Economy Picking

Introduction

Problem.
Most guitar players think the basis of real speed is a good fret hand (generally: left hand) technique. If your left hand is fast, you will be able to play fast. So, many players train mainly their left hand, and the right hand is kind of left behind. Players who then discover that they need to improve their pick hand (generally: right hand) technique, go to their favorite guitar webpage (U-G.com), only to discover very little information (or lots of information scattered all over the entire webpage) about a better and faster right hand technique.

An example: the lesson “All The Aspects Of Picking,” concludes that a picking technique called “economy picking” is the best and fastest picking style. I found this lesson very informative, because I already knew what economy picking actually is. After reading this lesson, I immediately started practising economy picking, and in a couple of days, I succeded in playing fragments of Yngwie Malmsteen’s Blitzkrieg! A little slower than himself, but still… I noticed, however, that players who don’t know what economy picking is, can’t learn a damn thing from this otherwise very informative lesson!

Solution.
I’ve gathered a lot of information scattered all over various lessons on UG, added some of my own experiences from my last week of intensive “economy training”, and out of all this information I’ve created this lesson, for all you players who want to play real fast but don’t know how! Believe me, a week ago, I was one of you. This is a guide to the best and fastest right hand picking technique: economy picking, the key to real speed!

What Is Economy Picking

As I have already said, economy picking is the best picking technique there is. It’s fast, it looks mighty fine, and it requires very little effort (once you have mastered it of course). But to experience the comfort of economy picking, you must first understand the concept of it. To keep a long story short: economy picking is a mixture of firstly, alternate picking, and secondly, sweep picking. Now the explanation of these two techniques:

1. Alternate Picking.
A basic technique. Most of you players will be familiar with it (unless you’re still a beginning player). Alternate picking means: constantly switching between down- and upstrokes with your pick (to make things easier: down-up-down-up-down-up-…) This technique doubles the speed you reach by only down- or upstroking.

2. Sweep Picking.
This is a more advanced technique, used to play notes that are on strings next to each other (like arpeggios, see arpeggio lessons), rather than notes on the same string. You actually “sweep” your pick over the strings, as if you were strumming a chord, but you don’t let the notes ring as if you were playing a chord. You play each note individually (if you still don’t understand the concept of sweep picking, I refer to one of the sweep picking lessons on UG).

Now that you know both techniques, you might ask the question: how is economy picking related to these techniques? To answer this question, I will use a small exercise as an example. Firstly, I will show you how this pattern would be played if you used alternate picking (like most guitar players).

d = downstroke
u = upstroke

 

   d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u
E|-------------------------------0-0-0-|
B|-------------------------0-0-0-------|
G|-------------------0-0-0-------------|
D|-------------0-0-0-------------------|
A|-------0-0-0-------------------------|
E|-0-0-0-------------------------------|

You can see clearly, you constantly alternate between down- and upstrokes. Now I will show you the same pattern, played with economy picking:

 

   d u d d u d d u d d u d d u d d u d
E|-------------------------------0-0-0-|
B|-------------------------0-0-0-------|
G|-------------------0-0-0-------------|
D|-------------0-0-0-------------------|
A|-------0-0-0-------------------------|
E|-0-0-0-------------------------------|

Like alternate picking, economy picking consists of alternating down- and upstrokes, except when changing strings. You use the “sweeping” motion for this: if you move a string down (e.g. from the 6th to the 5th string), you use downstrokes (for the sweeping motion, use your wrist movement)þ If moving up, you use all upstrokes, like this:

 

   u d u u d u u d u u d u u d u u d u
E|-0-0-0-------------------------------|
B|-------0-0-0-------------------------|
G|-------------0-0-0-------------------|
D|-------------------0-0-0-------------|
A|-------------------------0-0-0-------|
E|-------------------------------0-0-0-|

Practise these patters as much as you can, and try to play the notes as even as possible. Many players who start practising economy picking complain that the notes sound uneven or that it doesn’t go faster than alternate picking. Believe me, it does. You just have to master it properly to play even and fast (don’t go and try to master it in one week like me! I don’t want to brag but I usually get the hang of things very quickly, so take your time. Try to do it properly instead of trying to do it quickly).

Exercises

Now that you know what economy picking is, you can grab your guitar and start exercising. I don’t like to do exercises myself, but I do them anyway. And that’s what you should do, if you want to master economy picking and play real fast real easy! I will give a couple of exercises as examples, but you can of course invent your own exercises if you want! Or play existing songs as an exercise (like I usually do).

Exercise Set #1

 

   d u d d u d d u d d u d d u d d u d
E|-------------------------------0-0-0-|
B|-------------------------0-0-0-------|
G|-------------------0-0-0-------------|
D|-------------0-0-0-------------------|
A|-------0-0-0-------------------------|
E|-0-0-0-------------------------------|

   u d u u d u u d u u d u u d u u d u
E|-0-0-0-------------------------------|
B|-------0-0-0-------------------------|
G|-------------0-0-0-------------------|
D|-------------------0-0-0-------------|
A|-------------------------0-0-0-------|
E|-------------------------------0-0-0-|

These are the patterns I used above. I repeat them because they are so important: before playing anything fast, use these exercises (and the exercises below) as a warmup! You should use Exercise Set 1 to train speed, and to play every note evenly and smoothly.Exercise Set #2

 

   d u d d u d d u d d u d d u d d u d
E|-------------------------------5-6-5-|
B|-------------------------5-6-5-------|
G|-------------------5-6-5-------------|
D|-------------5-6-5-------------------|
A|-------5-6-5-------------------------|
E|-5-6-5-------------------------------|

   u d u u d u u d u u d u u d u u d u
E|-5-6-5-------------------------------|
B|-------5-6-5-------------------------|
G|-------------5-6-5-------------------|
D|-------------------5-6-5-------------|
A|-------------------------5-6-5-------|
E|-------------------------------5-6-5-|

   d u d d u d d u d d u d d u d d u d
E|-------------------------------5-7-5-|
B|-------------------------5-7-5-------|
G|-------------------5-7-5-------------|
D|-------------5-7-5-------------------|
A|-------5-7-5-------------------------|
E|-5-7-5-------------------------------|

   u d u u d u u d u u d u u d u u d u
E|-5-7-5-------------------------------|
B|-------5-7-5-------------------------|
G|-------------5-7-5-------------------|
D|-------------------5-7-5-------------|
A|-------------------------5-7-5-------|
E|-------------------------------5-7-5-|

   d u d d u d d u d d u d d u d d u d
E|-------------------------------5-8-5-|
B|-------------------------5-8-5-------|
G|-------------------5-8-5-------------|
D|-------------5-8-5-------------------|
A|-------5-8-5-------------------------|
E|-5-8-5-------------------------------|

   u d u u d u u d u u d u u d u u d u
E|-5-8-5-------------------------------|
B|-------5-8-5-------------------------|
G|-------------5-8-5-------------------|
D|-------------------5-8-5-------------|
A|-------------------------5-8-5-------|
E|-------------------------------5-8-5-|

These exercises are based on the first exercise set, but I added left hand fingerings too. The exercises in Set 2 are therefore used to train the synchronous movement of fret and pick hand. This is very important if you want to play fast! Do these exercises every day!Note: you might have noticed that in every exercise, there are 3 notes per string. This is because economy picking is easier when playing an odd number of notes per string. When you have to play an even number of notes, use 1 (or 3, or 5, …) hammer-ons or pull-offs, so that you have to do an odd number of picks. Example:

H = hammer-on
P = pull-off

 

   d u d H d u d H d u d H d u d H d u d H d u d H
E|-----------------------------------------5-6-5-6-|
B|---------------------------------5-6-5-6---------|
G|-------------------------5-6-5-6-----------------|
D|-----------------5-6-5-6-------------------------|
A|---------5-6-5-6---------------------------------|
E|-5-6-5-6-----------------------------------------|

   d u d P d u d P d u d P d u d P d u d P d u d P
E|-----------------------------------------6-5-6-5-|
B|---------------------------------6-5-6-5---------|
G|-------------------------6-5-6-5-----------------|
D|-----------------6-5-6-5-------------------------|
A|---------6-5-6-5---------------------------------|
E|-6-5-6-5-----------------------------------------|

So, in these two exercises, there are 4 notes per string, but you do only 3 picks per string, and 1 hammer-on/pull-off.

