This is a series of arpeggios based on the natural A minor scale:

 I   II    III    IV    V   VI    VII
 A   B     C      D    E    F      G

Following this we will take a closer look at the theory used to construct these arpeggios and the sweep-picking technique with which they may be articulated.

Remember that the fingering used below is not the ONLY possible fingering. It is a standard style used by many shred guitar players but it has both advantages and disadvantages.

E--------------5------------------------------7-------------
B------------5---5------------------------------------------
G----------5-------5------------------7-10--10-7-------
D--------7-----------7--------------9---------------9------
A------7---------------7----------8-------------------8----
E-5-8-------------------8-7-10-----------------------10-
 [---A minor arpeggio--][-B diminished arpeggio--]

E-----------------8-----------------------------------10-----------------
B---------------8---8-----------------------------10----10-------------
G-------------9-------9------------------------10----------10----------
D----------10-----------10-----------------12----------------12-------
A-------10-----------------10-----------12----------------------12----
E-8-12-----------------------12-10-13----------------------------13-
 [-----C major arpeggio------] [--------D minor arpeggio----]

E--------------------12-------------------------------------13--------------
B-----------------12----12-----------------------------13----13-----------G--------------12----------12-----------------------14----------14-------- D-----------14----------------14-----------------15----------------15----- A--------14----------------------14-----------15----------------------15-- E-12-15----------------------------15-13-17----------------------------17 [--------E minor arpeggio----------] [--------F major arpeggio---]

E---------------------15------------------------------------17------------- B-----------------15----15-----------------------------17----17---------- G--------------16----------16-----------------------17----------17------- D-----------17-----------------17-----------------19----------------19---- A--------17-----------------------17------------19----------------------19- E-15-19-----------------------------19-17-20------------------------- [--------G major arpeggio---------] [----A minor arpeggio(8va)-]

All of these arpeggios are created using notes from the A minor scale:

 I    II    III    IV    V    VI    VII
 A    B     C      D    E     F      G

Each arpeggio consists of a root note, followed by a third and a fifth. This creates what is known as a triad.

Here we will construct the individual arpeggios in the order which they appeared in the tab. Then we will analyze these arpeggios to find out exactly why they are the way they are.

First off, let's see how each arpeggio is spelled.

Stepping Pattern (st=semi-tone: 1 fret on the guitar)
Arpeggio:       Spelling:      

A minor          ACE
B diminished   BDF
C major          CEG
D minor          DFA
E minor          EGB
F major          FAC
G major         GBD

The first arpeggio on our chart is the A minor arpeggio, so it is built using the a minor scale. It consists of the root (I) note, the 3rd (III) note and the 5th(V) note.

So let's take a closer look at these 3rds and 5ths. Why is E a 3rd above C? What does that mean? Well it's quite simple. Look at the A minor scale again.

 A B C D E F G

Now since we are using the C major arpeggio for example, we immediately know the first note (root) of the arpeggio is C. From there we count three letters to the right (counting C as number one) to arrive at E, our third. Now to find the fifth we use the same idea. We count three letters to the right of C and end up at G. Now we have the complete C major arpeggio: C E G