13 Arpeggio Exercises For Guitar - Major 7, Dominant 7, Minor 7, Half-diminished, Diminished 7

The Five Main Types Of Arpeggios

Before taking a look at the 13 arpeggio warm-up exercises below, it is important to know how are constructed these five types of arpeggios. Here is a quick recap for those new to the topic.

Here below you'll find two diagrams for each type of arpeggio. The left one show the arpeggio pattern and its intervals while the right one show the related basic chord (drop 2 voicings).

Notice that all the following shapes are in A, however they are all movable anywhere on the guitar neck. The tonic giving the name of the chord and arpeggio.

Major 7 Arpeggio

A major 7 arpeggio is made of tonic (1), major third (3), perfect fifth (5) and major seventh (7). Giving the notes A, C#, E, G# for an Amaj7.

Dominant 7 Arpeggio

A dominant 7 arpeggio is simply a major 7 arpeggio where the seventh has been lowered by a half-step. Giving us a major triad with an added b7. The formula is tonic (1), major third (3), perfect fifth (5) and minor seventh (b7). We get the notes A, C#, E, G for an A7.

Minor 7 Arpeggio

A minor 7 arpeggio is made of a tonic (1), minor third (b3), perfect fifth (5) and minor seventh (b7). Compared to the previous dominant 7 chord, the third is lowered by a half-step. The notes for Am7 are A, C, E and G.

Half-diminished Arpeggio

A half diminished arpeggio (m7b5) is a built with tonic (1), minor third (b3), diminished fifth (b5) and minor seventh (b7). The notes composing an Am7b5 chord are A, C, Eb and G.

Diminished 7 Arpeggio

A diminished 7 arpeggio contains a bb7 in comparison with a half-diminished. Giving the formula : tonic (1), minor third (b3), diminished fifth (b5) and diminished seventh (bb7). The notes composing an Am7b5 chord are A, C, Eb and Gb.

13 Warm-up  Arpeggio Exercises

The 13 arpeggio exercises that are following are made using the same chord progression (Amaj7, A7, Am7, Am7b5, Adim7) so that only one note change to switch from one arpeggio to the other :

• Amaj7 going to A7 : The seventh (G#) becomes a minor seventh (G).
• A7 to Am7 : The third (C#) becomes a minor third (C).
• Am7 to Am7b5 : The fifth (E) becomes a flat fifth (Eb).
• Am7b5 to Adim7 : The minor seventh (G) becomes a diminished seventh (Gb).

Two time signatures are used : 12/8 (ternary) and 4/4 (binary).

Exercise 1 - Strings 6.5.4

In this first exercise the time signature is 12/8 and the basic interval pattern used is : 1 - 3 - 5 (ascending) - 7 - 5 - 3 (descending).

Exercise 2 - Strings 6.5.4

Time signature : 4/4 - Basic interval pattern is : 1 - 3 - 5 - 7 (ascending) - 1 - 7 - 5 - 3 (descending). 

Exercise 3 - Strings 5.4

Time signature is 12/8 - The basic interval pattern starts on the third giving : 3 - 5 - 7 (ascending) - 1 - 7 - 5 (descending).

Exercise 4 - Strings 5.4.3

Time signature is 4/4 - Basic interval pattern starting on the third : 3 - 5 - 7 - 1 (ascending) 3 - 1 - 7 - 5 (descending).

Exercise 5 - Strings 5.4.3

Time signature 12/8 - Interval pattern starting on the fifth giving : 5 - 7 - 1 (ascending) - 3 - 1 - 7 (descending).

Exercise 6 - Strings 5.4.3.2

Time signature is 4/4 - The basic interval pattern starts on the fifth thus giving : 5 - 7 - 1 - 3 (ascending) - 5 - 3 - 1 - 7 (descending).

Exercise 7 - Strings 4.3.2

Time signature is 12/8 - Interval pattern starting on the seventh : 7 - 1 - 3 (ascending) - 5 - 3 - 1 (descending).

Exercise 8 - Strings 5.4.3.2.1

Time signature 4/4 - The basic interval pattern starting on the seventh : 7 - 1 - 3 - 5 (ascending) - 1 - 5 - 3 - 1 (descending).

Exercise 9 - Strings 4.3.2.1

Time signature 12/8 - Basic interval pattern starts on the tonic thus giving : 1 - 3 - 5 (ascending) - 7 - 5 - 3 (descending).

Exercise 10 - Strings 4.3.2.1

Time signature is 4/4 - The basic interval pattern starts on the tonic : 1 - 3 - 5 - 7 (ascending) - 1 - 7 - 5 - 3 (descending).

Exercise 11 - Strings 6.5.4.3.2

Time signature is 12/8 - Interval pattern starting on the tonic : 1 - 3 - 5 - 7 - 1 - 3 (ascending) - 5 - 3 - 1 - 7 - 5 - 3 (descending).

Exercise 12 - Strings 6.5.4.3.2.1

Time signature is 4/4 - The basic interval pattern starts on the tonic : 1 - 3 - 5 - 7 - 1 - 3 - 5 - 7 (ascending) - 1 - 7 - 5 - 3 - 1 - 7 - 5 - 3 (descending).

Exercise 13 - Strings 6.5.4.3.2.1

Time signature is 12/8 for this last exercise - The basic interval pattern starts on the seventh giving : 7 - 1 - 3 - 5 - 7 - 1 - 3 - 5 - 7 - 1 - 3 - 5. Actually the same pattern (7-1-3-5) spanning three octaves.