Arpeggios
(05 Jan 05)
Sweep picking - Page 2
Ok. Now we'll tackle some minor shapes using the sweep technique. It's important to mention that we can use almost the same shapes used before. If we are to use those shapes, we just have to lower the third of the arpeggio to make it minor.
The following example is a simple minor triad arpeggio that covers three strings. Notice that I added a pull-off to begin the descending part of the lick. As I said before, you can pick all the notes, just be sure to use a complete sweeping motion to play the lick as you ascend and descend through it.
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Now we'll add some spice to the lick we just covered. This time we'll cover different inversions of the Am and Dm triads on the first three strings. Be sure to check the picking as the ascending part of the arpeggios is the most important.
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Even when sweep picking can cover most of the notes of the basic arpeggios, there is a need to alternate pick or hammer on/pull off a note to play certain types of arpeggios. We're talking about 4 note arpeggios. The great Frank Gambale teaches a technique in his Monster Licks video that is really helpful. He shows us how to pick different 4 note arpeggios using the same picking principle for all the arpeggios…and he covers quite a bunch!! We just need to change two notes and the picking pattern remains the same for all arpeggios!! Here it goes:
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As we just saw in the examples we covered three different arpeggios in the last three examples. Basically we used the same picking principle, but we just changed some two notes in each arpeggio to make them different from each other. The examples I just showed you cover the maj7, min(maj7) and min7 arpeggios. Practice slowly and watch your right hand as it sweeps the strings. Work hard on those last three examples…They can be a lil' tricky if you don't pay attention!!
Now we'll move into deeper waters using sweep picking. We'll use long sequences using five string arpeggios played at a moderated tempo. Pay attention to the fingerings and how they relate to each other. Also, don't be scared at the 7-tuplets…just try to play the seven notes evenly and well-spaced!! Try the exercise very slowly at first, and as you get comfortable, increase the sweeping speed. Another thing to have in mind when playing this lick is the left-hand stretches in the 5th and 1st string.
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Now, to close the sweep arpeggio part of this study, I'll show you a longer, harder exercise that incorporates six string sweeping arpeggios. So far, we have covered 5 string arpeggios, so adding one more string shouldn't be much of a problem for you. It's something very similar to a run found in Friedman/Becker's Go off!! record (Shrapnel). It's a chord progression that goes G, D, Em B C, G, C and D. Remember to practice slowly and also watch your sweeping motion carefully.
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