BluesGuitar.com

12-Week Shred Guitar Mastery

Shred Routine: Week 4

Introduction

You’ve made it to Week 4! By now, you’ve built strong alternate picking skills and practiced essential scale sequences. This week, we’ll continue developing your shredding vocabulary with another powerful scale sequence—and we’ll introduce a brand-new technique: sweep picking.

Sweep picking allows you to play arpeggios at high speed with incredible fluidity, and it’s a must for any modern shredder.

Alternate Picking: Scale Sequences

Sequence 3: Diagonal Movement (30 minutes)

This week’s sequence emphasizes diagonal movement across the fretboard, pushing your synchronization and string-crossing technique. It’s a killer way to connect shapes and break out of boxy playing.

Practice this sequence across all 7 scale shapes and be sure to keep the picking tight and clean. Alternate picking every note and maintaining clarity is the goal. 

Sweep Picking

What is Sweep Picking?

Sweep picking is a technique where your picking hand performs a single, smooth motion across multiple strings while your fretting hand plays arpeggio shapes. Instead of alternate picking each note, you ‘sweep’ through the strings in one motion. It’s all about economy of motion and precision.

Let’s start with the most basic arpeggio shapes and build from there.

Beginner Sweep Arpeggios (20 minutes)

Practice the following shapes slowly and cleanly, using just one downstroke or upstroke across each group of strings:

– Exercise 1: E Major Arpeggio

– Exercise 2: E Minor Arpeggio

– Exercise 3: G7 Arpeggio – 2 Variations

– Exercise 4: E° (E Diminished) Arpeggio – 2 Variations

– Exercise 5: E Minor 7th Arpeggio – 2 Variations

– Exercise 6: E Major 7th Arpeggio – 2 Variations

Tonality-Based Sweep Drill (10 minutes)

Now, let’s take it a step further. Practice sweeping through all diatonic arpeggios in the key of C Major (or A minor). This is great for ear training, fretboard knowledge, and real-world application.

Wrap-Up

By combining a new scale sequence with sweep picking, you’re opening the door to more expressive and technical soloing. Don’t rush these arpeggios—precision is more important than speed early on. Once the shapes become natural, the speed will come.

Keep shredding, and I’ll see you in Week 5!

(⚠ To download the videos, click on the video titles on the upper left corner of the player. This will open a new tab with the player. Then click on the download button below the video player. Choose the resolution that you want to download and click the corresponding button. Your download will now begin. )

GET YOUR FREE INSTANT ACCESS

7 Blues Guitar Secrets

That Can Save You Years of Practice

Learn what REALLY matters when it comes to playing blues guitar!

Disclaimer: When you sign up for our email list, you’ll also receive emails containing articles, tutorials, and special offers. No purchase is necessary at any time, and you are free to unsubscribe at any time.