To Play Minor Shapes - Start Here!
In this video, we will:
Look at ways to play minor shapes across all strings
See minor shape patterns laid out in real time across our guitar neck
Daily Exercise: Minor Shapes
Learn the shapes in the following tabs! Practice sweeping up and down slowly. Use the onsite metronome if you need one.
Get comfortable first - only speed it up when it feels easy and you’re not thinking about it.
You’re Doing This Right When:
You can easily roll your fingers through the shape as if typing on a keyboard, while keeping notes separated without ringing out over each other. Your pick slices easily through the strings in sync with your left hand, and uses minimal motion - resting on the strings on the way down or up.
How To Play Diminished Shapes - Start Here!
In this video, we will:
Look at ways to play several diminished shapes across all strings
See diminished shape patterns laid out in real time across our guitar neck
Daily Exercise: Diminished Shapes
Learn the shapes in the following tabs! Practice sweeping up and down slowly. Use the onsite metronome if you need one.
Get comfortable first - only speed it up when it feels easy and you’re not thinking about it.
You’re Doing This Right When:
You can easily roll your fingers through the shape as if typing on a keyboard, while keeping notes separated without ringing out over each other. Your pick slices easily through the strings in sync with your left hand, and uses minimal motion - resting on the strings on the way down or up.
Milestone: Sweep Etude
In this video, we will:
Look at a sweep picking exercise designed to train fundamentals take you through common chord progressions and shapes
Play the most common patterns and key changes, working every fundamental of sweep picking
Play through the whole progression
Feel free to play along!
Milestone Exercise: Sweep Etude
Practice along with the following video! Adjust your speed as needed.
Make sure your pick is angled and not sticking too far into the string.
Aim with the points of your fingers - bar when crossing strings if necessary.
Learn the shapes first! Take it slow, and practice going up and down.
Feel free to play them on your own first. Take it one shape at a time, and learn them inside-out.
Recommended Speeds:
Beginner: 0.50x
Intermediate: 1.00x
Advanced: 1.40x
You’re Doing This Right When:
You can easily roll your fingers through the shape as if typing on a keyboard, while keeping notes separated without ringing out over each other. Your pick slices easily through the strings in sync with your left hand, and uses minimal motion - resting on the strings on the way down or up.