System 3 Arpeggios

In this system, we will continue our studies of 7th chord arpeggios but will now play all of the arpeggios in just one position. As we learninged in System Three, knowing your arpeggios, whether triad arpeggios, or 7th arpeggios,  is vital for improvising. We need, as improvisers, to be able to see arpeggio shapes in one position. That way, as you make melodies, you do not have to jump to the next position to execute the phrase but can see the arpeggio shape and play it in the position you are in.

As mentioned, this exercise simply expands upon the previous arpeggio exercises by adding the 7th note on each arpeggio shape. You will notice that the top 3 notes of each arpeggio are simply a triad that is a third above the root. So a Cmaj7 arpeggio can be seen as an Em with a C root. Dm7 arpeggio can be seen as an F Major triad with a D root. It is important to be able to see this. It allows you to expand your harmonic vocabulary by using information you learned in the first systems!

For playing jazz, this arpeggio exercise is indispensable.