Today I would like to talk a bit about sweeping and tapping. Everybody does it every body loves it! What I would like to show you is a way to spice it up, By taking the idea and expanding it. We'll start by sweeping a C Major arpeggio starting at the 5th string, fifteenth fret. See example 1.

Example 1:

----------------------12-15--------------------------
-------------------13--------------------------------
----------------12-----------------------------------
-------------14--------------------------------------
----------15-----------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------

Next we will start the descending arpeggio by tapping a high octave C on the 1st string 20th fret. Now this is were we start the fun!! Pull off to the 1st string 15th fret and again to the 1st string 12th fret. Now place the middle finger of your right hand across your left hand and place the middle finger of your right hand on the 1st string 8th fret and continue to pull off from the left hand 12th fret to the right hand 1st string 8th fret. And again place the left hand ring finger on the first string 3rd fret to complete the descending arpeggio. See example 2.

Example 2:

 T P   P   P    P

---20---15---12---8---3---0----------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------1-------------------------------------
--------------------------------------0----------------------------------
-----------------------------------------2-------------------------------
--------------------------------------------3----------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well there you have it! It's a great lick that with time and practice really sounds cool at high tempos! Don't be afraid to transpose this technique down into other keys specially if you have a 24 fret or more guitar!!

If you have any questions please e-mail me at - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Mark D. Rose has been playing guitar for over 20 years played hundreds of performances from small club's to large arenas and currently offers lessons on the internet. His debut CD "Light Dinner Music for Raptors" Is due to hit the rack's by the end of the year.

CD review coming soon to GuitarTools.co.uk!