Alternate and Sweep Lesson

Alternate and Sweep Picking Etude

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  • Hi GMC! This etude is solely based around 8th note triplets and is good practice for combining your alternate and sweep picking techniques. Other techniques include string skipping and reverse scalar sequences.

    Tuning for the lesson is standard tuned a 1/2 step down. Low to high Eb, Ab, Gb, Bb, Eb

    We'll be looking at parallel major and minor keys to. The lesson is based around Eb natural minor, Eb Harmonic minor and Eb major.

    Eb natural minor shapes in this lesson:
    Natural minor- R 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7
    Eb F Gb Ab Bb B Db

    * Root Note

    eb|----------------------5-7-8-|--------------------------7-8-10-|
    Bb|---------------*5-7-8-------|-------------------7-8-10--------|
    Gb|---------4-5-7--------------|------------5-7-*9---------------|
    Db|---4-5-7--------------------|------5-7-9----------------------|
    Ab|*7--------------------------|-7*-9----------------------------|
    Eb|----------------------------|---------------------------------|

    eb|-------------------------------8-10-*12-|-----------------------------------10-*12-14-|
    Bb|-----------------------8-10-12----------|--------------------------10-12-13-----------|
    Gb|---------------7-*9-11------------------|-----------------*9-11-12--------------------|
    Db|--------7-9-10--------------------------|---------9-10-12-----------------------------|
    Ab|*7-9-10---------------------------------|-9-10-12-------------------------------------|
    Eb|----------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|

    eb|--------------------------------------*12-14-15-|
    Bb|-----------------------------12-13-15-----------|
    Gb|--------------------11-12-14--------------------|
    Db|----------10-12-*14-----------------------------|
    Ab|-10-12-14---------------------------------------|
    Eb|------------------------------------------------|

    Eb harmonic minor shape in this lesson:
    Harmonic minor- R 2 b3 4 5 b6 7
    Eb F Gb Ab Bb B D

    * Root Note

    eb|-------------------------------8-11-*12-|
    Bb|-----------------------8-10-12----------|
    Gb|---------------8-*9-11------------------|
    Db|--------7-9-10--------------------------|
    Ab|*7-9-10---------------------------------|
    Eb|----------------------------------------|

    Eb major shape in this lesson:
    Major scale - R 2 3 4 5 6 7
    Eb F G Ab Bb C D

    eb|-------------------------------9-11-*12-|
    Bb|-----------------------9-10-12----------|
    Gb|---------------8-*9-11------------------|
    Db|--------7-9-11--------------------------|
    Ab|*7-9-11---------------------------------|
    Eb|----------------------------------------|

    Arpeggios for this etude include minor, major, diminished and sus2 shapes relative to the above scales!

    For the distortion tone set the gain around 2 o' clock.
    A little reverb and very slight delay won't hurt either:)

    The backing tracks include drums, bass, rhythm guitar and a synth sound backing the main part at 4 different tempo's. Some of the licks played slow use slides while the fast licks don't.
    It's just the way i play, go with what is most comfortable for you.

    Main tempo is 185 B.P.M and the time signature is 2/4.

    Have fun

    Ian
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