Essential Single Octave Arpeggios

23 Pages·2015·0.63 MB·English

TERENCE WRIGHT GUITAR
Jazz Guitarist - Music Educator - Composer
http://terencewrightguitar.com
Essential Single Octave Arpeggios

In order to get the most out of single octave arpeggios on the guitar, it is important to understand
why they are played the way they are. In a seventh chord, there are four unique notes:

Root – third – fifth – seventh

Depending on the type of seventh chord, the third, fifth and seventh may be altered.
Keeping in mind that there are four notes in a given seventh chord and arpeggio, we can then take
a look at the possible ways they can be played. This lesson will cover some of the more practical
ways of performing seventh chord arpeggios.
Due to playability and sound, seventh chord arpeggios played over three strings are far more
widely used than others. This lesson will go into detail about the three ways to perform single
octave arpeggios over three strings. If you are curious about lesser known seventh chord arpeggio
approaches, such as arpeggios played over 1, 2 or 4 strings, check out the Approaches to
Arpeggios page in the Jazz Guitar Resource Library.
First lets take a look at the different options for playing arpeggios over three strings:

2-1-1 Arpeggio - The 2-1-1 stands for the distribution of notes across the guitar. The 2
means that you will be playing 2 notes on the string that the given arpeggio begins on,
followed by 1 note on the next highest string, and 1 note on the next highest string after
that.
1-2-1 Arpeggio - The numbers here represent the same idea as the previous arpeggio, but
the distribution is slightly different. 1 note is played on the string where the arpeggio begins,
followed by 2 notes on the next highest string and 1 note on the next highest string after
that.
1-1-2 Arpeggio - This arpeggio begins with 1 note on the string where the arpeggio begins,
followed by 1 note on the next highest string, and 2 notes on the next highest string after
that.
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TERENCE WRIGHT GUITAR
Jazz Guitarist - Music Educator - Composer
http://terencewrightguitar.com

The grids below present a visual example of the different types of single octave arpeggios. The
examples use a major 7th arpeggio shape with the root on the E-string.

2 - Root and third on first string
1 - fifth on second string
1 - seventh on third string

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TERENCE WRIGHT GUITAR
Jazz Guitarist - Music Educator - Composer
http://terencewrightguitar.com

1 - Root on first string
2 - third and fifth on second string
1 - seventh on third string

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TERENCE WRIGHT GUITAR
Jazz Guitarist - Music Educator - Composer
http://terencewrightguitar.com

1 - Root on first string
1 - third on second string
2 - fifth and seventh on third string

The above options are all the different possibilities for playing the four notes of a single octave
seventh chord arpeggio over three strings (assuming there are no doubled notes).

Using a C as a root for our arpeggios, lets take a look at how each of these arpeggio approaches
work with the 5 essential jazz guitar arpeggios

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TERENCE WRIGHT GUITAR
Jazz Guitarist - Music Educator - Composer
http://terencewrightguitar.com
Major 7
Dominant 7
Minor 7
Minor 7b5
Diminished 7

C Major 7th Single Octave Arpeggio

The C major 7th arpeggio contains unaltered chord tones:

1 – 3 – 5 – 7
C – E – G – B

The major 7th is a very important arpeggio for soloing in a jazz context. The major 7th chord is
often used throughout jazz standards as the I or IV chord. It can also be used as a substitution for
many different chord qualities. Check out the major 7th chord page for more information on the
major 7th harmony.

2-1-1 Major 7 Arpeggio

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TERENCE WRIGHT GUITAR
Jazz Guitarist - Music Educator - Composer
http://terencewrightguitar.com

1-2-1 Major 7 Arpeggio

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TERENCE WRIGHT GUITAR
Jazz Guitarist - Music Educator - Composer
http://terencewrightguitar.com

1-1-2 Major 7 Arpeggio

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TERENCE WRIGHT GUITAR
Jazz Guitarist - Music Educator - Composer
http://terencewrightguitar.com

th
C Dominant 7 Single Octave Arpeggio

The C dominant 7th arpeggio contains chord tones:

1 – 3 – 5 – b7
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TERENCE WRIGHT GUITAR
Jazz Guitarist - Music Educator - Composer
http://terencewrightguitar.com
C – E – G – Bb

The dominant 7th chord and arpeggio are a very important part of jazz and music in general. Both
straight ahead blues, and jazz blues tunes feature the dominant 7th chord heavily. Knowing this
arpeggio is a must for getting through the blues and almost every jazz chord progression. For more
info on the dominant 7 harmony, you can check out the dominant 7th chord page here.

2-1-1 Dominant 7th Arpeggio

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TERENCE WRIGHT GUITAR
Jazz Guitarist - Music Educator - Composer
http://terencewrightguitar.com

1-2-1 Dominant 7th Arpeggio

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