Explore how to systematically understand, build, and memorize guitar arpeggio using interval logic and the CAGED system.

Recap

In the previous post, we use the CAGED position of common 7th Chord as the framework and derive all sorts of chords on guitar fretboard: 1. for triad, we can simply omit the 7th tone from the common 7th Chord (for augmented chord, we need to sharpen the 5th note) 2. for other less common 7th chords, we can find the CAGED position by alter the chord tones 3. for extended chord, based on music theory understanding, we can add the extended notes in same CAGED area to form the chord shapes.

In this post, we will simply follow the same structure to see how CAGED Interval System can be apply to analyze and organize arpeggios

Basic Triads and 7th Arpeggios

Arpeggio in music theory may refer to different concepts, however, arpeggio in guitar specifically means a series of chord tones for a chord to be played in sequence. Unlike guitar chords which notes are pressed down at once, which has more significant ergnomic limitation, arpeggio notes can be pressed in sequence. In this sence, for some arpeggio shape, although having an awkward fingering, is still playable. Below are the arpeggio for triads and common 7th chords.

Triads

C Major Arpeggio

C Minor Arpeggio

C Diminished Arpeggio

C Augmented Arpeggio

Common 7th Arpeggios

Cmaj7

Cm7

C7 (Dominant 7)

Cm7♭5 (Half-Diminished)

Other 7th Chords

Note that the diminished 7th chord and arpeggio is often used in jazz harmony, but they not discussed in this series. The diminished 7 chords and arpeggios have symetrical shapes. We will discuss about this type of chord and arpeggio in the topic of the CAGED Interval System with symmetrical shapes.

We will also save other non common 7th arpeggio to another post.

Extended and Suspended Chords

Below is a recap of the two strategeies to build extended or suspended chords, which can be apply to build same type of arpeggio as well.

Two Strategies:

Note Addition – Start with a 7th arpeggio and add interval notes based on the CAGED system.
Upper Structure – Play the “top half” of a more complex arpeggio. For example, Cmaj9 can be built from an Em7 shape (the upper structure), omitting the root C.

Adding 9th, ♯11th, and 13th to Cmaj7 Arpeggio

Below are visuals of Cmaj7 with added 9th, ♯11th, and 13th intervals.

Upper Structure: Em7 over C = Cmaj9

Here’s how you can play Cmaj9 arpeggio by using the Em7 arpeggio and omitting the root C.