C Major Seventh Sharp Eleventh Bass Arpeggio
Bass arpeggio — fretboard diagram
C Major Seventh Sharp Eleventh Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: C, E, G, B, F#
Intervals: 1P, 3M, 5P, 7M, 11A
Formula: 2W-WH-2W-7
Number of notes: 5
Also known as: maj#4, Δ#4, Δ#11, M7#11, ^7#11, maj7#11
The C Major Seventh Sharp Eleventh arpeggio contains 5 notes (C, E, G, B, F#). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this arpeggio on Bass with different tunings and fret ranges.
When to Use the C Major Seventh Sharp Eleventh Arpeggio
Play the C Major Seventh Sharp Eleventh arpeggio whenever a C Major Seventh Sharp 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 C Major Seventh Sharp Eleventh arpeggio uses 5 notes (C, E, G, B, F#) 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 Major Seventh Sharp Eleventh Arpeggio on Bass
On bass, locate C on the A string at fret 3. Span the 5 notes (C, E, G, B, F#) across two to three strings using one finger per fret. Focus on even tone production between plucked strings and smooth position shifts.
The C Major Seventh Sharp Eleventh arpeggio outlines a C major chord and works perfectly over C, Cmaj7, C6 harmonies. It is a foundational arpeggio for soloing over major-key progressions and emphasizes the bright, resolved character of the major triad.
Practice Routine
Start by playing the C Major Seventh Sharp 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 C Major Seventh Sharp Eleventh arpeggio as the skeleton for your bass lines. Target the root on beat 1, then use the other tones (E, G, B, F#) on weaker beats to create movement while keeping the harmonic foundation solid.