E Minor Eleventh Bass Arpeggio
Bass arpeggio — fretboard diagram
E Minor Eleventh Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: E, G, B, D, F#, A
Intervals: 1P, 3m, 5P, 7m, 9M, 11P
Formula: WH-2W-WH-2W-WH
Number of notes: 6
Also known as: m11, -11
The E Minor Eleventh arpeggio contains 6 notes (E, G, B, D, F#, A). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this arpeggio on Bass with different tunings and fret ranges.
When to Use the E Minor Eleventh Arpeggio
Play the E Minor Eleventh arpeggio whenever a E Minor 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 E Minor Eleventh arpeggio uses 6 notes (E, G, B, D, F#, A) 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 E Minor Eleventh Arpeggio on Bass
On bass, locate E on the E string at fret 0. Span the 6 notes (E, G, B, D, F#, A) across two to three strings using one finger per fret. Focus on even tone production between plucked strings and smooth position shifts.
The E Minor Eleventh arpeggio outlines a E minor chord and fits naturally over Em, Em7, Em6 voicings. Use it to bring out the darker, expressive quality of minor harmony in your solos and melodies.
Practice Routine
Start by playing the E Minor 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
Practice the E Minor Eleventh arpeggio on bass using a raking technique across adjacent strings for a smooth, flowing sound. Then try the same shape with a two-finger alternating pluck for a more defined, punchy articulation.