Webster's online dictionary
Arpeggio
Noun
1. A chord whose notes are played in rapid succession rather than simultaneously.
Garry, here's an example of the exercise I described. This has been a real help to me, firstly to train the fingers, secondly as a warm up exercise.
Study the tab first. Remember p = thumb, i = index, m = middle, a = ring (based on the Spanish names for the fingers). As you can see, it's based on a simple C major chord, with a change to G7 for bar 4, and all the way through, the thumb alternates between the bottom two strings and the other three fingers cover one each of the top three strings. The first bar is easiest, you just pluck each finger in order from thumb to ring (it's just the same as drumming your fingers on the desk).
In bar 2 the thumb pattern stays the same but the order of the fingers reverses from ring to index.
Bar 3 is pretty tough but really gets the independence going.
In bar 4 you have to change to 16th note triplets to fit all the notes into the bar and the fingering pattern goes from thumb to ring and then back again.
Tips :- Take it real slow at first and work on one bar at a time. Don't expect to nail this one in five minutes (or even five days).
Leave out the alternating bass line at first if you're finding it a struggle just let the thumb hit the same note each time.
Leave out the G7 chord change until you're comfortable with the picking pattern as a whole.
Practise it while watching TV.
If you're getting frustrated, just move on to something else. Even just a few minutes at a time will really help.
Never, ever give up
.
As you can hear from the clip, I didn't nail 100% myself and I've been using it for quite a while now. So don't get disheartened, keep at it and pretty soon you'll notice the results.
Now, if I could just get someone how to show me how to use a pick I'd be in good shape.
Good luck,
Simon