My last post covered triad arpeggios and how they relate to various scales. This one will cover seventh chord arpeggios.
This post will provide fingerings for seventh chord arpeggios, along with instruction on how to play the them on a guitar with any root note. It will also illustrate how each type of arpeggio relates to a specific scale.
Major Seventh Arpeggios
The chord formula for a major seventh chord is 1, 3, 5, 7.
A major seventh arpeggio fingering contains the same notes as a major seventh chord — the first, third, fifth and seventh degrees of the major scale with the same root note.
For example, both a Cmaj7 chord and a C major seventh arpeggio fingering contain the notes C, E, G and B — the first, third, fifth and seventh notes in a C major scale.
A common fingering for a major seventh arpeggio is shown in fig.1.
Fig.1
This fingering will allow you to play a major arpeggio starting on any note:
- To play a C major seventh arpeggio, start the pattern on the C on the sixth string, eighth fret (fig.2a).
- To play a D major seventh arpeggio, start the pattern on the D on the sixth string, 10th fret (fig.2b).
Fig.2
Dominant Seventh Arpeggios
The chord formula for a dominant seventh chord is 1, 3, 5, b7.
A dominant seventh arpeggio fingering contains the same notes as a dominant seventh chord — the first, third, fifth and flatted seventh degrees of the major scale with the same root note.
Both a C7 chord and a C dominant seventh arpeggio fingering contain the notes C, E, G and Bb — the first, third, fifth and flatted seventh notes in a C major scale.
A common fingering for a dominant seventh arpeggio is shown in fig.3.
Fig.3
This fingering will allow you to play a dominant arpeggio starting on any note:
- To play a C dominant seventh arpeggio, start the pattern on the C on the sixth string, eighth fret (fig.4a).
- To play a D dominant seventh arpeggio, start the pattern on the D on the sixth string, 10th fret (fig.4b).
Fig.4
Minor Seventh Arpeggios
The chord formula for a minor seventh chord is 1, b3, 5, b7.
A minor seventh arpeggio fingering contains the same notes as a minor seventh chord — the first, flatted third, fifth and flatted seventh degrees of the major scale with the same root note.
Both a Cm7 chord and a C minor seventh arpeggio fingering contain the notes C, Eb, G and Bb — the first, flatted third, fifth and flatted seventh notes in a C major scale.
A common fingering for a minor seventh arpeggio is shown in fig.5.
Fig.5
This fingering will allow you to play a minor seventh arpeggio starting on any note:
- To play a C minor seventh arpeggio, start the pattern on the C on the sixth string, eighth fret (fig.6a).
- To play a D minor seventh arpeggio, start the pattern on the D on the sixth string, 10th fret (fig.6b).
Fig.6
Minor Seventh, Flat Five Arpeggios
The chord formula for a minor seventh, flat five chord is 1, b3,b5, b7.
A minor seventh, flat five arpeggio fingering contains the same notes as a minor seventh, flat five chord — the first, flatted third, flatted fifth and flatted seventh degrees of the major scale with the same root note.
Both a Cm7(b5) chord and a C minor seventh, flat five arpeggio fingering contain the notes C, Eb, Gb and Bb — the first, flatted third, flatted fifth and flatted seventh notes in a C major scale.
A common fingering for a minor seventh, flat five arpeggio is shown in fig.7.
Fig.7
This fingering will allow you to play a minor seventh, flat five arpeggio starting on any note:
- To play a C minor seventh, flat five arpeggio, start the pattern on the C on the sixth string, eighth fret (fig.8a).
- To play a D minor seventh, flat five arpeggio, start the pattern on the D on the sixth string, 10th fret (fig.8b).
Fig.8
Relationship to Scales
Each type of seventh chord arpeggio relates to a specific scale:
- A major seventh arpeggio relates to a major scale.
- A dominant seventh arpeggio relates to a Mixolydian scale.
- A minor seventh arpeggio relates to a minor scale.
- A minor seventh, flat five arpeggio relates to a Locrian scale.
Major Seventh Arpeggios
A major seventh arpeggio contains four of the seven notes in the major scale with the same root note.
For example, a C major seventh arpeggio contains four of the notes (C, E, G and B) in a C major scale (fig.9).
Fig.9
A common major scale fingering with the arpeggio notes highlighted in blue is shown in fig.10.
Fig.10
This fingering will show you the major seventh arpeggio notes in any major scale:
- To see the arpeggio notes in a C major scale, start the pattern on the C on the sixth string, eighth fret (fig.11a).
- To see the arpeggio notes in a D major scale, start the pattern on the D on the sixth string, 10th fret (fig.11b).
Fig.11
Dominant Seventh Arpeggios
A dominant seventh arpeggio contains four of the seven notes in the Mixolydian scale with the same root note.
A C dominant seventh arpeggio contains four of the notes (C, E, G and Bb) in a C Mixolydian scale (fig.12).
Fig.12
A common Mixolydian scale fingering with the arpeggio notes highlighted in blue is shown in fig.13.
Fig.13
This fingering will show you the dominant seventh arpeggio notes in any Mixolydian scale:
- To see the dominant seventh arpeggio notes in a C Mixolydian scale, start the pattern on the C on the sixth string, eighth fret (fig.14a).
- To see the dominant seventh arpeggio notes in a D Mixolydian scale, start the pattern on the D on the sixth string, 10th fret (fig.14b).
Fig.14
Minor Seventh Arpeggios
A minor seventh arpeggio contains four of the seven notes in the minor scale with the same root note.
A C minor seventh arpeggio contains four of the notes (C, Eb, G and Bb) in a C minor scale (fig.15).
Fig.15
A common minor scale fingering with the arpeggio notes highlighted in blue is shown in fig.16.
Fig.16
This fingering will show you the minor seventh arpeggio notes in any minor scale:
- To see the minor seventh arpeggio notes in a C minor scale, start the pattern on the C on the sixth string, eighth fret (fig.17a).
- To see the minor seventh arpeggio notes in a D minor scale, start the pattern on the D on the sixth string, 10th fret (fig.17b).
Fig.17
Minor Seventh, Flat Five Arpeggios
A minor seventh, flat five arpeggio contains four of the seven notes in the Locrian scale with the same root note.
A C minor seventh, flat five arpeggio contains four of the notes (C, Eb, Gb and Bb) in a C Locrian scale (Fig.18).
Fig.18
A common Locrian scale fingering with the arpeggio notes highlighted in blue is shown in fig.19.
Fig.19
This fingering will show you the minor seventh, flat five arpeggio notes in any Locrian scale:
- To see the minor seventh, flat five arpeggio notes in a C Locrian scale, start the pattern on the C on the sixth string, eighth fret (fig.20a).
- To see the minor seventh, flat five arpeggio notes in a D Locrian scale, start the pattern on the D on the sixth string, 10th fret (fig.20b).
Fig.20
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