Index/Projects/Scales & Arpeggios

Scales & Arpeggios.

Scale and arpeggio patterns for jazz guitar — the melodic side of chord melody playing.

Arpeggios outline the notes of a chord melodically — they're the bridge between shell chord shapes and single-note lines. Scale patterns provide the broader harmonic context. Together, they form the toolkit for jazz guitar improvisation and chord melody. Shown in G — use the Explorer to transpose.

Arpeggios

G Major 7

Maj7 Arpeggio — Root on 6

Same notes as maj7 shell chord

G Dominant 7

Dom7 Arpeggio — Root on 6

Same notes as dom7 shell chord

G Minor 7

Min7 Arpeggio — Root on 6

Same notes as min7 shell chord

G Minor 7♭5

Min7♭5 Arpeggio — Root on 6

Same notes as min7♭5 shell chord

G Major 7

Maj7 Arpeggio — Root on 5

Same notes as maj7 shell chord

G Dominant 7

Dom7 Arpeggio — Root on 5

Same notes as dom7 shell chord

G Minor 7

Min7 Arpeggio — Root on 5

Same notes as min7 shell chord

Scales

Major (Ionian)

Major Scale — Root on 6, Position 1

Ionian mode. Use over maj7 chords (I in a major key). Three notes per string.

Dorian

Dorian Scale — Root on 6, Position 1

Natural minor with raised 6th. Use over min7 chords (ii in major key, i in Dorian tunes).

Mixolydian

Mixolydian Scale — Root on 6, Position 1

Major scale with flat 7th. Use over dominant 7th chords (V7 in a major key).

Minor Pentatonic

Minor Pentatonic — Root on 6, Position 1

The universal rock and blues scale. Works over min7 and dom7 chords.

Major Pentatonic

Major Pentatonic — Root on 6, Position 1

Bright and melodic. Works beautifully over maj7 chords and I-IV-V progressions.

Explore patterns interactively

Transpose patterns to any key, overlay arpeggios against shell chord shapes, and build toward chord melody guitar.

Open Explorer →Shell Chord Explorer ↘