A Eleventh Guitar Arpeggio
Guitar 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 Guitar 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 Guitar
Root your A Eleventh arpeggio at fret 5 on the 6th (low E), or alternatively at open position using open A string. This 5-note arpeggio (A, E, G, B, D) 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 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
Play the A Eleventh arpeggio as whole notes over a backing track or drone on A. Focus on intonation and tone quality for each of the 5 notes (A, E, G, B, D). After a few passes, begin improvising short melodic phrases built from these arpeggio tones, connecting them with passing notes.
Guitar Tips
On guitar, practice the A Eleventh arpeggio using sweep picking across all six strings. Start with downstrokes ascending and upstrokes descending at a slow tempo, keeping each note separated rather than blurred. Mute unused strings with your fretting hand to keep the sound clean.
Related Resources
Explore A Eleventh in Other Tunings
- A Eleventh in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- A Eleventh in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- A Eleventh in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- A Eleventh in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- A Eleventh in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- A Eleventh in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- A Eleventh in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- A Eleventh in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- A Eleventh in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- A Eleventh in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- A Eleventh in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- A Eleventh in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- A Eleventh in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- A Eleventh in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)