Speed

Economy picking is the key factor of speed. But still, there are guitar players using economy who still aren’t able to play fast. Why is that? Is it because of a slow left hand? Or is there still a problem with their picking technique? As I’ve already said, the left hand is usually more than fast enought. You can try this yourself: give your right arm a rest, and use only your left hand. Try to play a fast guitar riff (for example, a major scale, see scales lessons) with only your left hand. You don’t have to hear the notes: just try to get the left hand fingerings right. It goes much faster than you would be able to play with both hands, doesn’t it? This means, there’s still a problem with the right hand picking technique. I Will explain these issues in the following sections.

What Part Of The Pick Is Used To Pick With

The pick is approximately 3 cm long and 2, 5 cm wide. You use the sharp pointed side to pick the strings with. I guess many people are rolling on the floor laughing their asses off while reading this. I know, it’s the basic of all basics, but there’s more. You know that you have to pick with the sharp edge of the pick, but do you know what part of the pick actually touches the string, in order to achieve maximum speed? The trick is to touch the strings with the tip of the pick. I mean, the very tip of the pick. Only the slightest touch of the string with the pick is enough to produce a clear sound. Most players really “pluck” the strings with their picks, mostly because their right arm muscles are overstrained. If you relax, you will find this subtle string touching much easier!

Knowing this, and combining it with economy picking, allows you to play real fast! Economy is based on smooth right hand movement, but if you “pluck” your strings instead of just slightly touching them, this smooth movement is impossible. So, relax, touch your strings slightly instead of plucking them, and you will play fast in no time!

Pick Angle

When alternate picking, the pick stands straight up (seen from the surface of the guitar body). But when “sweeping” up or down, your pick should be held at a certain angle, so that you don’t “pluck” the strings as I have described in the previous section. When moving down, the sharp edge of the pick should point slightly up. When moving up, the sharp edge of the pick should point slightly down. To hold your pick at an angle, use your wrist movement.

Why is this? Well, if you hold your pick at the described angle while moving over the strings, you “stroke” them instead of plucking them, resulting in a much smoother movement. And like I’ve already said: economy picking is based on a smooth right hand movement.

Note: when moving up, the sharp edge of your pick should point down. This may feel uncomfortable for your wrists at first, but after some exercising it shouldn’t be a problem.

A Speed Riff

As a conclusion, I’m going to let you play the riff that I’ve played for so many times now, the riff that I have used to learn economy picking. It’s a fragment out of Malmsteen’s Blitzkrieg.

 

E|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|
B|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|
G|----------------------3-2---------|----------------------5-4---------|
D|----2-5-3-2---------2-----5-3-2---|----3-7-5-3---------4-----7-5-4---|
A|--3---------5-3-2-4-------------4-|--5---------7-5-4-6-------------6-|
E|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|

|----------------------------------|---------------------------------------|
|----------------------------------|---------------------------------------|
|----------------------7-6---------|-------------------------9-8-----------|
|----6-9-7-6---------6-----9-7-6---|----7-11-9-7-----------8-----11-9-8----|
|--7---------9-7-6-8-------------8-|--9----------11-9-8-10--------------10-|
|----------------------------------|---------------------------------------|

|--------------------------------------------------|
|--------------------------------------------------|
|--------------------------------11-10-------------|
|-----10-13-11-10-------------10-------13-11-10----|
|--11-------------13-11-10-12-------------------12-|
|--------------------------------------------------|

|--------------------------------------------------|------------|
|--------------------------------------------------|------------|
|--------------------------------13-12-------------|------------|
|-----11-15-13-11-------------12-------15-13-12----|------------|
|--13-------------15-13-12-14-------------------14-|-15~--------|
|--------------------------------------------------|------------|

Note: I’m not adding right hand fingerings, you should be able to find out for yourself by now!

Conclusion

I would like to thank the players who have made the lessons before me; they have taught me a lot and they made this lesson possible. To all players who have learned from this lesson: I hope my lesson was of some use to you all, and I hope many people will learn from it and maybe write their own lessons about it someday!

Guide To Sweep Picking

Hi, welcome to my second lesson, this time on the extremely popular (and feared) technique known as sweep picking (or simply known as sweeping). I’m going to try to keep this simple and leave as much terminology out as possible (I think that it is better if you practice sweep picking with distortion turned on, that way you can hear where you are screwing up).

Defining Sweep Picking

What is sweep picking? First off, sweep picking is a technique which involves the use of the same picking direction to play three or more notes on adjacent strings. Sweep picking allows you to play a large amount of notes at blazingly fast speeds. Players such as Yngwie Malmsteen (Arpeggios From Hell) and JerryC (Canon Rock, Sweeping From Heaven) use this technique all the time to shred through arpeggios. While commonly used for playing arpeggios, once you get it down, sweep picking is actually a very economical technique. Sweep picking is one of those techniques that once you get it down it is relatively easy to do, but getting it down is the hardest part because there are a few tough hurdles you have to jump. For instance, you may have your right(picking) hand’s technique perfect, but your left hand is still holding the chords down, or you may have the hand rolling (left hand tech.) down perfectly, but you are picking each individual note, which is a big no no. But either way, sweep picking takes a lot of practice and can become very frustrating to learn at times, but once you know it you’ll be glad you did.

Proper Picking Hand Technique

Okay, first things first. You need to get the picking hand used to gliding over the strings. Think of it as a “controlled strum” or a “really slow chord,” just say “controlled strum”. Either way, I found a video on the net that will briefly show you the proper right hand technique. It is a pretty small file, only 43 kb or something. It is uploaded to a server in Germany, but do not worry it is a fast and safe server. Click here for the 3 second explanation. Okay, you’ve watched the video now. Really what you should try is placing your left hand over the 12th fret (to mute it) and then use the technique shown in the video to try and get six consecutive “clicks”. Like the exercise below.

 

   U U U D D D U U U D D D U U U D D D
e|-----x-x---------x-x---------x-x-----|
b|---x-----x-----x-----x-----x-----x---|
g|-x---------x-x---------x-x---------x-|
d|-------------------------------------|
a|-------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------|

Note that not only does this exercise get your picking hand at a proper rythm, but it also teaches up and down strokes, which are pretty self explanatory anyway. When playing this exercise, try to increase your picking speed while still keeping it in time. Make sure you aren’t “picking” each string, but gliding, or sweeping over them. Once you have gotten this exercise down and are confident that your right hand has adapted to “sweeping” over the strings and not picking them then you can move onto the left hand rolling technique.

Left Hand Rolling

Rolling? What the hell are you talking about? Remember earlier when I mentioned that you don’t want all of your notes to run together? Left hand rolling(which will be referred to as rolling from now on) is a technique which makes a sweep a sweep instead of a chord. When a note is struck, you lift the finger that was holding that note. It should look something like this file: Left Hand Rolling. So with these two techniques combined you get the sound and look of a sweep. Now that you know these two core techniques, we can start some basic arpeggios/triads.

String Arpeggios

I find that to start the Dm shape is the easiest to start with, so first try this simple upstroke. U=upstroke, D=downstroke:

 

    U  U  U
e|--------12--|
b|-----13-----|
g|--14--------|
d|------------|
a|------------|
E|------------|

Pretty simple, eh? Well try slowly increasing your speed; start off playing it slow and then increase your speed. Yet again, watch out for a few things. 1)Make sure you’re not picking the notes individually; 2) Make sure that you’re rolling your left hand; 3) Another hurdle: make sure that your left and right hands are synchronized. This will take some practice, but after you do the exercise again and again it will come to you naturally. There’s really no other way to fix this problem except through practice. Anyway, play that exercise until you can play it clean, then concentrate on playing it fast. Once you have speed and accuracy down we can move onto the downstroke.

 

     D  D  D
e|--12--------|
b|-----13-----|
g|--------14--|
d|------------|
a|------------|
E|------------|

Do the same error checks that you did for the upstroke and yet again, work on playing it clean first, then work on speed, once you have achieved speed and accuracy we can combine the up and down strokes to create a decent sounding arpeggio lick.

