# Sweep picking — from the pick path up > Interactive page: [`sweep.html`](sweep.html) Sweep picking is how **scale harmony** speaks: **several clean notes from one pick stroke** (arpeggios / chord tones inside a key). The goal is not speed yet — it is **clean strokes**: each string speaks on its own beat, with no chop between strings and no smear like a strum. The pick stays at one angle and *rides* across adjacent strings; your hand does not stop and restart on every string. **Technique path:** [Exercises](exercises.md) · [Solo exercises](exercises-solo.md) · [Alternate](alternate.md) · [Economy](economy.md) · this page · [Solo drills · sweep](drills-solo.md#sweep) On the HTML page, Play becomes Stop. A **moving bar** on the TAB follows the sounding note. Models use **eighth notes** — two notes per second at BPM 60; tempo follows the metronome in the practice bar. ## Scales job — why sweep exists Alternate and economy teach *steps* of a scale. Sweep teaches the *skeleton* of the same key: triads and 7ths inside [scales](scales.md) and [CAGED](caged.md). - Open-string paths first, then Am barre = A minor chord tones (1–♭3–5) at the 12th fret. - Name the harmony — connect each sweep to the key, not only to a lick. - **Lab:** [Sweep lab](sweep-lab.md) — arpeggios in any root/quality. - Scalar filler between arpeggios: [alternate](alternate.md) or [economy](economy.md). **What this module is trying to do:** train the right hand to produce *even, separate attacks* while the pick moves in one direction. If strings sound like one muddy rake, slow down. If they sound like disconnected chops, you are alternate picking, not sweeping. **Lesson order:** (1) three-string sweep on G–B–e, then the same pattern on B–G–D, G–D–A, and D–A–E · (2) four strings D–G–B–e · (3) five strings A–D–G–B–e (no low E) · (4–6) **12th-fret Am barre** — add strings (**G14·B13·e12**, +**D14**, +**A15**) · (7) **e12h17** on three strings (same on four when ready) · (8) **A12h15** + e hammer on five · (9) **E12** — full six-string Am. Six-line tablature (TAB): high **e** on top, low **E** on bottom. Read **left to right** = time. **`x`** marks where the pick hits. ## Lesson 1 · Three-string sweep · G → B → e **Down:** G → B → e · D D D ``` e|-----------------x- B|-------------x----- G|---------x--------- D|------------------- A|------------------- E|------------------- 1 2 3 D D D G → B → e ``` **Up:** e → B → G · U U U ``` e|---------x--------- B|-------------x----- G|-----------------x- D|------------------- A|------------------- E|------------------- 1 2 3 U U U e → B → G ``` **Down then up · one loop** — one tablature diagram, six beats left to right. ``` e|---------x---x--------- B|-----x-----------x----- G|-x-------------------x- D|----------------------- A|----------------------- E|----------------------- 1 2 3 4 5 6 D D D U U U G → B → e → e → B → G ``` **Same drill, other string sets:** when G–B–e is even, run down, up, and down-up on **B → G → D**, then **G → D → A**, then **D → A → E** (low **E** on the last set). Same tablature layout — only the lines with **x** change. ## Lesson 2 · Four-string sweep · D → G → B → e Four adjacent strings: **D**, **G**, **B**, high **e**. Same pick path as lesson 1, one string wider — down then up in one loop. **Down then up · one loop** — eight beats, one tablature diagram. ``` e|-------------x---x------------- B|---------x-----------x--------- G|-----x-------------------x----- D|-x---------------------------x- A|------------------------------- E|------------------------------- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 D D D D U U U U D → G → B → e → e → B → G → D ``` **Listen for:** four even notes — the extra string often makes the middle rush. ## Lesson 3 · Five-string sweep · A → D → G → B → e **A**, **D**, **G**, **B**, and high **e** — not low **E**. Down then up in one loop. **Down then up · one loop** — ten beats, one tablature diagram. ``` e|-----------------x---x----------------- B|-------------x-----------x------------- G|---------x-------------------x--------- D|-----x---------------------------x----- A|-x-----------------------------------x- E|--------------------------------------- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 D D D D D U U U U U A → D → G → B → e → e → B → G → D → A ``` **Listen for:** five separate notes — not a chord smash. A→D and D→G are where most players rush. ## Am fingering · 12th-fret barre (lessons 4–9) Finger numbers: **1** index, **2** middle, **3** ring, **4** pinky — same as [Open chords](chords.md) and [Barre · A-shape](barre.md#a-shape). Standard **A-shape Am** at the 12th fret. Lesson 6 sweeps **A15** (C); lesson 8 uses **A12h15**; index barre anchors **e12** and **E12**. | String | Fret | Note | Finger | In sweep | |--------|------|------|--------|----------| | E | 12 | E | 1 index | L9 swept E — barre at fret 12 | | A | 15 | C | 4 pinky | L6 swept C; L8: pick **A12** (1), hammer **A15** (4) | | D | 14 | E | 3 ring | Roll/shift from A | | G | 14 | A | 3 ring | Roll with D14 at fret 14 on lesson 5+ | | B | 13 | C | 2 middle | | | e | 12 | E | 1 index | L7–8: pick **e12** (1), hammer **e17** (4) | **Plant order (down):** L4 · 3→2→1 · L5 · 3→3→2→1 · L6 · 4→3→3→2→1 · L9 · 1→1+4 (A12h15)→3→3→2→1+4 (e12h17) · Up: reverse. **Legato:** L7 · **e12h17** (1 + 4) · L8 · **A12h15** (1 + 4) then same **e12h17** (1 + 4) · L9 · both hammers plus **E12**. Set the full grip once to learn it; then sweep [one finger at a time](sweep-lab.md#left-hand--one-note-at-a-time) — do not hold a barre while sweeping. Mute or release each string after it speaks; use a **finger roll** when one finger crosses same-fret neighbours (Guitar World · Petrucci; Tom Hess). **Sources (two-check):** [Barre · A-shape minor](barre.md#a-shape) · [Hobby Guitarist · Am at 12th fret](https://hobbyguitarist.com/a-minor-chord-guitar/) · [Guitar World · Petrucci sweep](https://www.guitarworld.com/features/clean-sweep-mastering-sweep-arpeggios-john-petrucci) · [Tom Hess · sweep picking](https://tomhess.net/HowToSweepPickArpeggios.aspx) ## Lesson 4 · Simple Am · G → B → e First fretted sweep: **A minor** at the **12th-fret barre** on the same three strings as lesson 1 — **G14 · B13 · e12** (A on G, C on B, E on high e). Barre fret 12; standard Am shape one octave above open position. Left hand: [plant each finger as the pick arrives](sweep-lab.md#left-hand--one-note-at-a-time) — **3 → 2 → 1** on the down sweep ([full map](#am-fingering--12th-fret-barre-lessons-49)). **Down then up · Am lick** — six beats, one tablature diagram (same layout as lesson 1 down-up). ``` e|--------12---12-------- B|----13----------13----- G|-14------------------14- D|----------------------- A|----------------------- E|----------------------- LH:3 2 1 1 2 3 RH:D D D U U U A C E E C A ``` When this is clean, add the D string in **lesson 5**. ## Lesson 5 · Four-string Am · D → G → B → e Same **12th-fret barre Am** as lesson 4 — add **D14** (E). Fret map: **D14 · G14 · B13 · e12**. **Fingers (down):** 3 → 3 → 2 → 1 (ring rolls D14→G14). ``` e|------------12---12------------- B|---------13---------13--------- G|-----14-----------------14----- D|-14--------------------------14 A|------------------------------- E|------------------------------- LH:3 3 2 1 1 2 3 3 RH:D D D D U U U U E A C E E C A E ``` ## Lesson 6 · Five-string Am · A → D → G → B → e Add **A15** (C): **A15 · D14 · G14 · B13 · e12**. **Fingers (down):** 4 (A15) → 3 (D14) → 3 (G14) → 2 → 1 — release A as D speaks. ``` e|----------------12---12------------------ B|------------13-----------13---------- G|--------14-------------------14-------- D|----14---------------------------14---- A|-15----------------------------------15- E|--------------------------------------- LH:4 3 3 2 1 1 2 3 3 4 RH:D D D D D U U U U U C E A C E E C A E C ``` ## Lesson 7 · Hammer-on · e12h17 · three strings Same shape as lesson 4 (**G14 · B13 · e12**). After the down sweep picks **e12** with **1**, hammer **e17** (A) with **4** — one unpicked note before the up sweep. ``` e|--------12---12h17---12-------- B|----13-------------------13---- G|-14-------------------------14- D|------------------------------ A|------------------------------ E|------------------------------ LH:3 2 1 4 1 2 3 RH:D D D h U U U A C E A E C A ``` **Four strings (practice):** use the [lesson 5](sweep.md#lesson-5--four-string-am--d--g--b--e) path — same **e12h17** after the down sweep. Then [lesson 8](#lesson-8--hammer-ons--a12h15--e12h17--five-strings). ## Lesson 8 · Hammer-ons · A12h15 + e12h17 · five strings Down sweep: **A12h15**, then **D14 · G14 · B13 · e12**, then **e12h17** from lesson 7. Up sweep reverses. ``` e|---------------------12---h17--12----------------- B|-----------------13----------------13------------- G|-------------14------------------------14--------- D|---------14--------------------------------14----- A|-12--h15---------------------------------------12- E|-------------------------------------------------- LH:1 4 3 3 2 1 4 1 2 3 3 1 RH:D h D D D D h U U U U U A C E A C E A E C A E A ``` Related: [Break rut · sweep jump](break-rut.md#sweep-jump) · [Solo exercises · hammer / pull](exercises-solo.md#lead-hopo). When this is clean, add low **E** in [lesson 9](#lesson-9--six-string-am--e--a--d--g--b--e). ## Lesson 9 · Six-string Am · E → A → D → G → B → e Full **12th-fret Am barre** with the same legato tags as [lesson 8](#lesson-8--hammer-ons--a12h15--e12h17--five-strings): **A12h15** and **e12h17**, plus low **E12** at the start. Path: **E12 · A12h15 · D14 · G14 · B13 · e12h17**, then reverse. **Fingers:** 1 on E12 and A12, **4** on both hammers, then 3 → 3 → 2 → 1. ``` e|------------------------12---h17--12-------------------- B|--------------------13----------------13---------------- G|----------------14------------------------14------------ D|------------14--------------------------------14-------- A|--------12--h15------------------------------------12---- E|-12--------------------------------------------------12- LH:1 1 4 3 3 2 1 4 1 2 3 3 1 1 RH:D D h D D D D h U U U U U U E A C E A C E A E C A E A E ``` **Listen for:** both hammers even after adding low **E**; E→A still unhurried. **Ready for the Sweep lab:** when lesson 9 is even, go to the [Sweep lab](sweep-lab.md) — it builds CAGED voicings with **A-string** and **high-e hammers** when they fit. ## Practice note **How long:** 5 minutes per lesson when new. Lesson 1: all four three-string groups before lesson 2. Lessons 2–3 and 5–9 use 3 model loops (longer cells). Lessons 4–6: Am down-up, adding one string each. Lesson 7: **e12h17** on three strings (practice on four). Lesson 8: **A12h15** + e hammer on five. Lesson 9: full six-string Am with **E12**, **A12h15**, and **e12h17**. **Left hand:** open strings in lessons 1–3; **12th-fret Am barre** on lessons 4–9 and in the [Sweep lab](sweep-lab.md). **Am fret map:** E12 · A12h15 · D14 · G14 · B13 · e12h17. **Ready for Sweep lab:** after lesson 9 is clean, you are set to practice all chord arpeggios there — major and minor triads in any key, 3–6 strings. **Then:** [Sweep lab](sweep-lab.md) · [Solo drills · Am sweep](drills-solo.md#sweep) · [Break rut · sweep chain](break-rut.md#sweep-chain). Next: [Sweep lab](sweep-lab.md) · [Solo drills · sweep](drills-solo.md#sweep) · [Break rut](break-rut.md) · [Solo exercises](exercises-solo.md)