A Fifth Guitar Arpeggio
Guitar arpeggio — fretboard diagram
A Fifth Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: A, E
Intervals: 1P, 5P
Formula: 7
Number of notes: 2
Also known as: 5
The A Fifth arpeggio contains 2 notes (A, E). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this arpeggio on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.
When to Use the A Fifth Arpeggio
Play the A Fifth arpeggio whenever a A Fifth 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 Fifth arpeggio uses 2 notes (A, E) 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 Fifth Arpeggio on Guitar
Root your A Fifth arpeggio at fret 5 on the 6th (low E), or alternatively at open position using open A string. With only 2 notes (A, E), this arpeggio spans wide intervals across the strings — sweep picking is an efficient way to move through it cleanly. Keep your pick angle consistent and let each note ring individually.
The A Fifth arpeggio outlines a AFifth chord. Playing these 2 tones (A, E) over the matching harmony ensures your melodic lines clearly follow the chord changes.
Practice Routine
Play the A Fifth arpeggio as whole notes over a backing track or drone on A. Focus on intonation and tone quality for each of the 2 notes (A, E). 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 Fifth 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 Fifth in Other Tunings
- A Fifth in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- A Fifth in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- A Fifth in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- A Fifth in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- A Fifth in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- A Fifth in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- A Fifth in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- A Fifth in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- A Fifth in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- A Fifth in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- A Fifth in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- A Fifth in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- A Fifth in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- A Fifth in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)