E Minor/major Ninth Bass Arpeggio
Bass arpeggio — fretboard diagram
E Minor/major Ninth Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: E, G, B, D#, F#
Intervals: 1P, 3m, 5P, 7M, 9M
Formula: WH-2W-2W-WH
Number of notes: 5
Also known as: mM9, mMaj9, -^9
The E Minor/major Ninth arpeggio contains 5 notes (E, G, B, D#, F#). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this arpeggio on Bass with different tunings and fret ranges.
When to Use the E Minor/major Ninth Arpeggio
Play the E Minor/major Ninth arpeggio whenever a E Minor/major Ninth 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/major Ninth arpeggio uses 5 notes (E, G, B, D#, 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 E Minor/major Ninth Arpeggio on Bass
On bass, locate E on the E string at fret 0. Span the 5 notes (E, G, B, D#, F#) 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/major Ninth 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
Play the E Minor/major Ninth arpeggio as whole notes over a backing track or drone on E. Focus on intonation and tone quality for each of the 5 notes (E, G, B, D#, F#). After a few passes, begin improvising short melodic phrases built from these arpeggio tones, connecting them with passing notes.
Bass Tips
Practice the E Minor/major Ninth 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.