 

     U  U  U  D  D  D    U  U  U  D  D  D
e|--------12--12--------------12--12--------|
b|-----13--------13--------13--------13-----|
g|--14--------------14--14--------------14--|
d|------------------------------------------|
a|------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------|

While it’s not too hard, it is a somewhat challenging lick at first. Yet again, run through the same error checks as before (I just realized that I am talking like a programmer, error checks). Ugh, anyway, work on your accuracy and then build up your speed to where there is barely a second in between notes. Once you can do that, building up speed on the larger arpeggios won’t be even half as hard. Anyway, once you have mastered the basic 3 string sweep, why don’t we add in some hammer ons and pulloffs?

 

e|-----------12H15P12----------------12H15P12--------|
b|--------13----------13----------13----------13-----|
g|--12H14----------------14P12H14----------------14~~|
d|---------------------------------------------------|
a|---------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------|

Nothing too fancy, but it sounds cool and it adds some variety to what you’re playing, plus it puts your dexterity and accuracy to the test. Once you have mastered this little trick, you should be able to mix things up a little with not problem. Like below:

 

     U  U  U   D  D  D  U  U  U   D  D  D   U
e|--------12--14--------------12--14------------|
b|-----13--------13--------13--------13---------|
g|--14--------------12--14--------------12--14~~|
d|----------------------------------------------|
a|----------------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------|

This lick’ll really test your dexterity and your accuracy. Yet again, try and play this as clean as you can, and then try and play this lick as fast as you can. Once you can, try this next lick out.

 

Suggested fingering:
     3  2  1  3  2  1  3  2  1  3  2  1  3  2  1  etc...
e|--------12H14-------------12H14-------------13H15-------------14H16----
b|-----13-------13-------13-------13-------14-------14-------15-------15-
g|--14-------------12H14-------------12H15-------------13H16-------------
d|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
a|-----------------------------------------------------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------

e|----------15H17-------------16H18-------------17H19-------------16H18-
b|-------16-------16-------17-------17-------18-------18-------17-------
g|-14H17-------------15H18-------------16H19-------------17H18----------
d|----------------------------------------------------------------------
a|----------------------------------------------------------------------
E|----------------------------------------------------------------------

e|-------------15H17-------------14H16-------------13H15-------------12H
b|-17-------16-------16-------15-------15-------14-------14-------13----
g|----16H17-------------15H16-------------14H15-------------13H14-------
d|----------------------------------------------------------------------
a|----------------------------------------------------------------------
E|----------------------------------------------------------------------

e|14---------|
b|---13------|
g|------12~~~|
a|-----------|
E|-----------|

Lengthy, I know, but trust me once you can play it accurately quickly it sounds really really cool and it’ll impress more people than you thought. From here on in, doing 4, 5 and 6 string sweeps will be no trouble at all.

String Sweeps

 

     1  4  3  2  1  3  1  2  3  4  1
e|--------------12H15P12--------------|
b|-----------13----------13-----------|
g|--------14----------------14--------|
d|--12H15----------------------15P12--|
a|------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------|

The only real challenge here is using the pinky finger, while it’s a no brainer for most people, some people get stuck in the habit of never using their pinky, so you need to get out of that habit if you wish to be a decent guitarist! Okay, anyway. So that’s 4 string sweeps, not too difficult, though they’re not too common either.

String Sweeps

Perhaps the most common sweep, along with the 6 string sweeps of course, 5 string sweeps are relatively easy and are almost dare I say it fun to do. Here is an example of a 5 string sweep:

 

     1  3  3  1  2  1  3  1  2  1  2  3  1
e|-----------------12H15P12-----------------|
b|--------------13----------13--------------|
g|-----------12----------------12-----------|
d|--------14----------------------14--------|
a|--12H15----------------------------15P12--|
E|------------------------------------------|

A C Major Arpeggio, one of my personal favorites, next to the Am triad. Pretty simple huh? Well try and do this next one.

 

     1  3  2  2  2  1  3  1  2  2  2  3  1
e|-----------------12H17P12-----------------|
b|--------------14----------14--------------|
g|-----------14----------------14-----------|
d|--------14----------------------14--------|
a|--12H16----------------------------16P12--|
E|------------------------------------------|

Tricky, tricky huh? Can’t play that without those three notes running together can you? Well there is one more technique that you must now, it is a different type of rolling. It is called “finger rolling” which is different from hand rolling. In finger rolling, you literally ROLL your finger accross the strings.

Finger Rolling

I guess the best way to explain it is:

1) you push the tip of your finger down on the 4th string, strike the note.
2) release the tip of the finger and push the middle part of your finger(adjacent to the middle of the fingernail), strike the note.
3) release the middle of the finger and push the end part of you finger, the first joint from the nail, down.
4) Release the finger and continue the sweep.
5) To go back simply reverse the process; it will take some practice. Actually it will take a lot of practice, and it is a pain in the ass to learn and be able to pull it off clean, but it is much more efficient and looks better.

String Sweeps

Here is an example of a 6 string sweep tap, though to be honest it is very similar to 5 string sweeps, if not identical. But either way, here is an example.

 

     1  2  3  2  1  1  3  1  1  2  3  2  1
e|-----------------12H16P12-----------------|
b|--------------12----------12--------------|
g|-----------13----------------13-----------|
d|--------14----------------------14--------|
a|-----14----------------------------14-----|
E|--12----------------------------------12--|

See how similar it is to the 5 string sweep? Now one last thing: Sweep Tapping.

Sweep Tapping

Sweep tapping is nothing special really, it sounds and looks cool, but it’s not all that hard to do. Here is an example of a sweep tap.

 

                          T
e|-----------------12H17-19P17P12-----------------|
b|--------------14----------------14--------------|
g|-----------14----------------------14-----------|
d|--------14----------------------------14--------|
a|--12H16----------------------------------16P12--|
E|------------------------------------------------|

See, not too difficult! By now you should be able to sweep fairly well, so I leave you with this final lick.

 

e|--------------------------------------------------------------------12H15
b|--------------------------------------------------12H15-------12H15------
g|--------------------------------12H14-------12H14-------12H14------------
d|--------------12H14-------12H14-------12H14------------------------------
a|--------12H14-------12H14------------------------------------------------
E|--12H15------------------------------------------------------------------

e|P12-------------------12H14-------------13H15-------------14H16---------
b|----15P12----------13-------13-------14-------14-------15-------15------
g|----------14P12H14-------------12H15-------------13H16-------------14H17
d|------------------------------------------------------------------------
a|------------------------------------------------------------------------
E|------------------------------------------------------------------------

e|-----15H17-------------14H16-------------13H15-------------12H14---------
b|--16-------16-------15-------15-------14-------14-------13-------13------
g|--------------15H16-------------14H15-------------13H14-------------12H14
d|-------------------------------------------------------------------------
a|-------------------------------------------------------------------------
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                T        T          T
e|-----12H14-------------12H14-16P12H14-17P12H15---17P12H15P12-------------
b|--13-------13-------13---------------------------------------13----------
g|--------------12H14---------------------------------------------12-------
d|-------------------------------------------------------------------14----
a|----------------------------------------------------------------------15P
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------

e|-----------------12H15P12-----------------|-----------------12H16P12----
b|--------------13----------13--------------|--------------12----------12-
g|0----------12----------------12-----------|-----------13----------------
d|0-------14----------------------14--------|--------14-------------------
a|--12H15----------------------------15P12--|-----14----------------------
E|------------------------------------------|--12-------------------------

e|--------------|-----------------12H17P12------------------|
b|--------------|--------------14----------14---------------|
g|-13-----------|-----------14----------------14-----------0|
d|----14--------|--------14----------------------14--------0|
a|-------14-----|--12H16----------------------------16P12---|
E|----------12--|-------------------------------------------|

Congratulations, now you can(or should be able to) sweep pick. So this concludes my second lesson, I hope that it was useful to you and you enjoyed doing it as much as I enjoyed writing it!

