66 Chromatic & Sweeping Exercises!
These technical exercises will sort out any problems you have with synchronizing your left and right hand as you play with a pick.
Practiced daily, they will improve your accuracy, build speed, as well as train you in reading rhythms better, something anyone who plays guitar can always get better at!
Two bad side effects you must be aware of are:
- RSI – If it hurts, you must stop!
- Unmusical – they all sound horrible, don’t forget to play songs as well!
Chromatic & sweeping basics – Step 1
These six chromatic and sweeping exercises are played in the beginner course, where they are also modified.
You can move on when you can play them all at a reasonable tempo.
Go to Chromatic & sweeping basics – Step 1.
Speed basics – Step 2
Let’s be honest, we all want to play fast! These twelve exercises will certainly improve your accuracy.
Speed is simply a side effect of accuracy so start slowly and aim for perfection. You can move on when you stop making mistakes.
Go to Speed basics – Step 2.
Clusters – Step 3
There are four sixteenth note clusters available. You find these everywhere in music so let’s practice them using our chromatic and sweeping concepts.
You can move on when you can play all eight exercises at a reasonable tempo.
Go to Clusters – Step 3.
Combining rhythms – Step 4
These eight chromatic exercises combine 8th notes, 16th notes, triplets and 16th note clusters.
Pair these rhythms with the concept of playing chromatically to improve on your ability to recognizing and reading rhythms.
Go to Combining rhythms – Step 4.
Combining rhythms when sweeping – Step 5
Identical to step 4, these eight exercises combine the same rhythms.
The only difference is, now we sweep!
Go to Combining rhythms when sweeping – Step 5.
Combining complex rhythms – Step 6
Similar to step 4 & 5, we now combine more complex rhythms.
First we play chromatically, then we sweep. Move on when all feel easy.
Go to Combining complex rhythms – Step 6.
Advanced chromatic speed – Step 7
You want to play fast, right?
Practice these eight chromatic exercises daily and you will get there!
Go to Advanced chromatic speed – Step 7.
Advanced sweeping speed – Step 8
Your final eight exercises are identical to what you practiced in step 7.
The only difference is, now we sweep! Stop this madness when you can play fast.
