Arpeggios on the guitar involve playing the notes of a chord individually, in sequence. They are a fundamental tool for highlighting chord tones and adding melodic interest to guitar solos and fills. Arpeggios are also a staple in genres like metal and neoclassical music, often executed with impressive sweep picking techniques.
In this guide, we will delve into major and minor arpeggio patterns, exploring their construction from intervals and providing you with practical ways to play them across the fretboard.
First, let’s solidify our understanding of what exactly an arpeggio is.
What is a Guitar Arpeggio?
An arpeggio is created when you take the notes that form a chord and play them one after another, rather than strumming them simultaneously. These notes can be played in ascending order (from lowest to highest pitch) or descending order (from highest to lowest pitch).
Think of an arpeggio as a scale composed solely of the notes within a chord. However, due to the fewer notes involved compared to a typical scale, Guitar Arpeggios can initially feel a bit challenging to navigate smoothly. Let’s examine some techniques to help you play them effectively.
Arpeggio Techniques for Guitar
Several techniques can be employed when playing arpeggios, and the most suitable approach often depends on your musical style and desired sound. Here are a few common techniques:
- Alternate Picking: This is a foundational technique involving alternating downstrokes and upstrokes for each note. It’s excellent for building speed and precision.
- Sweep Picking: A more advanced technique where you use a single, continuous motion of the pick across multiple strings, either downwards or upwards. This is frequently used in fast arpeggio passages in genres like metal.
- Economy Picking: Similar to sweep picking but less strict, focusing on minimizing pick motion and efficiently transitioning between strings.
- Hybrid Picking: Combining pick and fingers to pluck notes, which can be useful for certain arpeggio patterns and adding a different texture.
For beginners, focusing on up and down strokes with alternate picking is highly recommended. Sweep picking should only be attempted once you can play arpeggios cleanly and smoothly with alternate picking.
One of the more challenging aspects of playing guitar arpeggios is accurately fretting notes that are close together on the same fret. To play these notes fluidly, consider employing a rolling technique, which involves subtly shifting your finger across the fret to sound each note cleanly.
Now that we have a clearer picture of what an arpeggio is and some techniques to play them, let’s explore how major guitar arpeggios are constructed.
Constructing Major Arpeggios on Guitar
Major arpeggios are derived directly from the notes of a major chord. Major chords are built using the 1st (root), major 3rd, and 5th degrees of the major scale.
The diagram below illustrates the intervals of the major scale, with the root, major 3rd, and 5th highlighted to show their relationship within the scale.
Alt text: Major chord intervals diagram highlighting the root, major third, and fifth notes within a major scale.
Applying these major scale intervals to the guitar fretboard, we can visualize a scale pattern like the one shown below, demonstrating the positions of these intervals across the neck.
Alt text: Guitar fretboard diagram showing the G major scale intervals and note positions for arpeggio construction.
By isolating only the root, 3rd, and 5th intervals from this comprehensive scale pattern, we can derive a major barre chord shape. This chord shape provides the foundation for our arpeggio.
Alt text: G major barre chord diagram derived from the G major scale intervals, forming the basis for the arpeggio.
From this fundamental chord shape, we can then construct a major arpeggio. Since arpeggios are played one note at a time, we expand upon the chord shape to create the arpeggio by including additional occurrences of the root, 3rd, and 5th within a playable pattern. For instance, in the example below, we add the major 3rd on the 5th string to the barre chord to complete the arpeggio shape.
Alt text: G major arpeggio shape diagram built from the G major chord, extending across the fretboard for melodic playing.
Similar to scales, we can effectively utilize the CAGED system to map out the most common major arpeggio patterns on the guitar. The CAGED system provides five familiar shapes that help visualize and play arpeggios in different positions across the fretboard.
CAGED Major Arpeggio Shapes
The diagrams below present the five CAGED major arpeggio shapes, clearly showing the chord shapes from which they originate and suggested fingerings for playing each shape. Remember to use these fingerings as helpful starting points and adjust them as needed to suit your hand and playing style.
When practicing these guitar arpeggios, begin by playing from the lowest root note in each shape. Play ascending and then descending, ensuring you finish back on the same root note where you started. Each arpeggio diagram is accompanied by tab to guide your playing.