Sweep Picking II

Well, when you watch someone sweep, it will almost look like they are strumming, but their fret hand looks like they are picking complex patterns. From the looks of it, it may seem very complex, but the concept is actually quite simple. Now, don’t jump ahead and say “Oh, yeah! This might be easy!” On the contrary, sweeping is a very advanced guitar technique that can take tons of practice. The concept is easy, but the technique can take a while to get used to. Now, if you don’t have patience with it, you will probably never learn it. So, that being said, let’s get started!

Well actually, you first need to know that sweeping is most commonly associated with arpeggios. Almost all sweeping is done with arpeggios, though some advanced sweeping techniques use lots of legato runs while still in a sweep, it can get pretty complex. All right, I guess we can start now.

Firstly, this may seem like a bunch of gibberish at a glance, but I’m going to show you where to place your finger and on which frets relative to a eof an arpeggio/excersise. So bear with me. Now, Figure 1 is a simplified Am arpeggio.
When sweeping arpeggios, fingering is very important. At this point, you may want to use a different fingering, but when we move on to the full sized arpeggio, it will make more sense.

 

Figure 1:
 e|-------12-17p12-----------
 B|----13----------13--------
 G|-14----------------14-----
 D|--------------------------
 A|--------------------------
 E|--------------------------

So, looking at Figure 1, you will first place your ring finger on string 3, fret 14. This is where the sweep will start. In order to sweep, you need to have a good strumming form (so if you don’t, practice moving your wrist, when strumming, in a fluid motion, so that the motion doesn’t come from the upper arm or elbow. You’ll know it when you get it down). Ok, so begin the strumming motion there, and as soon as you strike the string, position your middle finger on the 2nd string, 13th fret, but at the same time take off your ring finger so the other string doesn’t ring out (the arpeggio will not sound very good if it rings out). Now apply that same “technique” as you move to the 1st string, 12th fret with your index finger. That’s the downstroke. Now for the upstroke.Here, you will start with your pinky on the 17th fret. Strike the strings upwards and pull it off of 17 to 12. Important! Do not start the upstroke here. It is a simple pull-off only. When you move to the 2nd string, 13th fret, using the same method you did for the downstroke (muting, etc.) you will start the sweep here. Continue to the 3rd string, 14th fret. There’s one full sweep! Don’t be discouraged if you can’t get it yet. It can take a while to build up the technique to play them fast enough.

To maintain a fluid sound, it is imperative that you do not repeat the 1st note of the arpeggio (here, it is on the 14th fret, 3rd string). Figure 2 shows you how it should be continuated.

Figure 2. Notice that the first note is note repeated. A ^ denotes the skipped string.

 

 e|-------12-17p12----------12-17p12----------12-17p12----------12~-
 B|----13----------13----13----------13----13----------13----13-----
 G|-14----------------14----------------14----------------14--------
 D|----------------- ^ ------------ ^ ------------ ^ ---------------

Here’s where things get more complex and where fingering is very important – Full (or mostly full) arpeggio shapes. Figure 3 is the full Am arpeggio.

 

Figure 3:
 e|----------------12-17p12---------------------------12-------------------
 B|-------------13---------13----------------------13----------------------
 G|----------14---------------14----------------14-------------------------
 D|-------14---------------------14----------14----------------------------
 A|-12h15---------------------------15-12h15-------------------------------
 E|------------------------------------------------------------------------

The fingering here will be the same for the last 3 strings, but what about the other 2? Well, to start it off, take you index finger and put it on the 12th fret, 5th string. When you begin the sweep, hammer on to the 15th fret from the 12th with you pinky. I know, your pinky. If you are not used to using and stretching your pinky, I would suggest using it more often ’cause it is used a lot in shred. Now, here’s a hard part. Take you ring finger as you get to the 4th string and barre both the 4th and 3rd string on the 14th fret. Now to pull off the same fluid muted sound, you must execute a finger roll.Start with the tip of the finger when striking the 4th string and “roll” it down to the 3rd string, effectively muting the 4th string. Then proceed as usual and then back up the arpeggio. You must be preparred when you get to the 3rd string. You must start off with your finger “already rolled” and roll is up to the tip. And just strike the 15th fret 5th string to complete it.

When you start it over, make sure you start with the hammer on and not from the fifteenth fret. Sometimes you may accidentally pull off from 15 to 12 on the way back up. This is fine, but may be a little harder as your instinct will tell you to hammer back on to 15 when going back down. Instead just start on fifteen. Either way, take time to make it sound good and practice on clean!

Here are a couple of songs that have fun sweeping parts in it. Enjoy! And be patient!

 

"Liar" by Yngwie Malmsteen:
 e|-7p4-------4-10p7--------7-12p8-------8/17p12----------12/----|
 B|-----6---6--------9----9-------10---10--------13----13--------| X2
 G|-------7------------10------------9--------------14-----------|
 D|--------------------------------------------------------------|
 A|--------------------------------------------------------------|
 E|--------------------------------------------------------------|

 e|-12p9---------9-13p10-------10/7-10p7------7-12p8------
 B|-----10----10--------10---10---------8---8-------8---8-
 G|--------12--------------10-------------7-----------9---
 D|-------------------------------------------------------
 A|-------------------------------------------------------
 E|-------------------------------------------------------

 e|---8-10p6------6-8p5------5
 B|---------6---6------5---5--
 G|-----------7----------5----
 D|---------------------------
 A|---------------------------
 E|---------------------------

 e|-4h7p4-----4h5~~~---------------
 B|-------5------------------------
 G|---------7----------------------
 D|--------------------------------
 A|--------------------------------
 E|--------------------------------

Altitudes by Jason Becker:
 e|-12p9--------9-12p9--------9-14p9---------9-12p9-
 B|-----10---10-------10---10--------10---10--------
 G|--------9-------------9--------------9-----------
 D|-------------------------------------------------
 A|-------------------------------------------------
 E|-------------------------------------------------

 e|--------9-14p10---------10----
 B|10---10--------12----12-------
 G|---9--------------11----------
 D|------------------------------
 A|------------------------------
 E|------------------------------

 e|-14p10---------14p10---------10-14p10---------10-19p14-
 B|------12----12------12----12---------12----12----------
 G|---------11------------11---------------11-------------
 D|-------------------------------------------------------
 A|-------------------------------------------------------
 E|-------------------------------------------------------

 e|---------------------14--
 B|15----------------15-----
 G|--16------------16-------
 D|----16--------16---------
 A|------17-14h17-----------
 E|-------------------------

 e|-19p14---------------------14-17p14-------14-17p14-
 B|------15-----------------15--------15---15---------
 G|--------16-------------16------------14------------
 D|----------16---------16----------------------------
 A|------------17-14h17-------------------------------
 E|---------------------------------------------------

 e|--------14-19p14--------14---
 B|15---15---------15---15------
 G|--14--------------14---------
 D|-----------------------------
 A|-----------------------------
 E|-----------------------------

 e|-17p14---------14-18p14--------14-18p14----------
 B|------15----15---------14----14--------14----14--
 G|---------14---------------15--------------15-----
 D|-------------------------------------------------
 A|-------------------------------------------------
 E|-------------------------------------------------

 e|14-21p14---------14-18p14------
 B|--------14----14---------14----
 G|-----------15---------------15-
 D|-------------------------------
 A|-------------------------------
 E|-------------------------------

 e|---14-19p14---------------------14------
 B|-14--------15-----------------15--------
 G|-------------16------------16-----------
 D|---------------16--------16-------------
 A|----------------17-14h17----------------
 E|----------------------------------------

Now that’s just part of the songs of course. I hope you enjoyed my lesson and found it helpful. If you are still not getting it, PM me or ask me a question and I’ll try to help you out. Hopefully everyone will find this a bigger help.

Lateral Dexterity

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One of my students asked me if I had any exercises the focus on positions shifts and improving speed going up and down the neck laterally rather than keeping in position and going accross strings, which was something I must admit that I had never looked at in isolation it just always happened naturally for me. So I told him I would have a think about it and see if I could come up with a few exercises. I also looked on here to see if I could find a lesson of a similar ilk, but alas no. So I actually did some work and came up with 2 exercises and a variation on each one and thought I would post them here incase anyone else was looking for the same thing as my student. Please send questions and comments on a postcard!

