How to use the arpeggiator

Select the root note of the chord you want first. Then select the chord type. Your selection will appear on the left side. Click 'arpeggio' and the notes in the chord will appear along the full length of the fretboard. Click chord and two chords will appear to give you an idea where they are in the arpeggio.

If you only want to practice a small section of the fretboard just click on the notes you don't want and they will disappear. To reset click arpeggio again.

If you want to add a note to your arpeggio select the note and click 'add note'.

What is an arpeggio?

An arpeggio is the notes in a chord but instead of being strummed as a chord the notes are played individually one after the other. Take C major7 for example the notes are C E G and B. Select the chord in the arpeggio widget above and you will see all of the notes in that chord as they appear on the fretboard.



Above is the chord with the root on the 2nd string. You could play the arpeggio by just playing the notes one after the other as they are and I think this is a good way of starting off. Alternatively you could just play the notes one after the other ignoring the chord and playing them in them in sequence CEGB. The first image is a single arpeggio and the second a double arpeggio.

In the diagrams the arpeggios start from the root (C) but you could start from the E. A good way to practice these is to play the chord first and when it is firmly in your ears play simple arpeggios starting from different positions on the fretboard. Just go where you feel like.

Use the fretboard above to see where the notes are for the chord you want to practice.

Why do I need to know this?

If you are playing chords, strumming or fingerpicking, you don't really. But at some stage you might want to break out and create a solo or little fill-ins between chords. If you know a few arpeggios you will immediately know where to go on the fretboard when you or somebody plays a chord.

Why not learn one or two arpeggios from the tune you are working on at the moment or even better your favourite tune. Remember take your time and use your musical ear to work out what sounds good and what isn't so good.