Guitar technique
Sweep picking is a guitar technique where you use a single fluid pick motion across multiple strings, sounding each note in sequence with the fretting hand changing between notes.
Free for the first 3 songs.
What it is
Sweep picking lets guitarists play fast arpeggios that would be impossible at the same tempo using alternate picking. It is a defining feature of neoclassical metal, shred guitar, and progressive rock. The technique requires precise synchronization between picking and fretting hands so that each string sounds individually rather than as a strummed chord.
How to read it
Tab notation marks sweep-picked passages with a curved arrow indicating the sweep direction, or with 'sw.' or 'sweep' written above the affected notes. The notes themselves appear as a standard arpeggio sequence with the sweep indicator separating them from normal alternate picking.
See the full guide to reading guitar tab for the complete symbol reference, or browse the glossary for related terminology.
How audio2guitar detects it
Sweep picking produces a characteristic attack pattern: consecutive notes on different strings with very tight inter-onset intervals and unified pick direction. The pipeline identifies these patterns by analyzing both timing and per-string attack envelopes.
Where it shows up
An arpeggio is a chord played one note at a time. Sweep picking is one execution method for arpeggios that uses a single pick motion. The tab shows the arpeggio shape and adds a sweep marker when the timing and pick direction indicate it.
Every sweep picking our pipeline detects gets marked in the tab automatically. First 3 songs free.