Here are the most common 5 string sweep patterns for guitar.
These are arpeggios based on 4 different open CAGED shapes:
- C major
- C minor
- A major
- A minor
But all of the shapes are played using E as the root note, starting at the 7th fret of your A string.
Table of Contents
5 string sweep patterns Tab
Before reading the patterns, here’s the explanation for the picking hand sweeping motions:
For the picking hand:
D= Down
U= Up
PO= Pull-Off
H= Hammer-on
Also note: patterns 1 and 2 have the same picking hand movements, and patterns 3 and 4 have the same picking hand movements.
Pattern 1
Pattern 1 is based on an open C major chord shape.
How to play the pattern:
Picking hand: D-D-D-D-D-U-PO-U-U-U-D
Pattern 2
Pattern 2 is based on an open C minor chord shape.
How to play the pattern: (same as previous pattern)
Picking hand: D-D-D-D-D-U-PO-U-U-U-D
Pattern 3
Pattern 3 is based on an open A minor chord shape.
How to play the pattern:
Picking hand: D-H-D-D-D-D-U-PO-U-U-U-U-D
Pattern 4
Pattern 4 is based on an open A major chord shape.
How to play the pattern: (same as previous pattern)
Picking hand: D-H-D-D-D-D-U-PO-U-U-U-U-D