In this Lesson we will look at Major 7th Arpeggios. An Arpeggio is playing a chord one note at a time instead of strumming at once. I'm sure there's a more technical definition of what an arpeggio is but mine is in layman's terms. Let's get started.
First let's look at a basic arpeggio in the key of A Major
Example.1
--------------------------
--------------------------
--------------------------
----------------7---------
--------4----7------------
-----5--------------------
Looking at the Tab above. The (5) is the root or A note, the (4) is the 3rd or C#, the 7 is the 5 or E and the 7 on the 4th string is the root and octave higher or A. Now in order to play a major 7th arpeggio we will need to add the major 7th interval from the A major scale. This note will be G#. You can get this by counting up the major scale until you reach the 7th interval.
Example.2
A Major Scale
--------------------------------
--------------------------------
--------------------------------
--------------------4--6--7-----
-----------4--5--7--------------
----5--7------------------------
1 2 3 4 5 6 (7) 8 <--Root octave higher
Intervals -----------------
Example.3
--------------------------
--------------------------
--------------------------
-----------------6--7-----
---------4----7-----------
---4--5-------------------
Adding the major 7th to the basic arpeggio gives it more of of a mystical sound and adds lots of color.
Example 4.
Here's a Major 7th Arpeggio in G using all 6 strings
------------------------------------7--10----
------------------------------7--8-----------
-----------------------4--7------------------
-----------------4--5------------------------
---------2----5------------------------------
---2--3--------------------------------------
Here's the same in the key of A Major
-------------------------------------9--12---
------------------------------9--10----------
-----------------------6--9------------------
-----------------6--7------------------------
---------4----7------------------------------
---4--5--------------------------------------
You get the idea! Practice in all keys and of course use it in your everyday playing.
