Practical Sweep Picking for Guitar by William Donovan is an intermediate to advanced level study of technique that focuses on arpeggios and how to incorporate them into everyday playing. The book and accompanying audio cover classical, jazz, metal and pop styles, which provide the reader with an in-depth look into how, when, where and why sweep picking is appropriate. The reader will also be challenged with etudes that intertwine scales and arpeggios, helping to heighten dexterity, agility and practicality.The book begins by focusing on the modes of the major and minor scales and how to comfortably navigate vertically throughout the neck. This includes 3-, 4- and 5-string arpeggio exercises, eventually leading into tapping. Through undergoing a rigorous hike from slow to fast tempos, the reader will gain the dexterity needed to move quickly through the arpeggios.To contextualize the lessons in this book, a discussion on the who's who of sweep picking is presented, covering various approaches to harmony and phrasing, and how to appropriately utilize these patterns and phrases.Lastly, the etudes confined within the book will give the reader a solid foundation, paving the way to playing arpeggios over chord progressions in jazz, rock, metal, pop and classical. By studying and mastering these etudes, the reader will develop new vocabulary and phrasing, which can be tastefully applied to everyday playing.

CHAPTER 1: CAGED Scales and Arpeggios Glossary

How to Sweep Pick               

CHAPTER 2: 3 String Arpeggios  

“D Shape” D Major Arpeggio   

“A Shape” D Major 7 Arpeggio 

“E Shape” G Major Arpeggio   

CHAPTER 3: 5 String Arpeggios  

“C Shape” D Major Arpeggio    

“C Shape” D Major Arpeggio with Tap  

“A Shape” D Major 7 Arpeggio        

“G Shape” A Major Arpeggio   

“E Shape” A Major Arpeggio 

CHAPTER 4: Exercises 

Diminished/minor/major/augmented 

Ascending Diminished Arpeggio Lick      

“C” “A” “G” “E” “D” Exercise       

Major 7 to minor 7 Arpeggios      

CHAPTER 5: Applying Arpeggios to Different Styles        

Df Major 7 or Bf minor 9 Arpeggio           

Df Major 9 or Bf minor 11 Arpeggio         

Bf minor 9 Lick                                      

ii-V-I-vi Progression            

Rock Guitar Lick #1                                

Rock Guitar Lick #2                                                                                                                         

Rock Guitar Lick #3 

Metal Guitar Etude     

Slow Metal Guitar Etude 

CHAPTER 6: Etudes         

Pachelbel Etude                             

Pop Etude                                

Classical Etude                                                    

Jazz Etude