Exercise 1.
This example is clearly based on the scale of A major but obviously can be moved to different keys to suit your mood. Also, if you want more of a challenge move it closer to the nut for larger stretches. With both this exercise and the variation use the same fingering pattern (1st, 2nd & 4th) troughout Start off at 60bpm playing 8th note/quaver triplets and build it up to a decent pass and just try and increase your speed every day. Picking patterns are indicated in the usual manner.

  n v n n v n sim.
|------------------------------------14-12-10-|
|---------------------------14-12-10----------|
|--------------------11-9-7-------------------|
|-------------11-9-7--------------------------|
|-------9-7-5---------------------------------|
|-9-7-5---------------------------------------|

  v  n  v  v  n  v sim.
|-10-12-14-------------------------------------||
|----------10-12-14----------------------------||
|-------------------7-9-11---------------------||
|--------------------------7-9-11--------------||
|---------------------------------5-7-9--------||
|---------------------------------------5-7-9--||

Now the variation of the exercise to make it slightly more of a challenge. Again start at 60bpm playing 8th/quaver triplets and the picking patterns are shown in the usual manner.

  n v n  n v n n  v  n  v  n  v  v n v  v n v
|-----------------------10-12-14---------------||
|--------------14-12-10------------------------||
|--------------------------------7-9-11--------||
|-------11-9-7---------------------------------||
|---------------------------------------5-7-9--||
|-9-7-5----------------------------------------||

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Exercise 2.
This excerise is a-tonal and spans the whole neck, so there’s no easy get out if you want to move it to a different postion for smaller stretches! It’s a bit longer and more involved than the first exercise too. Start at around 50bpm playing 16th notes/semi-quavers, work it up till you ‘feel the burn’, use the indicated picking patterns and make sure you stick with the same finger for each fret in each position.

  n-------v-------n-------v-------sim.
|-------------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------------------|
|-------4-1-------------8-5---------------12-9----------|
|-----3-----2---------7-----6----------11------10-------|
|---2---------3-----6---------7-----10------------11----|
|-1-------------4-5-------------8-9------------------12-|

|-------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------------|
|----------16-13-------------------20-17----------|
|-------15-------14-------------19-------18-------|
|----14-------------15-------18-------------19----|
|-13-------------------16-17-------------------20-|

|-------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------------|
|----------18-21-------------------14-17----------|
|-------19-------20-------------15-------16-------|
|----20-------------19-------16-------------15----|
|-21-------------------18-17-------------------14-|

|------------------------------------------------------------||
|------------------------------------------------------------||
|----------10-13----------------6-9-------------2-5----------||
|-------11-------12-----------7-----8---------3-----4--------||
|----12-------------11------8---------7-----4---------3------||
|-13-------------------10-9-------------6-5-------------2-1--||

And now the variation for a bit more of a challenge. Again start at around 50pm playing semi-quavers, build up the speed, use the same finger for each fret in each position and use picking patterns as indicated.

|-----------------------------------------12-9----------|
|-----------------------8-5------------11------10-------|
|-------4-1-----------7-----6-------10------------11----|
|-----3-----2-------6---------7---9------------------12-|
|---2---------3---5-------------8-----------------------|
|-1-------------4---------------------------------------|

|-------------------------------------------------|
|----------16-13----------------------------------|
|-------15-------14----------------20-17----------|
|----14-------------15----------19-------18-------|
|-13-------------------16----18-------------19----|
|-------------------------17-------------------20-|

|--------------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------14-17----------|
|----------18-21-----------------15-------16-------|
|-------19--------20----------16-------------15----|
|----20--------------19----17-------------------14-|
|-21--------------------18-------------------------|

|----------10-13---------------------------------------------||
|-------11-------12-------------6-9--------------------------||
|----12-------------11--------7-----8-----------2-5----------||
|-13-------------------10---8---------7-------3-----4--------||
|-------------------------9-------------6---4---------3------||
|-----------------------------------------5-------------2-1--||

String Skipping II

String skilling is a very difficult skill to master. If used correctly, you could yield very interesting and original results in solos, especially codenzas. A codenza solo is a solo with just one instrument and no other accompaniment. The most famous codenza is “Eruption,” Eddie Van Halen’s classic two handed tapping outro has stumped many young-guns for years.

It is nearly impossible to talk about string skipping without talking about Paul Gilbert. Here is Paul Gilbert’s rendition of “Pachelbel’s Conon.” Everything is in 16th notes. It is human nature to syncopate things, so this is a challenge to you all. By the way, I still cannot do this as fast a Mr. Gilbert himself, 120 BPM (beats per minute). I stringly suggest practicing with a metronome. I know it’s boring as hell, but I force myself to it, it really does help. Slur what you dare.

Exercise 1. "Pachelbel's Conon"

 E B
|-16-12----------------12--------------------------|
|----------------------------------12-16-12--------|
|-------16-13----13-16-----------------------------|
|-------------14-------------13-16----------16-13--|
|-------------------------14-----------------------|
|--------------------------------------------------|

 C#m G#m
|-12-9--------------9----------------------|
|-----------------------------9-12-9-------|
|------13-9----9-13------------------------|
|-----------11-----------9-13--------13-9--|
|---------------------11-------------------|
|------------------------------------------|

 A E
|-9-5-----------5------------------|
|-----9-6---6-9---------5-9-5------|
|----------------------------------|
|---------7---------6-9-------9-6--|
|-----------------7----------------|
|----------------------------------|

 A B
|-9-5-----------5--------7-11-7-------|
|-------------------------------------|
|-----9-6---6-9-----8-11--------11-8--|
|---------7-------9-------------------|
|-------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------|

This next exercise will help you if you just can’t get the previous one. I warm up every day with this one, and it’s in my codenza solo during gigs. The first half is a C major arpeggio and the second is C minor. Try incorporating one of these into a solo you write. Get familiar with the sound and tonal texture it adds. This is all in 8th notes, play it at any speed. Once again, slur what you dare.

Exercise 2. Arpeggios

 C major C minor
|----------8-12-8-------||----------8-11-8-------|
|o---------------------o||o---------------------o|
|-----9-12--------12-9--||-----8-12--------12-8--|
|--10-------------------||--10-------------------|
|o---------------------o||o---------------------o|
|-----------------------||-----------------------|

This next string stipping exercise is a diminished run that I use in almost all of my solos. Of course, I’ll need to find something new, now that you guys know about it. In this example, we are in the key of D. It can be moved all over the fretboard because the diminished scale is pretty symetrical in 1 1/2 steps. Slur the notes, and slide down/up for the notes on the high E string. I count this in 2/4 as “tri-pi-let-2-and.” Once again, any speed is fine.

Exercise 3. Diminished Run

|------9-129-----6-96-----3-6/9-----6-9/12------9-12/15-------12-15/18--|
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|-9-12--------6-9-------3-6-------6-9--------9-12---------12-15-----------|
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|

Attemp to use these examples in creative ways, in codenzas or regular solos. Copy then elaborate, make it your own. For example, take Exercise 2’s C major arpeggio. Make the 10 fret, D string and 8th fret E string Cs into Ds by transposing them up 1/2 step. That is now a diminished arpeggio I would use in the keys of either D or F. Totally 8th notes in any speed.

Example 4. Changed Diminished Arpeggio

|----------9-12-9-------|
|o---------------------o|
|-----9-12--------12-9--|
|--11-------------------|
|o---------------------o|
|-----------------------|

I cannot think of any more examples or advice. Have fun with this, and make these your own. String skipping is fun, if you do it creatively. I use diminished scales in almost every one of my solos, so there are a lot of examples in that scale. If I find anymore useful information, I may post a Part 2, but, until then, peace, I’m out.

