Arpeggios are the notes of a chord played one note at a time. You can use arpeggios for your improvisation technique.
Another advantage of learning arpeggios is that you understand better how a chord is built up.
For example if you use the chord A minor in a song you use the notes A C E because the formula is the 1st 3rd(lowered 1/2 a step) and 5th tone.
An arpeggio of Am will be like this on the 5th position:

TAB

|——————————-5——–5——————————————————-
|————————–5—————-5—————————————————-
|———————-5———————–5———————————————–
|——————7——————————7——————————————–
|————7—————————————7—————————————–
|——5—8———————————————8—5———————————

Steve Vai is a master in handling arpeggios. In the film Crossroads Steve Vai and Ry Cooder are doing some wonderful shredding licks known as Eugene´s trick bag. You can check the tab to practise for yourself. Use a metronome to built up speed gradually because it´s a hard piece of work. Try to find out the Chords Steve Vai and Ry Cooder are using.
Have fun!

TAB

trick1
trick2
trick3
trick4
trick5
trick6

This song here is divided in several pieces to give you a clear demonstration of how the song is built up.

First of all we are going to start with the plectrum. Hold the plectrum sidewise instead of the normal position. Because the top has more relief to keep the plectrum from falling from your indexfinger and thumb, the plectrum in this position gives a more grating punch to the strings which is typically the style of The Edge.
Try it out to hear the difference! If you realy want to sound like The Edge you must buy blue Herdim Picks. You can order them at www.tonetoys.com
for a reasonable price. Get used to play with alternate picking. Like this it is easier to build up speed.

Plectrum position standard

Plectrum position The edge

Furthermore use a delay sound set to 3/16 tempo about 340-350 milliseconds.

The switch of the pickups for the intro is set between the 2nd and 3rd pickup.

We will show here the version of “Rattle and Hum”. De intro starts with a few flageolet tones. You Keep your finger above the strings in the 12th and 7th position. When you hit the strings you keep your indexfinger posted at the same postion without pushing the strings.

Intro left hand



Intro right hand position