Arpeggios
Arpeggio types, inversions, practice patterns, and application in classical and jazz performance.
Arpeggio Fundamentals
What is an arpeggio?
Arpeggio: chord tones played one at a time instead of simultaneously
Chord: C E G (played together)
Arpeggio: C-E-G (played sequentially)
Why arpeggios matter:
They outline harmony — you hear the chord through single notes
Improvisation: arpeggios target chord tones precisely
Technique: develops finger independence and position awareness
Basic arpeggio types
Major: 1 - 3 - 5 (C-E-G)
Minor: 1 - b3 - 5 (C-Eb-G)
Diminished: 1 - b3 - b5 (C-Eb-Gb)
Augmented: 1 - 3 - #5 (C-E-G#)
Major 7th: 1 - 3 - 5 - 7 (C-E-G-B)
Dominant 7th: 1 - 3 - 5 - b7 (C-E-G-Bb)
Minor 7th: 1 - b3 - 5 - b7 (C-Eb-G-Bb)
Dim 7th: 1 - b3 - b5 - bb7 (C-Eb-Gb-A)
Arpeggio Patterns
Practice patterns
Root position: 1 - 3 - 5 - 8 (ascending)
First inversion: 3 - 5 - 8 - 10 (start on 3rd)
Second inversion: 5 - 8 - 10 - 12 (start on 5th)
Extended patterns:
1 - 3 - 5 - 8 - 5 - 3 - 1 (up and down)
1 - 3 - 5 - 3 - 5 - 8 - 5 - 3 (rolling)
1 - 5 - 3 - 8 (broken pattern)
Through chord changes (ii-V-I in C):
Dm7: D - F - A - C
G7: G - B - D - F
Cmaj7: C - E - G - B
Connect by finding nearest chord tone in next arpeggio
Application in Performance
Arpeggios in context
Classical:
Alberti bass: broken chord pattern (1-5-3-5)
Accompaniment figures in piano/guitar
Harp glissando is essentially an arpeggio
Jazz:
Target chord tones on strong beats
Approach notes: half step above or below target
Enclosure: surround target with notes above and below
DJ/Production:
Arpeggiator: synth plugin that cycles through chord notes
Rate: sync to BPM (1/8, 1/16, etc.)
Patterns: up, down, up-down, random, played order
Classic sounds: vintage synth arpeggios, trance leads
See Also
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Theory — chord construction that arpeggios outline
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Scales — arpeggios are chord tones extracted from scales
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Practice Methods — deliberate practice for arpeggio drills