How To Master Sweep Picking
Arpeggio Technique On Guitar
By Tom Hess
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Is it possible to make fast lead guitar arpeggios sound melodic during your solos?
Or do you always have to choose between playing fast or playing with melody?
When I first learned to play lead guitar arpeggios, all I wanted to do was shred as fast as possible.
The result?
I built lots of speed…
...and quickly got bored.
Why?
My lead guitar solos lacked real emotion and didn’t impress anyone except other lead guitar players.
Eventually I found a teacher who taught me to combine fast guitar arpeggios with melody.
This helped me to start feeling like a musician – not just a lead guitar player.
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How?
Watch this video about playing lead guitar solos & I’ll show you in detail:
It’s easy to turn any of your guitar arpeggios into tons of creative licks. (These licks sound good even if you can’t play fast yet.)
For example:
- Play guitar arpeggios descending only (or ascending only).
- Extend & harmonize guitar arpeggios using inversions. Start the arpeggio on the root, 3rd or 5th (or 7th). This is a great way to play fast & clean arpeggio licks.
- Play the same guitar arpeggio on 2 strings, 3 strings, 4 strings, 5 strings and 6 strings).
Watch this video to see & hear how cool these ideas sound:
Playing Emotional Lead Guitar Solos - Tip #2: Use Silence
Sometimes, the best thing to do is to stop playing in the middle of fast guitar arpeggios. Unexpected silence builds massive tension & creates a lot of excitement.
When you start playing after the silence – slide aggressively into the first note. This makes note grabs your listeners by the throat.
Watch this video & see what I mean:
Playing Emotional Lead Guitar Solos - Tip #3: Combine Guitar Arpeggios With Tremolo Picking
What’s tremolo picking? It simply means to pick one note really fast.
When you combine tremolo picking with guitar arpeggios – the result is: aggressive sounding lead guitar solos and licks.
Watch this video & see how cool it makes your lead guitar solos sound:
Playing Emotional Lead Guitar Solos - Tip #4: Use More & Better Vibrato
What’s the easiest way to ruin fast guitar arpeggios? End it on a note that sounds nervous & out of control from sloppy vibrato.
Bad news is: if you’ve never had someone show you the right way to practice vibrato – your vibrato could probably use work.
Good news is: if you have 10 minutes a day, you can improve your vibrato very quickly.
Here is how:
Extra tip: make sure to mute the lower (in pitch) strings of your guitar during vibrato. Rest your picking hand’s thumb on the lower strings to keep them quiet.
Now you know how to play creative lead guitar arpeggios & lead guitar solos. The next step is to make your guitar arpeggios faster & cleaner, so you can use this technique to its full potential. Download this free sweep picking eGuide and discover the secrets to sweeping fast & clean like your favorite lead guitar players.