The Art Of Sweep Picking. Part 1 – Two String Arpeggios

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The important thing that lot of guitar heads forget is that you have to learn technique to make music and not to just make stupid ultra fast arpeggios that musically sound like shit and make no sense at all. Now, if you want to learn to sweep pick you have to understand some things:

1. Be patience
2. Read again rule number one and understand it
3. You have to find the hand positions (Not the fingerings) that feel more
natural to you (if you watch different guitar players you will see that
their hand positions are different).
4. The more you practice, practice, practice the better you get

 

Symbol Guide.
p - pull off
° - natural harmonic
€ - down stroke
¡ - up stroke

When you practice you have to really focus in all the movements you make. By this I mean don’t just look how your fingers move. Your mind has to be really into what you are doing. And this is not easy because once you start playing if you pay attention you will see how easy your mind starts to think in another things that have nothing to do with what you are practicing. You don’t have to practice 3 hours to learn any technique. It takes time. So I think the practicing an exercise for 5 or 10 minutes really concentrated is enough. It depends on every person. Some people learn fast and for others take more time. Just spend at least one hour every day. And you will notice the improvement. You will feel that in your hands.Another thing is to have a pretty decent tone from your amp. And use the
neck pickup, it might help to get a better and cleaner tone but it’s pretty much the same really. Just avoid trash scooped equalized sound here.

Okay with that said I just wanted to remind you that this lesson has the basic two stings arpeggio paterns. Once you learn the technique you will be able to make millions of arpeggio etudes and licks to show your buddies how good you play guitar. Here we go!

The first exercise is oriented to your picking hand, to learn the picking motion. It’s not that hard really. Another things that you have to keep in mind are:

1. Use a heavy pick. So it doesn’t bend when you play and change to another string.
2. Play softly! You don’t have to pick hard. That’s really important.
3. Don’t separate the pick strokes.

You really need to master this one. Looks easy. Hope it is. Don’t play with distortion Fx. Clean channel and if you want a little reverb.

EX.1:
Put your 1 finger on the 7th fret from the 4th string to the 1st. You have to play natural harmonics here so don’t press the strings. Strum slowly and hear if you can make all the harmonics on each strings sound. When you are ready play the exercise tapping with your foot and count 1 & 2 &. Repeat.

 

 e|-----------7°--7°-----------|
 b|---------7°------7°---------|
 g|-------7°----------7°-------|
 D|-----7°--------------7°-----|
 A|----------------------------|
 E|----------------------------|
        € € € €   ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡

Congratulations you are sweep picking! Now, this lesson is about two string sweeping. I made that exercise because it feels more natural for the picking hand.EX.2:

 

 e|-------7°-7°-----7°-7°--------|
 b|-----7°-----7°-7°-----7°------|
 g|------------------------------|
 D|------------------------------|
 A|------------------------------|
 E|------------------------------|
        € €  ¡ ¡  € €  ¡ ¡

It’s basically the same as Ex. 1 But a bit trickier. Practice and try to keep a constant tempo. Then try it backward, starting in the 1st string with an up stroke.EX.3:

 

 e|-------7°-7°--7°-7°--------|
 b|-----7°-----7°-------------|
 g|---------------------------|
 D|---------------------------|
 A|---------------------------|
 E|---------------------------|
        € €  ¡ € €  ¡

This one feels different because of the triplets. Accentuate the first note of each triplet so you don’t loose the feel and how it has to sound. Try it backwards. It’s harder. I know that these 3 exercises can be boring as hell. But if you really learn them you will be able to play really cool stuff. Two string sweeps!Now try these arpeggios. They are basically Major, Minor and diminished chords patterns played in the 1st and 2nd strings you have to look for patterns in other strings too. Now you may use distortion (A nice shred guitar tone). Don’t use reverb.

EX.4:
Use your 4th finger for the D note in the 1st string 10th fret, 1st finger for the B and your 2nd finger for the G note in the 2nd string 8th fret. It’s a G Major Arpeggio with the root in the 2nd string. Now you have to do an up stroke in the first note and then pull-off. And then play a down stroke in the G note 2nd string and keep the motion and down pick the first string. Repeat that pattern. Now you can see why was important to learn exercise 2.

 

 e|-----10-7----7-10-7---7-----|
 b|----------8---------8-------|
 g|----------------------------|
 D|----------------------------|
 A|----------------------------|
 E|----------------------------|
         ¡ p €  €  ¡ p € €

If you hear background noise try doing this. Just before you down pick in the 2nd string try lifting your 1st finger a bit and kill the sound with the rest of your 2nd finger. You press the G note with the tip of your 2nd finger then let it rest softly in the first one like if you where playing a natural harmonic. It’s difficult to explain really. But it’s not that hard to play.If you can’t get it. Do the exercise playing just the 3 first notes of it
and let the note in the 2nd string ring. Up stroke, pull of, down stroke and hold the G note. This is the best way to solve the problem. With all this information you are ready to play all the patterns. Some of them are trickier because you have to use 1 finger to play a sweep like you did in exercise 2.

EX.5:
A minor arpeggio. Use 4th, 1st and 2nd fingers for each note.

 

 e|-----12-8----8-10-8-----8-----|
 b|----------10---------10-------|
 g|------------------------------|
 D|------------------------------|
 A|------------------------------|
 E|------------------------------|
         ¡ p  € €  ¡ p   € €

EX.6:
E major chord. Use 4th, 1st and 2nd fingers for each note.

 

 e|-----12-7---7-12-7---7-----|
 b|----------9--------9-------|
 g|---------------------------|
 D|---------------------------|
 A|---------------------------|
 E|---------------------------|
         ¡ p € € ¡  p € €

EX.7:
Diminished arpeggio. Use 4th finger for the D, 1st finger for the B and 2nd or 3rd for the G# note.

 

 e|-----10-7---7-10-7---7-----|
 b|----------9--------9-------|
 g|---------------------------|
 D|---------------------------|
 A|---------------------------|
 E|---------------------------|
         ¡ p € €  ¡ p € €

Okay now the next one is a bit more difficult.EX.8:

 

 e|--------8-12-----8-12-----|
 b|-----10-------10----------|
 g|--------------------------|
 D|--------------------------|
 A|--------------------------|
 E|--------------------------|
         € €  ¡   € €  ¡

Practice all the arpeggios given using the same picking pattern. If you can’t play it, practice Ex. 3 and when you get the feel try again. If you get to this part and you can play all the examples then congratulations. You have learnt all the basic stuff you need to know to sweep pick in two strings.As I said before you have to come up with your own ideas. You can do Pull Off’s, Hammer on’s between strings sweeps, Slides to change to different arpeggios, tapping, etc. Thanks for reading my lesson, and keep practicing.

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Taking bites

When comes the time to execute a difficult guitar passage, it is usually better to break it down into small, isolated sections instead of trying to pull the part off in one shot. Doing this is like putting a magnifying lens on the whole situation. Analysing all the little details and problems becomes a lot easier as our concentration is focused on all the things that keep us from playing the passage properly.

One of my favorite guitarists of all time is Steve Morse, and I’ve always been into his views on practicing and developing consistent technique. The main riff of “Runaway Train” (video), a fast-paced country tune from his 1992 recording “Coast to Coast” serves as a good example for this. Below is the main riff:

 

E|-----------------------------------------------------3---|
B|-----------------------------------------------------3---|
G|-----------------2---4---2-----------0-------0-------0---|
D|-----0-----0-3-4---4---4---3-2-0-4-5---2/32-------------|
A|-4/5---4/5-------------------------------------2-0-------|
E|---------------------------------------------------3-3---|

E|---------------------------------------------------------|
B|----------------------------------3----------------------|
G|------------------------2---------2----------------------|
D|-3----------------2-4-2---3-2--0--0----------------------|
A|----------3-5-3-4----------------------------------------|
E|---1--3/5------------------------------------------------|

From this, we can create 4 isolated cases:

 

Part 1:
E|----------------------------|
B|----------------------------|
G|----------------------------|
D|------------0---------------|
A|-----4/5---------4/5--------|
E|----------------------------|

The first step is to master the quick slide between the C# and the D, followed by the repeated open D string. This simple but effective lick is used a lot in country music, and a certain swing has to be applied to the phrasing of the notes. Strict alternate picking is involved, starting on a downstroke, with the repeated D played with an upstroke.

