A Altered Guitar Arpeggio
Guitar arpeggio — fretboard diagram
A Altered Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: A, C#, G, Bb
Intervals: 1P, 3M, 7m, 9m
Formula: 2W-6-WH
Number of notes: 4
Also known as: alt7
The A Altered arpeggio contains 4 notes (A, C#, G, Bb). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this arpeggio on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.
When to Use the A Altered Arpeggio
Play the A Altered arpeggio whenever a A Altered 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 Altered arpeggio uses 4 notes (A, C#, G, Bb) 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 Altered Arpeggio on Guitar
Root your A Altered arpeggio at fret 5 on the 6th (low E), or alternatively at open position using open A string. This 4-note arpeggio (A, C#, G, Bb) benefits from economy picking, combining sweep and alternate picking motions. Practice isolating two-string pairs to build coordination before linking the full shape.
The A Altered arpeggio outlines a AAltered chord. Playing these 4 tones (A, C#, G, Bb) over the matching harmony ensures your melodic lines clearly follow the chord changes.
Practice Routine
Practice the A Altered arpeggio in different octaves, starting low and working up. Then try displacing the octaves — play the root low, the C# an octave higher, and continue leaping. This trains your ear to hear the intervals (1P, 3M, 7m, 9m) in any register.
Guitar Tips
On guitar, practice the A Altered arpeggio using string skipping — jump over a string between each note to create wider intervals. This technique produces a more pianistic, open sound compared to sweep picking and develops precise right-hand accuracy.
Related Resources
Explore A Altered in Other Tunings
- A Altered in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- A Altered in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- A Altered in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- A Altered in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- A Altered in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- A Altered in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- A Altered in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- A Altered in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- A Altered in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- A Altered in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- A Altered in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- A Altered in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- A Altered in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- A Altered in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)