How to Build Maj7 Arpeggios
After exploring triads, how to build them and play them on the guitar, the next step is to learn to recognize and play 4-note arpeggio shapes on the staff and fretboard.
In this lesson we’ll be looking at Major 7th Arpeggios, how they compare to triads and how you can build them based on your knowledge of the Major Scale.
In the first example, you will see a C triad (C-E-G) written out next to a Cmaj7 Arpeggio (C-E-G-
.
Notice that the only difference between these two shapes is that the Cmaj7 Arpeggio has one extra note, the 7th.
This is because while the major triad is built with the 1, 3 and 5 of the Major Scale, the Maj7 Arpeggio is built but adding the 7th to that formula, to produce the intervals 1, 3, 5 and 7.
You can use this knowledge to not only relate Maj7 Arpeggios back to the Major Triads you may have already checked out, but you can now take any major triad you know, C for example, add on the 7th from the C Major Scale and you get a Cmaj7 Arpeggio.
To show the relationship between the Major Scale and the Maj7 Arpeggio, here are the two side-by-side in the key of C.
Notice how the 1, 3, 5 and 7 of the C Major Scale are the same notes as the Cmaj7 Arpeggio, again allowing you to recognize that connection and build Maj7 Arpeggios from any note as you can relate it back to the Major Scale from that same note.
Test Your Theory Knowledge!
Now that you have learned how to build Maj7 Arpeggios, try writing out a number of them in the comments section below to get some practice with these shapes.
If you write out some, or all, of the different Maj7 Arpeggios I’ll be happy to look over your work and make sure you’re on the right track.
Have a question or comment about maj7 Arpeggios? Post it below.
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This post has been edited by The Professor: Apr 3 2013, 08:12 AM