 

Part 2:
E|-----------------------------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------------------------|
G|------------------2-------4-------2------------------|
D|----0----3----4-------4-------4-------3----2----0----|
A|-----------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------|

Because slides were involved in the first part, we find ourselves beginning with an upstroke here. This is where the “inside the string” picking phenomena will be encountered. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this term, (Dream Theater’s John Petrucci provides a good explanation of this in his “Rock Discipline” DVD), this is when there is a downstroke followed by an upstroke on a lower string, or an upstroke followed by a downstroke on a higher string. Executing fast, precise melodies in these types of situations is very difficult because the pick seems to be trapped between the strings. Using strict alternate picking starting with an upstroke, work your way through this section slowly. Notice that the challenge is when the notes alternate between the D and G strings. If you want, you can zoom in even further by praticing it alone starting with an upstroke:

 

E|-----------------------------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------------------------|
G|------------------2-------4-------2------------------|
D|--------------4-------4-------4----------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------|

Part 3:
E|------------------------------------3--------|
B|------------------------------------3--------|
G|---------0----------0---------------0--------|
D|-4---5------2/32----------------------------|
A|------------------------2---0----------------|
E|--------------------------------3---3--------|

This part begins with a downstroke, and the challenge is to not only get by the inside the string from G to B, but to skip the D string at the same time.

 

Part 4:
E|---------------------------------------------------------|
B|----------------------------------3----------------------|
G|------------------------2---------2----------------------|
D|-3----------------2-4-2---3-2--0--0----------------------|
A|----------3-5-3-4----------------------------------------|
E|---1--3/5------------------------------------------------|

The last section is in fact the entire second part of the riff. It is pretty straightforward, but make sure that you are still using clean and consistent alternate picking throughout.Another piece by Morse on this album is called “Flat Baroque” (video), and the intro melody has Celtic/Irish flavors, being in E mixolydian. To me, this little intro is an excellent picking workout. Once again, the only way to properly master and memorize it is to break it down into parts. Here is the intro:

 

E|-12-0---------9-0-----0--7-0--------4-0-----0----------------------|
B|------9----0------7----------3---0------7---------------0----------|
G|--------11----------7----------6----------7----------2-----2h4-----|
D|-----------------------------------------------0--4--------2-------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------0---| 

E|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-4--2--------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------4-2----2----------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------5-----4-2--------2--------------------------------------|
E|---------------------5--3-4----0-----------------------------------|

Now, we divide it into 6 sections:

 

Part 1: Part 2: Part 3: Part 4:
E|-12-0---------| E|-9-0-----0--| E|-7-0--------| E|-4-0-----0--|
B|------9----0--| B|-----7------| B|-----3---0--| B|-----7------|
G|--------11----| G|-------7----| G|-------6----| G|-------7----|
D|--------------| D|------------| D|------------| D|------------|
A|--------------| A|------------| A|------------| A|------------|
E|--------------| E|------------| E|------------| E|------------|

The way to isolate bits and pieces of a passage is simple. Start at the beginning and work your way through. Every time there is something difficult, unorthodox, or strange for you from a technical standpoint, label what you have been playing including the difficulty as part 1. Then, continuing from there, proceed with the same method with parts 2, 3, 4, etc. If there is no challenge for you present, then dividing into sections can still be helpful if there is a large amount of notes involved. In “Flat Baroque”, things kickstart into high gear with four back-to-back inside the string picking patterns reminiscent of one-note-per-string arpeggios on the top three strings. The parts alternate between ending on the open B and E strings, so you’ll need to skip a string twice. Plus, because the parts are in sixteenth-notes with each of them ending on an eighth-note, you’ll begin each part with a downstroke when it is time to connect all the sections together.

 

Part 5:
E|--------------------------------------------------------|
B|-----------0--------------------------------------------|
G|--------2-----2h4---------------------------------------|
D|--0--4--------2-----------------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------0--------------------------------------|

Part 5 is pretty simple and straightforward. The only possible difficulty is the double-stop followed by the open low E string because there’s some string-skipping involved.

 

Part 6:
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-4--2--------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------4-2----2----------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------5-----4-2--------2--------------------------------------|
E|---------------------5--3-4----0-----------------------------------|

The entire second part of the intro can be viewed as a descending pattern back down to the low E. The rhythm is syncopated, alternating between two eight-notes and two sixteenth-notes twice in the beginning. Again, strict alternate picking is required, but because the A at the 5th fret on the E string is an eight-note that is followed by two sixteenth-notes, you are repeating a downstroke twice. Once on the A and once on the G. Doing this allows a better flow of the melody and it enables you to play the two quick sixteenth-notes fluidly.The thing that I really like about Steve Morse is that not only is he proficient technically, but he is also always trying to come up with different sounding melodies and new approaches to phrasing. Here is a final example taken out of “Rally Cry” (video) from his 1995 recording “Structural Damage”:

 

E|-----9-----7----------------------------------------------|
B|-------------9-----7--------------------------------------|
G|---------9---------------9-8-6-----4----------------------|
D|---9---7---------9-----6-------------6-4------------------|
A|-7-------------------------------7---------7-6-4----------|
E|---------------7-----9---------5---------7----------------|

Part 1:
E|---------------------9-----------|
B|---------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------|
D|---------------9-----------------|
A|---------7-----------------------|
E|---------------------------------|

When looking at this melody, the first immediate thing that jumps out is the amount of string-skipping involved. Memorizing the location of the notes on the fretboard can be very difficult because the notes are scattered on the strings without any particular pattern. Plus, the picking pattern becomes extremely confusing as we are using strick alternate picking as well. So, the only way to learn how to fret the melody as well as to surmount the technical challenges is to break it down into parts. Here, we begin by skipping two strings at once to go reach for the C# on the high E string.

 

Part 2:
E|-----------------7---------------|
B|---------------------9-----------|
G|-------------9-------------------|
D|---------7-----------------------|
A|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|

After, we master this part beginning with an upstroke (there is an odd number of notes in the first part), and we are skipping the B string also.

 

Part 3:
E|---------------------------------|
B|---------------------7-----------|
G|---------------------------------|
D|---------------9-----------------|
A|---------------------------------|
E|---------7-----------------------|

In part 3 we start on an upstroke again, and there is two consecutive string-skips.

 

Part 4:
E|-------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------|
G|--------------9----8----6------|
D|---------6---------------------|
A|-------------------------------|
E|----9--------------------------|

We commence this part with a downstroke, and once again, there is string-skipping.

 

Part 5:
E|---------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------|
G|-----------4---------------------------|
D|---------------6---4-------------------|
A|-------7-------------------7---6---4---|
E|---5-------------------7---------------|

The final part begins with an upstroke, and of course, there is some string-skipping involved.Notice how Morse makes this whole melody from “Rally Cry” sound a lot more interesting and “open” by transposing certain notes to a higher octave. This is the reason why we end up with so many string-skips in the first place. Also, we skip some strings in an effort to prevent too many position shifts that would make the passage even more difficult to play. In the end, we have this incredibly wide and intervallic sounding melody that grabs your attention and is sure to turn heads.

3 Shape Pattern Of Hammer

The following exercises are designed to be played firstly at a slow speed so you can evenly sound out the notes. Only when you are comfortable with it should you increase the speed. This 3 shape pattern will let you appreciate the power of the ‘rolling hammer-on’ or ‘double hammer-on’. I am writing this presuming that you people already know what a hammer-on is. Please refer to hammer-ons in the main lessons section if you are unsure.

We will start with the first of the 3 shapes, this shape being the 2, 3, 5 (2nd fret, 3rd fret, 5th fret). The 2nd fret is picked. The 3rd fret is a hammer-on, as is the 5th fret. I have included the left hand fingering underneath.

The First Shape

2, 3, 5.

