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How to Build Sweeping Patterns

Sweep picking is an advanced guitar technique that relies on fast-moving individual notes to create a sparkling sound. Although difficult to master, sweep picking relies on a basic pattern that, once learned, can be transferred to any chord to create highly intricate sweeping patterns.

Things You'll Need

  • Metronome
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Instructions

    • 1

      Grasp your guitar pick firmly in your right hand.

    • 2

      Place the index finger of your left hand on the 12th fret of the E string, your middle finger on the 13th fret of the B string and your ring finger on the 12th fret of the G string.

    • 3

      Holding your wrist firm, slowly move the pick across the G string, followed by the B string and lastly the E string. Once you have plucked all three strings, move the pick in the opposite direction, picking the notes in reverse.

    • 4

      Continue this motion up and down the strings, striving for evenness and continuity between all notes.

    • 5

      Set your metronome at 60 beats per minute. As you sweep the pick up and down the strings, strike one note each time the metronome clicks.

    • 6

      Increase the speed of the metronome gradually, until you can fluidly play the pattern at 120 beats per minute.

    • 7

      Transfer this basic sweep-picking pattern to any major or minor chord.

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