A Major Seventh Sharp Eleventh Guitar Arpeggio
Guitar arpeggio — fretboard diagram
A Major Seventh Sharp Eleventh Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: A, C#, E, G#, D#
Intervals: 1P, 3M, 5P, 7M, 11A
Formula: 2W-WH-2W-7
Number of notes: 5
Also known as: maj#4, Δ#4, Δ#11, M7#11, ^7#11, maj7#11
The A Major Seventh Sharp Eleventh arpeggio contains 5 notes (A, C#, E, G#, D#). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this arpeggio on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.
When to Use the A Major Seventh Sharp Eleventh Arpeggio
Play the A Major Seventh Sharp Eleventh arpeggio whenever a A Major Seventh Sharp 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 Major Seventh Sharp Eleventh arpeggio uses 5 notes (A, C#, E, G#, 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 Major Seventh Sharp Eleventh Arpeggio on Guitar
Root your A Major Seventh Sharp Eleventh arpeggio at fret 5 on the 6th (low E), or alternatively at open position using open A string. This 5-note arpeggio (A, C#, E, G#, 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 Major Seventh Sharp Eleventh arpeggio outlines a A major chord and works perfectly over A, Amaj7, A6 harmonies. It is a foundational arpeggio for soloing over major-key progressions and emphasizes the bright, resolved character of the major triad.
Practice Routine
Practice the A Major Seventh Sharp Eleventh 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, 5P, 7M, 11A) in any register.
Guitar Tips
On guitar, practice the A Major Seventh Sharp Eleventh 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 Major Seventh Sharp Eleventh in Other Tunings
- A Major Seventh Sharp Eleventh in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- A Major Seventh Sharp Eleventh in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- A Major Seventh Sharp Eleventh in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- A Major Seventh Sharp Eleventh in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- A Major Seventh Sharp Eleventh in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- A Major Seventh Sharp Eleventh in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- A Major Seventh Sharp Eleventh in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- A Major Seventh Sharp Eleventh in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- A Major Seventh Sharp Eleventh in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- A Major Seventh Sharp Eleventh in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- A Major Seventh Sharp Eleventh in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- A Major Seventh Sharp Eleventh in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- A Major Seventh Sharp Eleventh in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- A Major Seventh Sharp Eleventh in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)