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Arpeggios

by Matt Raum

After three issues dealing with Sequences it's time to move on. Next up is arpeggios. An arpeggio is the notes of a chord played individually rather than simultaneously. Arpeggios are sometimes called broken chords.

Here is a C major chord played as a chord.

Here's a C major chord played as an arpeggio.

Both examples contain only the three notes that spell a C chord (C, E, and G) but when played as a chord they are played simultaneously, when played as an arpeggio the C chord is broken down into individual notes.

A major triad arpeggio is made up of a major (four frets) and a minor (three frets) interval. A minor triad is made up of a minor (three frets) and a major (four frets) interval.

Here are some more major and minor triad arpeggios.

Arpeggios and chord theory are explained in more detail in my book, Mandolin Technique Studies (MB#20671).