CHOPS

C L A S S I C

C O L U M N

Understanding
Arpeggios

I dont care if
youre a rock, jazz,
classical, or country guitaristpractice the hell out
of arpeggios.
Ritenour, aka Captain
Fingers, in 1979.

BY LEE RITENOUR
E, F, G, A, and B. Seven notes, right?
On each degree, you can build a
chord simply by adding thirds on top
of each other. If, for example, you
continually add thirds on top of C,
you would build from C to E, E to G,
G to B, B to D, D to F, and F to A, all
of which are intervals of major or minor thirds. The resulting chord, CE-G-B-D-F-A, contains all seven
tones of the C major scale simply
arranged in a different sequence.
Now, apply this same stacking
thirds approach to the 5th degree
of the C major scale, G. The end result will be a G13 chord spelled GB-D-F-A-C-E. Again, its simply a
C major scale in a different sequence. Lets see where this G13
arpeggio leads us. From the root
position, play the thirds melodically

LETS FACE it,

a r p e g g i o s
sounds like a
pretty heady
subject. Whats
it got to do with
playing
in
bands, doing recording sessions,
and being a versatile player? The
point is that most guitarists who skip
over this subject have a blind spot
in their playing that will show up
eventually. This articles focus is not
to introduce you to the many different arpeggiosyour teacher or any
of several books can do that. What
I would like to make you aware of
is the fact that scales and arpeggios
are essentially the same thing.
First, a small lesson in theory.
Take a C major diatonic scaleC, D,
Ex. 1

Ex. 2

Root position

First inversion

G13

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1

T
A
B

2 5

2 5

5 2

5 2

G13

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1

T
A
B

2 5

Ex. 3

Ex. 4

Second inversion

Third inversion

G13

4

 

4 
4

T
A
B

3 5

2 4 5

5 4 2

5 3

9 6 GUITAR PLAYER NOVEMBER 2002

3 5

2 5

5 2

5 3

5 2

G13

4


4 

2

T
A
B

3 5

2 4 5

3 5 3

5 4 2

5 3

R I T E N O U R PH OTO : N E I L Z LO ZOW E R

ascending and descending, as in Ex.

1. For the first inversion (E
Ex. 2), start
on the 3 of the scale (B) and invert
the root (G) up one octave, placing
it in correct sequence within the
arpeggio. For the second inversion
Ex. 3), start on the 5 of the scale (D)
(E
and invert the 3 and the root up one
octave. To play the third inversion

Ex. 4), start the arpeggio on the 7

(E
(F) and invert the root, 3, and 5, up
one octave. Notice that the thirdinversion arpeggio is the C major
scale starting on the note F (this is
also called the F Lydian mode).
Still with me? Try playing arpeggios elsewhere on the neck or adding
altered tones. Ex. 5 is the G13 arpeg-

gio from Ex. 1 up an octave. Ex. 6

adds a lowered 5 and raised 9.
Arpeggios are probably the
hardest exercises to play well on the
guitar. A piano player or horn player
can whip off arpeggios like guitarists
could never dream of. If you practice building arpeggios on all the diatonic tones of major and minor

Ex. 5

Ex. 6

Up an octave

Adding altered tones

G7 5( 9,13)

T
A
B

10

9 12

10

10

8 12 8

10

10

12 9

This column ran in the July 79

GP. Lee Ritenours latest album is
Rits House [GRP].
g


     

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G13

scales, and also make sure theyre

played over the entire neck of the
guitar, you will guarantee yourself
huge musicaland probably financialdividends. Good luck!

T
A
B

10

10

9 11

10

11

8 12 8

11

10

11 9

10

READERS CHALLENGE WIND WALKER

IF THERE WERE SUCH THING AS MAGICAL WIND CHIMES THAT
could play lyrical melodies over an E-A7-B7 progression, Ron Koop of
Want to help the world play better guitar? Submit your candidate for Readers Challenge (preferably notated and on cassette or CD), along with a brief
explanation of why its cool and how to play it, to Guitar Player Readers
Challenge, 2800 Campus Dr., San Mateo, CA 94403. Include your name, address, e-mail, and phone number. Materials wont be returned, but we will
listen to all submissions. Youll hear from us if your lick is chosen.

Vancouver, British Columbia, knows exactly

what they would sound like. This lick is a great
jumping-off point for anyone wanting to learn
cascades, says Koop. Once you get the hang
of arching your fingers and mixing open strings
with fretted notes, the possibilities are endless.
Tip: For increased sparkle, try these moves
higher on the neck using a capo.
g

THIS MONTHS PRIZE:

A custom
electric guitar from
Route101guitars.com.

= 120-184

A7

   
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let ring throughout

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guitarplayer.com

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NOVEMBER 2002 GUITAR PLAYER 9 7