Sweep Picking

Sweep Picking is a technique used for arpeggiating chords where you use a single downward or upward picking motion across multiple strings. Its advantage is speed - a sweep picked arpeggio can be played faster than an alternate-picked one. It is possible to play 7-8 note arpeggios ascending or descending with all notes played in order without repetition.

In tab, sweep picking is usually indicated above the tab line as follows:

  d----------------|      u----------|
e----------------12h17p12-----------------
b-------------13----------13--------------
g----------14----------------14-----------
d-------14----------------------14--------
a-12h15----------------------------15p12--
e-----------------------------------------

The d---| indicates to downpick all notes within the specified range, and uppick for u---|.

Common Shapes

Major Triad

Minor Triad

|x|-|-|-|-|x|
|-|x|-|-|-|-|
|-|-|x|-|-|-|
|-|-|x|-|-|-|
|x|-|-|x|-|-|
|-|-|-|-|-|-|

  d----------------|      u----------|
e----------------12h17p12-----------------
b-------------13----------13--------------
g----------14----------------14-----------
d-------14----------------------14--------
a-12h15----------------------------15p12--
e-----------------------------------------