Sweep Picking for Ridiculous Speed ‘glide over the strings and get more, notes per stroke.

For many years I devoted myself to perfecting my sweep picking -a technique that can be used in place of (or along with) alternate picking to develop considerable speed. Many players use sweep picking licks without realizing how far this approach can be taken.

The most common flatpicking method uses strict alternate strokes (down, up, down, up); however, some players opt for a less articulated effect, where the picked note is followed by hammer-ons or pull-offs. In sweep picking, the same pick stroke is used to play from two to six notes. Depending on the phrase, some alternate picking may also be required. The economy of sweep picking lets you play a lot of notes with minimal pick movement, making it easier to play at high speeds.