Lessons

Basic Chord Construction

This article addresses the basic building blocks of chord theory.
Chord theory can send even the manliest of men into fits of cold sweats and shivers.
Fortunately, once you know the basics, you're set, and all clamminess and convulsions will surely cease.

Chords are made up of certain notes of a scale and a scale is made up of specific scale degrees.
In other words, a scale starts with the root note, also called the 1st degree, followed by the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th degrees.

3 string major arpeggios and inversions

Note: This article assumes that the reader has a grasp of basic major and minor chord construction.
If not, please see my article Basic Chord Construction.

From Yngwie and Jason Becker to Greg Howe and Shawn Lane, successfully utilizing arpeggios and their inversions will make your solos sound more interesting

and allow you to break free of scale runs. You'll be able to complement every chord you play over, and choose just the right notes for your solos.

3 string minor arpeggios and inversions

Note: This article assumes that the read,brer has a grasp of basic major and minor chord construction. If not, please see my article Basic Chord Construction. I have also written an article on major arpeggios which will further improve your playing.

If you are trying to make your solos sound more interesting, break free of scale runs, complement every chord you play over, and choose just the right notes for your solos, arpeggios and their inversions are a great place to start.

Introduction to Sweep Picking

As far as modern lead guitar techniques go, sweep picking is the one that inspires both awe and fear. Listeners, viewers, and live audiences are spellbound by the sheer velocity at which masters of the technique are able to fire off arpeggios and scale fragments.

Now, while the sweep picking technique is undoubtedly impressive, it is also often the most difficult to master. However, once the technique is mastered, the possibilities become limitless.

Very easy Voice Leading

Note: This article assumes that the reader has a basic understanding of chord theory, the use of arpeggios, and sweep picking. If not, please see my articles Basic Chord Theory and Introduction to Sweep Picking. Voice leading can also be applied to arpeggios, chords, and triads. For the purposes of this article, we will be applying voice leading to lead guitar playing. For this reason we will be focusing on arpeggios.

What is Voice Leading?