C Shape Arpeggio
The C shape arpeggio is derived from the open C chord form. It expands on the basic chord shape by including the 3rd and 5th on the 6th string and the 5th on the 1st string, creating a wider and more versatile arpeggio pattern. This shape is exceptionally common and musically useful.
Alt text: C shape major arpeggio diagram for guitar, showing root, third, and fifth positions across the fretboard.
C Major Shape Variations
Guitar arpeggio shapes can be further refined and made more manageable by breaking them down into smaller, more focused 3-note and 4-note variations. These condensed versions are often more practical and easier to integrate musically into solos and fills.
4 Note Variations
Alt text: Four-note variations of the C major arpeggio shape, simplifying the pattern for targeted melodic phrasing.
3 Note Variations
A Shape Arpeggio
The A shape arpeggio is derived from the open A chord form. It extends the A chord shape to include the 5th on the 6th string and the 3rd on the 4th string, providing a fuller arpeggio pattern.
Alt text: A shape major arpeggio diagram for guitar, outlining the positions of the root, third, and fifth degrees.
A Major Shape Variations
Below are the 3-note and 4-note arpeggio variations for the A major shape, offering more concise and adaptable patterns.
4-Note Variations
Alt text: Four-note variations of the A major guitar arpeggio shape, designed for focused practice and musical application.
3-Note Variations
G Shape Arpeggio
The G shape arpeggio is built from the G form barre chord. It includes the 5th on the 2nd string, expanding the barre chord into a complete arpeggio shape.
Alt text: G shape major arpeggio diagram for guitar, illustrating the full pattern derived from the G barre chord.
G Major Shape Variations
Below are the 3-note and 4-note arpeggio variations for the G major arpeggio shape, providing simplified patterns for practical use.
4-Note Variations
Alt text: Four-note variations of the G major guitar arpeggio shape, optimized for melodic ideas and improvisation.
3-Note Variations
E Shape Arpeggio
The E shape arpeggio is derived from the E form barre chord. It also includes the 3rd on the 5th string, enriching the barre chord shape to form a wider arpeggio. This shape, or parts of it, is very frequently used in various musical contexts.
Alt text: E shape major arpeggio diagram for guitar, showing the root, third, and fifth notes based on the E barre chord form.
E Major Shape Variations
Below are the 3-note and 4-note arpeggio variations for the E major arpeggio shape, offering smaller, more manageable segments of the full shape.
4-Note Variations
Alt text: Four-note variations of the E major guitar arpeggio shape, useful for creating focused and melodic guitar lines.
3-Note Variations
D Shape Arpeggio
The D shape arpeggio is built from the open D chord form. It expands significantly beyond the basic D chord, incorporating three additional notes: the 3rd on the 6th string, the 5th on the 5th string, and the 3rd on the 3rd string. The full D shape arpeggio can be quite challenging to play in its entirety, and often, guitarists will use a simplified version focusing on the 5th, root, and 3rd on strings 1-3.
Alt text: D shape major arpeggio diagram for guitar, illustrating the extended shape derived from the open D chord.
D Major Shape Variations
Below are the 3-note and 4-note arpeggio variations for the D major arpeggio shape, providing more accessible and practical patterns.
4-Note Variations
Alt text: Four-note variations of the D major arpeggio shape, offering simplified patterns for guitar practice and performance.
3-Note Variations
Alt text: Three-note variations of the D major arpeggio shape, providing essential building blocks for melodic guitar playing.
Constructing Minor Arpeggios on Guitar
Minor arpeggios are constructed from the notes of a minor chord. Minor chords are built using the root, minor 3rd (♭3rd), and 5th intervals of the minor scale. The key difference between a minor arpeggio and a major arpeggio is that the 3rd interval is flattened by a half step (a minor 3rd) in the minor arpeggio.
In the tab and audio examples below, you can hear the full major and minor scales played first, followed by just the root, 3rd (or ♭3rd), and 5th of each scale. Listen carefully to these examples to clearly hear the impact the 3rd scale degree has on the difference between major and minor tonalities.
Major Scale
Alt text: Guitar tab illustrating a major scale followed by a major triad (root, 3rd, 5th) to highlight major arpeggio tones.
