Major Arpeggio

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Last updated on: 2009-08-19 2:45 PM

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A major arpeggio is a three note "broken chord" with a numerical formula of T/1-3-5 played as individual notes in sequence, the same as you would play a scale. For guitarists, arpeggios are an integral part of picking and dexterity exercises, as well as guitar soloing, helping the player to have a fuller understanding of melody.

Arpeggio Usage

As an arpeggio is essentially a chord played as individual notes not overlapping, a lead guitarist can construct a melody following the chords that the rhythm guitarist is playing without any fear of hitting bad notes, resulting in a melody that is generally, very harmonious. Arpeggios are also very useful when constructing a sweep picking melody or part solo as the patterns tend to have a note on each adjacent string (with the occasional two notes per string depending on the pattern) which lends itself very nicely to sweep picking. Arpeggios are also excellent dexterity and coordination exercises and most good guitar teachers will use them in their curriculm.

About Arpeggio Pattern Numbering

The major arpeggio patterns below are referenced as numbers #1, #2, #3, #4 and #5 which you will find correspond directly with the chord voicings, scale patterns and reading positions of the same number, for instance: major arpeggio pattern #4 is built from major chord voicing #4 which is built from major scale pattern #4 and all belong to reading position #4. The five positions cover the entire neck which gives us a structure to memorize scales, arpeggios and chords.

Major Arpeggio Profile

Numeric Formula	1-3-5-8/1
Notation Formula (key of C)	C-E-G-C/1
Stability	Consonant / Resolved

Major Arpeggio Patterns

The scales below are not shown in any particular key, they are patterns which can be moved around the guitar neck freely using the tonic (circled dot) as your navigator. See example below.

How to use
As an example, let's say you require a D major scale
After playing all the major scale patterns, you decide on pattern #2
Pattern #2 has it's root on the 5^th string so you need to find the D note on this string
Click the notes on the neck chart tab and find the D note on the 5^th fret (5^th string)
Now play the D major scale using pattern #2 on the 5^th fret
Use the Octave chart tab to help you remember which notes are where
Use the Scale chart help tab if your a beginner at reading scale charts

Notes on the guitar neck chart (lite version)

Using octaves to learn notes on the guitar neck

First determine which chord you require, let's use a B major chord in this example.
We know the root note is B, (if it were an A major chord the root note would be A and for Cma⁷ it would be C, etc etc)
Using the notes on the guitar neck chart, find the B note on the 6^th string, 7^th fret.
Now using the major scale patterns chart, look for pattern #4 which has it's root note on the 6^th string and play it, your done!
Remember, learning and memorizing notes, chord voicings and scales in this way will improve your playing skills, theoretical knowledge and desirability as a band member.

Major Arpeggio Audio Sample(s)

To download audio sample(s) for later listening, right click on the MP3 link, then from the context menu that appears select Save Target As (Internet Explorer) or Save Link As (Firefox).

Audio Sample Name	Flash	MP3
C Major Arpeggio Pattern #4		c-major-arpeggio-pattern-4.mp3

Related Lessons & Resources

External Resources

Arpeggios at Wikipedia.org