Arpeggios - Overview
Arpeggios are broken chords or notes of the chord played separately. Playing arpeggios in a guitar solo makes the solo sound extremely melodic. Neo-classical Guitar players like Yngwie Malmsteen & Vinnie Moore are well known for the use of arpeggios in their songs and solos. Songs like Rising Force by Yngwie Malmsteen & Too many notes by Steve Morse are excellent examples of arpeggios being used to the fullest.
Arpeggios on the guitar can be played by having one note per string which makes it easy to play using a picking technique called Sweep Picking. Sweep picking is the exact opposite of alternate picking. While sweep picking the pick moves in the same direction covering multiple notes on multiple strings. For eg; if you were to start on the 5th string with a downstroke you would then continue playing the downstroke right till the 1st string and then play a series of up strokes to go back to the 5th string. Also remember you need to ensure that you drag the pick along the strings as opposed to making multiple wrist motions to pick each downstroke or upstroke. The use of the picking hand palm to mute strings that have been played is also a very crucial technique which needs a lot of focus and practice. Lack of muting will result in the notes ringing over each other making it sound muddy and unclear. While descending an arpeggio the fretting hand fingers will need to lightly touch the strings after the note is played, making sure the open notes don't ring. Sweep picking lets you play arpeggios extremely fast but is considered one of the most difficult techniques to master.
Arpeggios on the guitar can be played by having one note per string which makes it easy to play using a picking technique called Sweep Picking. Sweep picking is the exact opposite of alternate picking. While sweep picking the pick moves in the same direction covering multiple notes on multiple strings. For eg; if you were to start on the 5th string with a downstroke you would then continue playing the downstroke right till the 1st string and then play a series of up strokes to go back to the 5th string. Also remember you need to ensure that you drag the pick along the strings as opposed to making multiple wrist motions to pick each downstroke or upstroke. The use of the picking hand palm to mute strings that have been played is also a very crucial technique which needs a lot of focus and practice. Lack of muting will result in the notes ringing over each other making it sound muddy and unclear. While descending an arpeggio the fretting hand fingers will need to lightly touch the strings after the note is played, making sure the open notes don't ring. Sweep picking lets you play arpeggios extremely fast but is considered one of the most difficult techniques to master.
Arpeggio Shapes
3 string arpeggios include shapes on string no. 1-2-3, 2-3-4, 3-4-5 & 4-5-6
4 string arpeggios include shapes on string no. 1-2-3-4, 2-3-4-5 & 3-4-5-6
5 & 6 string arpeggios include shapes across all the strings.
Learn all the shapes well so when you start learning to play the exercises you will be in good control.
Below is the tablature which indicates arpeggios on different sets of strings.
4 string arpeggios include shapes on string no. 1-2-3-4, 2-3-4-5 & 3-4-5-6
5 & 6 string arpeggios include shapes across all the strings.
Learn all the shapes well so when you start learning to play the exercises you will be in good control.
Below is the tablature which indicates arpeggios on different sets of strings.
Sweep Picking Arpeggios - Exercises
Below are extremely melodic sounding sweep picking arpeggios including tablature. Notice the use of hammer ons & pull offs at places where there is more than one note per string. This helps in keeping the sweeping motion of the pick intact.
