Sweep picking

Sweep-picking is a complex guitar technique created in the 1940s

Sweep picking - Guitar app describes the technique of picking consecutive strings using the same motion, either all strokes down or all strokes up. The fretting hand will "sweep" down or "rake" up, while the fretting hand will play consecutive notes in sync. Sweep pick allows for extremely fast passages because the player can pick in only one direction and not be slowed down by the constantly changing direction of the alternate pick or economy pick. Sweep picking is a more advanced technique and can be difficult to develop. Electric guitars, light gauge strings, and heavy picks can give you this technique faster than acoustic guitars and heavy strings.