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.

The term root refers to the note which gives the chord its name. For example, A is the root of A7, and E is the root of Em.

You have learned three types of chords, built on еach of the seven roots, That's our twenty-one chords. Learn and memorize where the root is located on each chord shape. Most of the time, the root is the lowest note (also known as the „bass note“). You should be able to clearly pluck the root first, and then follow that with full strumming. The coordination should feel comfortable at many different tempos. Remember to vary your tempos and your strums.