How to Play Arpeggios on Guitar

Arpeggios are the notes of a chord played one note at a time, usually ascending or descending in order.

Arpeggios can be used for melodies, solos and riffs to create a more harmonized sound when played with their corresponding chord.

Arpeggios use the same notes from a chord voicing. Here's a review of how chords are made: the most basic chord forms are referred to as triads. A triad consists of 3 notes from a scale: the first (root), the third, and the fifth note of the scale. Minor triads use the flat third note of the scale.

Example of How to Play the C Major Arpeggio on Guitar

These same three notes are used and repeated throughout the fretboard when playing major or minor arpeggios.

Major Arpeggios

Minor Arpeggios