C Minor/major Seventh Banjo (5-String) Arpeggio

Banjo (5-String) arpeggio — fretboard diagram

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C minor/major seventh arpeggio — 5-string guitar fretboard diagramInteractive fretboard diagram showing the C minor/major seventh arpeggio on 5-string guitar with 22 frets. Notes: Eb, G, B, C.EbGBCEbGBCBCEbGBCEbGGBCEbGBCEbEbGBCEbGBCGBCEbGBC1357911121315171921

C Minor/major Seventh Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals

Notes: C, Eb, G, B

Intervals: 1P, 3m, 5P, 7M

Formula: WH-2W-2W

Number of notes: 4

Also known as: m/ma7, m/maj7, mM7, mMaj7, m/M7, -Δ7, mΔ, -^7, -maj7

The C Minor/major Seventh arpeggio contains 4 notes (C, Eb, G, B). Use the interactive fretboard diagram above to explore each arpeggio shape and pattern on Banjo (5-String). Practice ascending and descending from the root note across all strings to learn the sound of this arpeggio.

When to Use the C Minor/major Seventh Arpeggio

Play the C Minor/major Seventh arpeggio whenever a C Minor/major Seventh chord appears in a progression. Unlike scales (which include passing tones), arpeggios guarantee every note you play IS a chord tone, making your solo sound harmonically precise and intentional.

Arpeggio vs. Scale

The C Minor/major Seventh arpeggio uses 4 notes (C, Eb, G, B) while the full scale uses 7. The arpeggio is a subset — think of it as the skeleton of the scale. Practice alternating between the arpeggio and the full scale to develop a melodic vocabulary that mixes chord tones with passing tones.

How to Play C Minor/major Seventh Arpeggio on Banjo (5-String)

Locate C on your instrument and play through the 4 notes of the Minor/major Seventh arpeggio (C, Eb, G, B) slowly, ensuring each tone rings clearly before connecting them at speed.

The C Minor/major Seventh arpeggio outlines a C minor chord and fits naturally over Cm, Cm7, Cm6 voicings. Use it to bring out the darker, expressive quality of minor harmony in your solos and melodies.

Practice Routine — Exercises for Playing

Practice the C Minor/major Seventh arpeggio in different octaves, starting low and working up. Then try displacing the octaves — play the root low, the Eb an octave higher, and continue leaping. This trains your ear to hear the intervals (1P, 3m, 5P, 7M) in any register.

Banjo (5-String) Tips

Practice the C Minor/major Seventh arpeggio on your instrument at a slow, comfortable tempo, focusing on clean articulation of each of the 4 tones before gradually increasing speed.

Related Resources

Explore C Minor/major Seventh in Other Tunings

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