How To Play Creative Sweep Picking Arpeggios That Sound Musically Expressive
by Tom Hess
Want to play creative sweep picking guitar arpeggios that sound impressive and musically creative?
Here is one way to do it in no time:
Learn how to create musical tension by using sweep picking arpeggios in interesting combinations.
Try this simple exercise to make your arpeggios more:
Find a song you like and transcribe the chords in any section of it onto guitar. Just transcribe the chords though, there is no need to learn the specific parts.
Next, think creatively to come up with sweep picking arpeggio equivalents to the chords you chose. Don’t worry about playing in the same octave as the chords. Move the patterns higher up on the fretboard if you need to.
Once you have figured out the patterns for these arpeggios, play them to hear what they sound like together.
For instance:
Let’s say the chord are A minor, D major, B minor and E major.
Play each arpeggio in order above the chords in the song you took them from.
Then try playing them without the song in different orders to see how they sound.
This gives your sweep picking licks musical context which sounds much more interesting than what most players do which is shred up and down a single pattern many times.
After experimenting with these arpeggios, try using the same arpeggios in different inversions.
Finally, improvise with each one a little bit while integrating it with techniques like vibrato, bends, legato runs or scales.
Here are some more ways to improve the musical creativity of your sweep picking arpeggios:
When you aim to make your arpeggios sound more musical (instead of just fast), they sound more creative and expressive. You don't need to neglect speed, but focus on using it as a tool for creating musical tension rather than just playing as fast as possible.
Going through this process helps you quickly start making your sweep picking sound more creative while giving you cool new patterns to play as well.
Want to learn more ways to play great sweep picking arpeggios on guitar?
Learn how to do it with lead guitar licks that use 6ths.
About Tom Hess: Tom Hess is a guitar teacher, music career mentor and guitar teacher trainer. He teaches rock guitar lessons online to students from all over the world and conducts instructional live guitar training events attended by musicians from over 50 countries.