 

Fig.1
|-------------------------------2h3h5--|E
|-------------------------2h3h5--------|B
|-------------------2h3h5--------------|G
|-------------2h3h5--------------------|D
|-------2h3h5--------------------------|A
|-2h3h5--------------------------------|E
 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4

For anyone who doesnt’t understand the meaning of ‘left hand fingering’ — follow the numbers running underneath the tab. 1=1st finger, 2=2nd, etc.Like the other 2 main shapes to come, you can run up and down the fretboard with this basic shape, wherever you want. Try playing just 2 or maybe 3 strings with this shape: eg. Using only the D and G strings, play the first shape of 2, 3, 5 on the D string, then the same shape on the G string straight after, then back to the D string. Play in a loop like this:

 

Fig.2
|------------------------------------------|E
|------------------------------------------|B
|-------2h3h5-------2h3h5-------2h3h5------|G
|-2h3h5-------2h3h5-------2h3h5------------|D
|------------------------------------------|A
|------------------------------------------|E
 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4

Now try adding something new to this ‘rolling’ pattern. Try ascending the 2, 3, 5 shape one fret at a time after you’ve played both the D string and the G string. It can go as high as you like up the strings, like this:

 

Fig.3
|-------------------------------------------|E
|-------------------------------------------|B
|-------2h3h5-------3h4h6-------4h5h7-------|G
|-2h3h5-------3h4h6-------4h5h7-------------|D
|-------------------------------------------|A
|-------------------------------------------|E

Please note that the same ‘shape’ as the 2, 3, 5 is applicable, with the 1st, 2nd and 4th fingers.

The Second Shape

3, 5, 7.This is a very similar pattern as in Fig.1, only this time we’ve spread out the 1st and 2nd fingers that were forming the 2nd fret and the 3rd fret.

 

Fig.4
|-------------------------------3h5h7-------|E
|-------------------------3h5h7-------------|B
|-------------------3h5h7-------------------|G
|-------------3h5h7-------------------------|D
|-------3h5h7-------------------------------|A
|-3h5h7-------------------------------------|E

And same as before, you can play this shape over just 2 or 3 strings, like in Fig.2. You can also take this shape one fret higher each time like in Fig.3.

The Third Shape

5, 7, 8.This shape is just a mirror image of our first shape, the 2, 3, 5.

 

Fig.5
|-------------------------------5h7h8------------|E
|-------------------------5h7h8------------------|B
|-------------------5h7h8------------------------|G
|-------------5h7h8------------------------------|D
|-------5h7h8------------------------------------|A
|-5h7h8------------------------------------------|E
 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3

Note that some players may like to use a different method of fingering for this shape and introduce their 3rd finger onto to 7th fret and the 4th finger onto the 8th fret, and it doesn’t really matter as long as the notes are there. Although the existing fingering is merely a recommendation, keep in mind that everyone will find one of the suggested ways more comfortable than the other. Also, as you take this shape higher one fret at a time like the previous shapes (Fig.3), you’ll find your shape shrinking, that’s why I allow for the fingering pattern of 1, 2, 3. To save space when we start running out the higher we go.Now, all that’s left to do is split up the shapes into their appropriate order. Fig.1/Fig.4/Fig.5 is displayed (ascending) over the D string and G string below:

 

Fig.6
|-------------------------------------------|E
|-------------------------------------------|B
|-------2h3h5-------3h5h7-------5h7h8-------|G
|-2h3h5-------3h5h7-------5h7h8-------------|D
|-------------------------------------------|A
|-------------------------------------------|E
 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 3 1 2 3

The above exercise shows how use of the 3 specific shapes can be seamlessly carrying on from the one before. As you can see, each shape is played twice; once on the D string, and once on the G string. Using your own creative playing styles, try making up your own patterns like this. Now for one last exercise to really open up the possibilities for shredding/left hand speed. We can use one or all of the above shapes as shown in Fig.7. to introduce the inbred half-cousin of the hammer-on, the pull-off. Knowing that Pull-offs are like the exact opposite of a hammer-on, try combining the two techniques of hammer-ons and pull-offs into a loop:

 

Fig.7
|-----------------------------------------------|E
|-----------------------------------------------|B
|--------7h8h10p8p7-------------7h8h10p8p7--etc-|G
|-7h8h10------------10p8p7h8h10-----------------|D
|-----------------------------------------------|A
|-----------------------------------------------|E
 1 2 4 1 2 4 2 1 4 2 1 2 4 1 2 4

The above exercise shows how use of the 3 specific shapes can be seamlessly carried on from the one before. it’s quite good because it allows your right hand freedom. We only have to pick a total of 4 times in Fig.7. But get a total of 18 notes out of it! For a real challenge, try picking every note. Fig.7 is exactly the same shape as in Fig.1 – except it starts on the 7th fret instead of the 2nd. You can follow on in this way, creeping your way higher and higher each time. Try playing the 3 shapes in order like in Fig.6 but this time add the first shape again from your 7th fret, to start the 3 shape cycle all over again, like this:

 

Fig.8
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|E
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|B
|-------2h3h5-------3h5h7-------5h7h8--------7h8h10---------8h10h12--|G
|-2h3h5-------3h5h7-------5h7h8-------7h8h10--------8h10h12----------|D
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|A
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|E
 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4

If you feel like doing something different or you just want to get your pull-offs better, try going backwards. You can turn Fig.8 into a mirror image and play from high all the way back, using pull-offs instead of hammer-ons. Again, for a challenge try picking every note and see how fast you can get it.There’s so much you can do with these 3 simple shapes, the list could go on. I hope this gives you something new and unusual to play with and has helped you to advance your playing style and/or helped you to become a more well-rounded guitarist. As we all know, you can never have too much information regarding various techniques.

The Building Of A Skip.

The Building Of A Skip.
A skip can be designed off of many things. A simple way to write a skip that may not always sound right is to take scales and knock out several lines. This will give you a decent skip. For example, the Ionian scale:

 

E----------------------------5-7-8------|
B-----------------------5-7-8-----------|
G------------------4-5-7----------------|
D-------------4-5-7---------------------| (Then reverse)
A--------3-5-7--------------------------|
E---3-5-7-------------------------------|

could be:
E----------------------------5-7-8------|
B---------------------------------------|
G------------------4-5-7----------------|
D---------------------------------------|(Then reverse)
A--------3-5-7--------------------------|
E---------------------------------------|

As you can see if you played it, this does not sound very nice. Another way is to use different parts of guitar as building blocks. For example, this:

 

E------------------9-12-14--------------------|
B---------------------------------------------|
G-------9-11-14------------14-11-9------------|
D---------------------------------------------|
A--12-----------------------------------12----|
E---------------------------------------------|
is supported by the harmony:
G----9----|
D---------|
A---12----|
E---------|

This double should sound very rich and bell like. There are many other ways to build string skips, but since we have covered all we need for our exercises, we don’t need to go over any more right now. The biggest thing is to experiment. Use what you know and test what you don’t. Music theory knowledge will always help with building any music.The Basics.
The picking that you will use will be alternate picking, almost always. You should also always try to choose the easiest way to fret the skip. A basic skip is:

 

E-----------------------------|
B-----------------------------|
G---------------11-12-16------|
D-----------------------------|
A---10-14-17------------------|
E-----------------------------|
     1  3  4     1  2  4

The numbers underneath are which fingers you use. Once you get quick with this you should try more complicated stuff like the earlier described skip:

 

E------------------9-12-14--------------------|
B---------------------------------------------|
G-------9-11-14------------14-11-9------------|
D---------------------------------------------|
A--12-----------------------------------12----|
E---------------------------------------------|
    3   1  2  4    1  3  4  4  2 1       3

I usually play this by instead of using my 3rd finger for the a string notes I use my fourth, but this is the proper way to play this.That’s it! These are the basics. If you can play all of the above described you can play most skips. Just practice, practice, practice.

In dino guitar tab


C----------Am---------- C-------- Am
in Dino, Dil Mera, Mujhse Hai Keh Raha 

C-G---------C
Tu Khaab Saja,
C-G---------C
Tu Ji Le Jara 

C-----------------G
Hai Tujhe Bhi Izaazat,
Am-----------------C
Karle Tu Bhi Muhabbat 

C------------------Am-----------G-----------C
berang Si Hai Badi Zindagi Kuchh Rang To Bharoon
C-----------------------Am--------------G---------C
Main Apani Tanahaayi Ke Waaste Abbb Kuchh Toh Karoon) 

C------------------G
Jab Mile Thodi Fursat
Am------------------C
Mujhse Karle Muhabbat
C------------------G
Hai Tujhe Bhi Izaazat,
Am------------------C
Karle Tu Bhi Muhabbat