Greetings, fellow Shredder!

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re a fan of the shred guitar style, and you’re always looking for ways to improve your playing and take your skills to the next level. Well, my friend, I have just the thing for you: sweep picking!

Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Sweep picking? Isn’t that just for fancy pants neoclassical guitarists and jazz fusion players?” Well, I’m here to tell you that sweep picking is not just for the snooty guitar crowd – it’s a versatile and powerful technique that can help you add speed, precision, and sophistication to your shred guitar playing.

But what exactly is sweep picking, you ask? Simply put, sweep picking is a technique that allows you to play multiple strings in a single picking motion. This allows you to play fast arpeggios and complex chords with ease and fluidity, giving your solos a smooth, cascading sound.

Now, I know what you’re thinking: “But Anton, how do I learn to sweep pick?” Well, my friend, learning to sweep pick is not as difficult as you might think. With a bit of practice and dedication, you too can master this technique and add it to your shred guitar arsenal.

First, let’s start with the basics. To sweep pick, you’ll need to use a picking motion that starts at the lowest string and moves upwards or downwards, depending on the direction of the arpeggio. This means that you’ll need to use your wrist to control the pick, rather than your elbow or shoulder, which can make the motion more awkward and less precise.

Next, it’s important to focus on the timing of your picking. In order to make the sweep picking motion fluid and seamless, you’ll need to pick each string one at a time in smooth succession instead of playing them together like a chord. This can take some practice, but with a metronome and a bit of patience, you’ll be able to get the hang of it in no time.

Once you’ve mastered the basics of sweep picking, it’s time to start incorporating it into your playing. Start with simple, two-string arpeggios and work your way up to more complex chords and patterns. As you practice, pay attention to your picking hand and make sure that you’re using a smooth, fluid motion.

When you’re ready, sweep arpeggios can be extended, connected and expanded upon by using various legato techniques such as hammer-ons, pull-offs and finger tapping.

One helpful tip for improving your sweep picking is to use alternate picking in combination with the technique. Alternate picking involves alternating between upstrokes and downstrokes, which can help you maintain a steady picking motion and add precision to your playing. Alternate picking is perfect for creating hybrid patterns with sweep picked arpeggios or as part of sweeping through sequences.

In addition to practicing with a metronome, it can also be helpful to practice with backing tracks or jam with other musicians. This will not only help you improve your timing and accuracy, but it will also give you a chance to experiment with different rhythms and melodies and incorporate sweep picking into your solos and compositions.

Sweep picking is a valuable technique that can add speed, precision, and sophistication to your shred guitar playing. With practice and dedication, you too can master this technique and take your playing to the next level. So why not give it a try and see what it can do for your guitar skills?

Shred on!

-Anton