Arpeggios

A major chord/arpeggio is created by the notes 1 3 5. That is the 1st, 3rd and 5th note of the major scale. For a C Major chord, this would be 1=C, 3=E and 5=G. Select an arpeggio, then change the note display to interval on the Visual Guitar menu to view. All the chord/arpeggio numbers are based on the major scale, no matter what key you are in.

Start with the Major Chord Arpeggio set to Major 1, 3, 5 in different keys. Then move to the Minor 1, 3b, 5 in different keys. All the other major chords start with 1, 3, 5 as a foundation, and all the minor chords start with 1, 3b, 5. So learning these is helpful for all the other major or minor chords. For example, a Major 7 is 1, 3, 5, 7 or a Minor 7th is 1, 3b, 5, 7b.

Play each arpeggio like a scale starting with the lowest red 1 and playing the notes in order. If you have studied the major scale, this might even seem easier now because it is like leaving out a few of the notes you already know. Try to play to play 2 or 3 octave runs. Then also change the order to anything that sounds or feels good to you.

Arpeggios in the Visual Guitar App Online

Major = 1 3 5
Maj 6 = 1 3 5 6
Maj 7/6 = 1 3 5 6 7
Maj 9/6 = 1 3 5 6 9
Maj 6b = 1 3 5 6b
Maj 7 = 1 3 5 7
Maj 9 = 1 3 5 7 9
Maj 11 = 1 3 5 7 9 11
Maj 13 = 1 3 5 7 9 11 13
Maj 11# = 1 3 5 7 9 11#
Maj 13 11# = 1 3 5 7 9 11# 13
Maj 9b = 1 3 5 7 9b
Maj 9# = 1 3 5 7 9#
Dom 7 = 1 3 5 7b
Dom 9 = 1 3 5 7b 9
Dom 11 = 1 3 5 7b 9 11
Dom 13 = 1 3 5 7b 9 11 13
Dom 11# = 1 3 5 7b 9 11#
Dom 13 11# = 1 3 5 7b 9 11# 13
Dom 9b = 1 3 5 7b 9b
Dom 9# = 1 3 5 7b 9#
5b = 1 3 5b
Maj 5b = 1 3 5b 7
Dom 7 5b = 1 3 5b 7b
Alt = 1 3 5b 7b 9b
Alt = 1 3 5b 7b 9#
Aug = 1 3 5#
Maj Aug = 1 3 5# 7
Dom 7 Aug = 1 3 5# 7b
Alt = 1 3 5# 7b 9b
Alt = 1 3 5# 7b 9#

Minor = 1 3b 5
Min 6 = 1 3b 5 6
Min 9/6 = 1 3b 5 6 9
Min 6b = 1 3b 5 6b
Min Maj = 1 3b 5 7
Min Maj 9 = 1 3b 5 7 9
Min Maj 11 = 1 3b 5 7 9 11
Min Maj 13 = 1 3b 5 7 9 11 13
Min Maj 11# = 1 3b 5 7 9 11#
Min Maj 13 11# = 1 3b 5 7 9 11# 13
Min Maj 9b = 1 3b 5 7 9b
Min 7 = 1 3b 5 7b
Min 9 = 1 3b 5 7b 9
Min 11 = 1 3b 5 7b 9 11
Min 13 = 1 3b 5 7b 9 11 13
Min 11# = 1 3b 5 7b 9 11#
Min 13 11# = 1 3b 5 7b 9 11# 13
Min 9b = 1 3b 5 7b 9b
Dim = 1 3b 5b
Maj Dim = 1 3b 5b 7
half Dim = 1 3b 5b 7b
Dim 7 = 1 3b 5b 7bb
7 Aug = 1 3b 5# 7

Octaves = 1 8
Sus 2 = 1 2 5
Maj Sus 2 = 1 2 5 7
Dom 7 Sus 2 = 1 2 5 7b
Sus = 1 4 5
Maj Sus = 1 4 5 7
Dom 7 Sus = 1 4 5 7b
Quartal = 1 4 7b
5/8 = 1 5 8