A Eleventh Bass Arpeggio
Bass arpeggio — fretboard diagram
A Eleventh Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: A, E, G, B, D
Intervals: 1P, 5P, 7m, 9M, 11P
Formula: 7-WH-2W-WH
Number of notes: 5
Also known as: 11
The A Eleventh arpeggio contains 5 notes (A, E, G, B, D). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this arpeggio on Bass with different tunings and fret ranges.
When to Use the A Eleventh Arpeggio
Play the A Eleventh arpeggio whenever a A Eleventh 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 A Eleventh arpeggio uses 5 notes (A, E, G, B, D) 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 A Eleventh Arpeggio on Bass
On bass, locate A on the E string at fret 5. Span the 5 notes (A, E, G, B, D) across two to three strings using one finger per fret. Focus on even tone production between plucked strings and smooth position shifts.
The A Eleventh arpeggio contains extended tones beyond the basic triad, adding harmonic color and sophistication. Use it over A9, A11, A13 chords to outline richer voicings in jazz, fusion, and neo-soul contexts.
Practice Routine
Start by playing the A Eleventh arpeggio ascending and descending at 60 BPM, one note per beat, using a metronome. Once even and confident, play it in eighth notes, then triplets, keeping each note articulate. Spend at least 5 minutes daily on this before moving to musical application.
Bass Tips
On bass, use the A Eleventh arpeggio as the skeleton for your bass lines. Target the root on beat 1, then use the other tones (E, G, B, D) on weaker beats to create movement while keeping the harmonic foundation solid.