This SIMPLE Trick Makes Arpeggios EASY + EFFECTIVE

This SIMPLE Trick Makes Arpeggios EASY + EFFECTIVE

Hey guys, Brad Litton from SimpleGuitar.com. This blog post transcribes my YouTube lesson on arpeggios — what they are, how to practice them, and how to start using them musically. This is mainly geared toward beginners. If you're intermediate, it's a great refresher.

This one came back up because a student (Ricky) had a breakthrough with arpeggios in a coaching session, and I realized we hadn't talked about them in a while.

There's a related video on memorizing notes on the fretboard (about 4 minutes a day). That's worth doing, because knowing the notes is what really sets you free with this stuff. Link from the video: How to memorize notes on the guitar fretboard in 4 minutes a day

What Is an Arpeggio?

An arpeggio is the notes of any chord, played one at a time instead of all at once.

Another way to think about it: every other note of a scale. First note, third note, fifth note — that's an arpeggio. Those also happen to be the same notes that make up the chord. For G major, that's a G major arpeggio.

Arpeggios live all over the guitar once you know the notes on the fretboard.

G Notes to Get You Oriented (Open to the 12th Fret)

If you play a G chord, it helps to know where the G notes are on each string, at least from fret 1 to 12:

• Sixth string: 3rd fret (and 15, etc.)
• Fifth string: 10th fret
• Fourth string: 5th fret
• Third string: open / 12th fret
• Second string: 8th fret
• First string: 3rd fret

From there you can play the chord, then a simple two-string arpeggio shape, then move that idea to the next string. That's an easy way to get familiar.

How This Helps When You Solo

When you're soloing over a chord progression, you want it to sound like it belongs. Knowing your arpeggios — and how they relate to each other — makes that a lot easier than just camping in one scale box.

Two-Chord Starter: G and C

Simple progression that just alternates G and C.

G major notes: G, B, D
C major notes: C, E, G

One G arpeggio on strings 4 and 3 (from the lesson): fifth fret on the fourth string, fourth fret on the third string, then seventh fret on that third string. Target those notes over G and it sounds great.

When the chord changes to C, switch to a C arpeggio nearby. You have to know where C is and where that arpeggio can be played.

Three-string G (strings 1, 2, 3):

• First string: G (3rd fret)
• Second string nearby: D (3rd fret)
• Third string nearby: B (4th fret)

C nearby, so you don't have to jump:

• Keep that G on the first string
• E on the second string, 5th fret
• C on the third string, 5th fret

Play the C arpeggio, switch to the G arpeggio, and alternate as the chords change. Start by running them straight up and down. Get comfortable, then get more creative.

You can do this with any pair of chords.

C to A Minor

A minor notes: A, C, E. C is already part of that. You've got C and E, and there's an A on that same fret. Play the C arpeggio, then A minor. Easy pair to practice.

Same Notes, Different String Groups

Don't lock yourself to strings 1-2-3.

Example, C on strings 2-3-4: fifth fret on the second, third, and fourth strings.

Or higher: 10th fret on the fourth string (C), 9th fret on the third (E), 8th fret on the second (G). Then find G nearby, or A minor nearby.

The idea: know the notes of the arpeggio, pick a group of strings (3, 4, 5, whatever), and find those notes.

A Real Progression: G – D – Em – C

Tons of songs use this.

• G: G, B, D (we already found a G arpeggio)
• D: D, F#, A — from the lesson, on the high strings: 7th fret third string (D), 7th fret second string (F#), 5th fret first string (A)
• Em: E, G, B — staying on strings 1-2-3: 7th fret first string (B), 8th fret second string (G), 9th fret third string (E)
• C: 9th fret third string, 8th fret second, 8th fret first

You can also mix positions instead of climbing the neck: G in one spot, a standard D shape, Em on the open first three strings or as a little Em shape (G on first string, E on second string 5th fret, B on third string 4th fret), then C nearby.

Lots of ways. Exploring nearby arpeggios is how you actually learn the fretboard.

Longer Progression: Hotel California (Capo 7 Shapes)

One of my favorite progressions for students learning open chords or arpeggios. Eight chords.

When you play the intro to Hotel California, you capo the 7th fret and play these relative shapes (not the concert-pitch names):

Em – B7 – D – A – C – G – Am – B7

For arpeggios, find the notes of each of those chords and link them, staying in a similar part of the neck when you can. You don't have to stay on the same three strings the whole time.

From the lesson, the notes you're hunting:

• Em: E, G, B
• B: B, F#, D#
• D: D, F#, A
• A: A, C#, E
• C: C, E, G
• G: G, B, D
• Am: A, C, E
• then B again

Practice running those arpeggios up and down and linking them together just like a chord progression: Em, B, D, A, C, G, Am, B.

Most of the time you want to stay in a similar part of the neck. If you know where the arpeggios are, you can change the sound without jumping all over.

The Big Picture

A lot of people complain about being stuck in a scale box. Finding the arpeggios for the chords frees you up. Scale notes become stepping stones between arpeggios — or passing notes while the arpeggio tones are your target tones. That's a huge part of why great players sound like they do.

You can use this for improvising, soloing, and lead parts. In an old band of mine, the last chorus of a song was just a D minor arpeggio moved up an octave (same shape as a regular D minor chord) with extra notes on the first string: 13th fret, pinky 15, up to 17, back to 15, while holding the arpeggio shape. Simple, and it sounded great in the song.

Practice Tips

• Pick the chord progression you're learning (or going to solo over)
• Write the notes of each chord
• Find them in a relatively similar place
• Don't only use strings 1-2-3 — try 2-3-4, 3-4-5, 4-5-6, four-string groups, even skipping a string
• Start up and down. Then get musical with it

If you want a simple place to start, grab my free Top 10 Things to Learn on Guitar First at http://simpleguitar.com/top10.

And hang out with other adult guitar players in the Simple Guitar Facebook group: http://facebook.com/groups/simpleguitar.

About the Author
Brad from Simple Guitar helps adult learners play the songs they love without the frustration. Visit simpleguitar.com for more free resources and lessons.