# Guitar Arpeggios: Picking Chords One Note at a Time

> Learn arpeggios on guitar - picking individual chord notes for melodic, flowing patterns. Essential for lead playing, sweep picking, and adding musical depth.

Source: https://guitarwiz.app/articles/guitar-arpeggios

An arpeggio is a chord played one note at a time instead of all notes strummed simultaneously. It's the difference between hitting all six strings at once (a strum) and picking through the notes of a chord individually (an arpeggio).

Arpeggios are everywhere: the gentle fingerpicking of a ballad, the soaring lead runs of a rock solo, the elegant patterns of classical guitar. Understanding and practicing arpeggios makes your chord knowledge melodic and your soloing targeted.

## Why Arpeggios Matter

### For Accompaniment:
Arpeggiated chords create flowing, dreamy accompaniment patterns - think "River Flows in You," "Stairway to Heaven's" intro, or any fingerpicked ballad.

### For Soloing:
When soloing over a chord, playing that chord's arpeggio notes makes your solo connect directly to the harmony. Scale notes AROUND chord tones sound good; chord tones themselves sound GREAT.

### For Theory:
Arpeggios physically connect your chord knowledge (shapes) to your scale knowledge (positions). They bridge rhythm and lead playing.

## Basic Arpeggio Shapes

### Major Arpeggio (Root on 6th string)
```
e|----------8--|
B|-------9-----|
G|----9--------|
D|-10----------|
A|-------------|
E|-8-----------|
```
Notes: R – 3 – 5 – R – 3 (in C: C-E-G-C-E)

### Minor Arpeggio (Root on 6th string)
```
e|----------8--|
B|-------8-----|
G|----9--------|
D|-10----------|
A|-------------|
E|-8-----------|
```
Only difference from major: the 3rd is flatted (one fret lower on the B string).

### Major Arpeggio (Root on 5th string)
```
e|----------|
B|------5---|
G|----5-----|
D|--5-------|
A|-3--------|
E|----------|
```
(C major with root at 3rd fret, A string)

### Minor Arpeggio (Root on 5th string)
```
e|----------|
B|------4---|
G|----5-----|
D|--5-------|
A|-3--------|
E|----------|
```

## Open Chord Arpeggios

### C Major Arpeggio (Open)
```
e|---0-------0---|
B|-----1---1-----|
G|-------0-------|
D|-2-------------|
A|---3-----------|
```

### Am Arpeggio (Open)
```
e|---0-------0---|
B|-----1---1-----|
G|-------2-------|
D|-2-------------|
A|---0-----------|
```

### G Major Arpeggio (Open)
```
e|---3-------3---|
B|-----0---0-----|
G|-------0-------|
D|-0-------------|
A|---2-----------|
E|---3-----------|
```

## Arpeggio Practice Methods

### Method 1: Chord-Based
Take any chord you know. Instead of strumming, pick each note individually, lowest to highest, then highest to lowest. Do this for every chord in your repertoire.

### Method 2: Scale-Connected
Learn where arpeggio shapes sit within your scale positions. The chord tones (R, 3, 5) exist within every scale pattern - finding them gives your soloing melodic targets.

### Method 3: Sweep Picking (Advanced)
Instead of alternate picking each note, use a single continuous pick motion across strings - like a slow strum but picking each string individually. This enables high-speed arpeggio passages.

## Practice Exercises

### Exercise 1: Open Chord Arpeggios
Arpeggiate every open chord: C, Am, G, Em, D, Dm, E, A. Pick from lowest to highest string, then reverse. 4 beats per chord.

### Exercise 2: Moving Arpeggio
Play a C major arpeggio shape, then move it up 2 frets (D major), then 2 more (E major). Same shape, new positions. This builds moveable arpeggio fluency.

### Exercise 3: Arpeggio Over Changes
Play G → C → D → Em. But instead of strumming, arpeggiate each chord. Two beats per chord, each note picked individually. This creates a flowing, melodic accompaniment.

## Common Mistakes

**1. Only strumming chords, never arpeggiating.** Every chord can be an arpeggio. This expands your musical vocabulary enormously.

**2. Playing arpeggios as exercises, not music.** Arpeggios should sound melodic. Apply dynamics, timing variation, and expression.

**3. Not connecting arpeggios to scales.** Arpeggios are the chord tones within a scale. Learning where they overlap deepens your fretboard understanding.

## Try This in Guitar Wiz

Look up chord shapes in the **Chord Library** and practice picking each note individually rather than strumming. This arpeggio approach transforms your chord knowledge into melodic ideas. Use the **Metronome** for steady, controlled arpeggio practice.

[Download Guitar Wiz on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id6740015002?pt=643962&ct=article-arpeggios&mt=8) · [Explore the Chord Library →](/guitar-chords)

## FAQ

### What is an arpeggio on guitar?
Playing the notes of a chord one at a time instead of strumming them all at once. The notes are typically played in order from lowest to highest.

### Are arpeggios important for guitar?
Very. They connect chord knowledge to melody, improve soloing, and create flowing accompaniment patterns.

### What's the difference between a scale and an arpeggio?
A scale includes all notes in a key (7 notes). An arpeggio includes only the chord tones (3-4 notes). Arpeggios are a subset of the scale.

### People Also Ask

**How do you play arpeggios on guitar?** Pick each note of a chord individually instead of strumming. Start from the lowest note and ascend, then descend.

**Should beginners learn arpeggios?** Open chord arpeggios are beginner-appropriate and immediately musical. Moveable arpeggio shapes are intermediate-level.

**What are sweep picking arpeggios?** A technique where a single continuous pick motion crosses multiple strings, playing one note per string at high speed.