Minor Scale
Alt text: Guitar tab showing a minor scale followed by a minor triad (root, minor 3rd, 5th) to demonstrate minor arpeggio tones.
Cm Shape Minor Arpeggio
In the Cm shape minor arpeggio, the lowest root note is located on the 5th string. Use this note as your starting point and play across the fretboard and back, ensuring you include the root note again on your return to complete the full arpeggio, including the notes on the 6th string.
Alt text: Guitar tab for the C shape minor arpeggio, demonstrating the full pattern across the fretboard starting on the 5th string.
Cm Shape Variations
Just like the major arpeggio shapes, the full minor guitar arpeggio shapes can be divided into smaller, more focused 3-note and 4-note variations. These variations can be easier to apply musically and are great for targeted practice.
3-Note Variations
4-Note Variations
Alt text: Four-note variations of the Cm shape minor arpeggio, simplifying the shape for focused practice and melodic phrasing.
Am Shape Minor Arpeggio
The Am shape minor arpeggio begins with the same root note on the 5th string as the Cm shape. However, instead of starting with your pinky finger, you begin with your index finger. This subtle shift repositions your hand down the fretboard, creating the A shape instead of the C shape.
Alt text: Guitar tab for the Am shape minor arpeggio within the CAGED system, illustrating the full fretboard pattern.
Am Shape Variations
Below are the 3-note and 4-note variations for the Am shape minor arpeggio, offering simplified and practical patterns.
3-Note Variations
4-Note Variations
Alt text: Four-note variations of the Am shape minor arpeggio, designed for efficient practice and melodic application on guitar.
Gm Shape Minor Arpeggio
The root of the Gm shape minor arpeggio is found on the 6th string and, similar to the Cm shape, begins with the pinky finger.
Alt text: Guitar tab for the Gm shape minor arpeggio, showing the pattern starting from the 6th string root.
Gm Shape Variations
Below are the 3-note and 4-note variations for the Gm shape minor arpeggio, providing condensed and musically useful patterns.
3-Note Variations
Alt text: Three-note variations of the Gm shape minor arpeggio, offering essential melodic fragments for guitarists.
4-Note Variations
Em Shape Minor Arpeggio
The root of the Em shape minor arpeggio is shared with the root of the Gm shape on the 6th string. Similar to the Am and Cm shapes, the root of the Em shape is played with the index finger. This finger choice shifts the position down the fretboard and creates a distinct new arpeggio shape.
Alt text: Diagram of Em shape minor arpeggio, illustrating the pattern derived from the E shape with an index finger root.
Em Shape Variations
The 3-note and 4-note variations for the Em shape minor arpeggio are provided below, offering practical and focused patterns.
3-Note Variations
Alt text: Three-note variations of the Em shape minor arpeggio, designed for efficient practice and melodic guitar lines.
4-Note Variations
Alt text: Four-note variations of the Em shape minor arpeggio, providing a more complete melodic vocabulary for guitarists.
Dm Shape Minor Arpeggio
The last CAGED minor arpeggio shape is the Dm shape. Its lowest root note is found on the 4th string. It is unique as the only complete CAGED arpeggio shape with its lowest root on this string.
Alt text: Guitar tab for the Dm shape minor arpeggio, showcasing the complete pattern starting from the 4th string root.
Dm Shape Variations
The 3-note and 4-note Dm shape minor arpeggio variations are shown below, offering simplified and focused patterns for practice.
3-Note Variations
Alt text: Three-note variations of the Dm shape minor arpeggio, providing essential melodic fragments for guitar improvisation.
4-Note Variations
Wrap Up: Guitar Arpeggios
In this lesson, we explored major arpeggios, built from the root, major 3rd, and 5th intervals of the major scale, and minor arpeggios, constructed from the root, minor 3rd, and 5th intervals.
Guitar arpeggios are invaluable tools for targeting chord tones in guitar solos and fills, adding a richer harmonic color to your playing. You’ll likely find the 3-note and 4-note variations particularly useful for incorporating into your musical vocabulary. Mastering arpeggios takes dedicated practice, so be prepared to invest time and effort into learning and applying them.
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Free Cheat Sheet: Major & Minor Arpeggios
Download a handy cheat sheet for this lesson to keep these arpeggio shapes at your fingertips:
