Here are some exercises to work on your picking technique, and for learning how to arpeggiate chords.

feel free to repeat the chord progressions for as long as you like, or just play through once.


The Chords

Before we get started, let’s just run through all the chords that will be used.

 

 

The Chord Progressions Audio Examples

Arpeggiated Chord Progression 1: G6, Cmaj7, Dsus2, Dsus2

Bar 1: Arpeggiated G6 Chord

Play 4 down strokes starting on the big E string, then 4 up strokes starting on the little E string.

Bar 2: Arpeggiated Cmaj7 Chord

Play 4 down strokes starting on the A string, then 4 up strokes starting on the little E string.

Bar 3: Arpeggiated Dsus2 Chord

Play 3 down strokes starting on the D string, then 3 up strokes starting on the little E string. The rhythm here is “1 + 2… 3 + 4….”, which is like “quick quick slow, quick quick slow”.

Bar 4: Arpeggiated Dsus2 Chord

The same as bar 3.

Arpeggiated Chord Progression 2: Em7, G6, Dsus2, A7sus2

For the following arpeggiated chord progressions, they are played in the same sort of way to the first one, so I won’t display the step by step info again for these.

Arpeggiated Chord Progression 3: A7sus2, Cmaj7, G6, Dsus2


Arpeggiated Chord Progression 4: Cmaj7, G6, Dsus2, Em7


Arpeggiated Chord Progression 5: Cmaj7, Cmaj7, G6, Dsus2