Arpeggio Explorer
Arpeggios are chords played one note at a time. Select a root and type to see every position across the fretboard.
Root Note
Arpeggio Type
A
Root — Major 3rd (4) — Perfect 5th (7)Sound
Bright, resolved. The foundation of tonal harmony.
Chord Relationship
Major triad (I, IV, V in major keys)
Parent Scales
Major, Lydian, Mixolydian
Common Genres
Pop, rock, country, classical
All A arpeggio positions
Sweep Picking Patterns
3-String Major
3-string sweep · Beginner
Identical picking motion to the minor shape. Only the 3rd changes position, one fret higher than minor.
5-String Major
5-string sweep · Intermediate
The wider stretch on the 3rd string (major 3rd) is the main difference from the minor shape.
Sweep Technique
Picking
One continuous motion per direction. ↓ sweep down across strings, ↑ sweep back up. Not individual picks.
Muting
Lift each finger immediately after the note sounds. Only one note should ring at a time, not a strummed chord.
Practice
Start at 40 BPM with a metronome. One clean note per click. Speed comes from accuracy, never from rushing.
Explore the Same Notes as…
Understanding Arpeggios
Construction
An arpeggio is a chord played one note at a time. Every chord type has a corresponding arpeggio, same notes, played sequentially instead of simultaneously.
Improvisation
Arpeggios let you target chord tones precisely during a solo. Playing the arpeggio of the current chord ensures every note is harmonically strong, no wrong notes.
Technique
Arpeggios can be played with alternate picking, sweep picking, or legato. Sweep picking across strings is the classic technique for fast arpeggio runs in rock and metal.