Arpeggios

As we stated in the previous systems, arpeggios are the key to melodic playing. They are the tones that guide your soloing so that you can follow harmonic outlines of the chords you are following with your melodies. The tones of the arpeggio also are the notes you typically want to land on for the strong beats when soloing. For instance, if you are soloing and the chords are C and G, you’ll typically want to start the solo on one of the C arpeggio notes-C, E, or G over the C chord. When the chord switches to G, you’ll want to direct your line to start on one of the G arpeggio notes-G, B, or D notes. This will tell the listener that you are following the changes and that you are directing your soloing to follow the harmony. 

Systems 1 and 2 took us through all the iterations of the CAGED arpeggio forms. In this system, we’ll learn to play all of the arpeggios in one position. This will allow you as the improvisor to see all of your arpeggio shapes in one position of the neck. This is vitally important and allows you to follow harmonic structure in one position without having to jump around the neck to get to forms you know. You can play melodically in one position when soloing by using these arpeggio ideas. This is one of the most important things you need to know in order to improvise or come up with guitar parts.

We will do all arpeggios in one position, ascend chromatically to its 4th, and then move back down to the root.