A Half-diminished Guitar Arpeggio
Guitar arpeggio — fretboard diagram
A Half-diminished Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: A, C, Eb, G
Intervals: 1P, 3m, 5d, 7m
Formula: WH-WH-2W
Number of notes: 4
Also known as: m7b5, ø, -7b5, h7, h
The A Half-diminished arpeggio contains 4 notes (A, C, Eb, G). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this arpeggio on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.
When to Use the A Half-diminished Arpeggio
Play the A Half-diminished arpeggio whenever a A Half-diminished 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 Half-diminished arpeggio uses 4 notes (A, C, Eb, G) 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 Half-diminished Arpeggio on Guitar
Root your A Half-diminished arpeggio at fret 5 on the 6th (low E), or alternatively at open position using open A string. This 4-note arpeggio (A, C, Eb, G) 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 Half-diminished arpeggio creates a tense, unstable sound built from minor thirds. It works over Adim, Adim7, Am7b5 chords and is often used as a passing device to create dramatic tension before resolving to a stable chord.
Practice Routine
Start by playing the A Half-diminished 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.
Guitar Tips
Try playing the A Half-diminished arpeggio on guitar by superimposing it over the corresponding A major barre chord shape. This visual connection between chord and arpeggio helps you find arpeggio tones instantly during improvisation.
Related Resources
Explore A Half-diminished in Other Tunings
- A Half-diminished in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- A Half-diminished in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- A Half-diminished in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- A Half-diminished in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- A Half-diminished in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- A Half-diminished in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- A Half-diminished in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- A Half-diminished in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- A Half-diminished in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- A Half-diminished in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- A Half-diminished in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- A Half-diminished in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- A Half-diminished in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- A Half-diminished in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)