A Minor Eleventh Guitar Arpeggio
Guitar arpeggio — fretboard diagram
A Minor Eleventh Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: A, C, E, G, B, D
Intervals: 1P, 3m, 5P, 7m, 9M, 11P
Formula: WH-2W-WH-2W-WH
Number of notes: 6
Also known as: m11, -11
The A Minor Eleventh arpeggio contains 6 notes (A, C, 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 Minor Eleventh Arpeggio
Play the A Minor Eleventh arpeggio whenever a A Minor 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 Minor Eleventh arpeggio uses 6 notes (A, C, 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 Minor Eleventh Arpeggio on Guitar
Root your A Minor Eleventh arpeggio at fret 5 on the 6th (low E), or alternatively at open position using open A string. With 6 notes, this extended arpeggio covers a wide range. Break it into smaller two- or three-string groups and connect them gradually. Tapping can also help cover the extra reach needed.
The A Minor Eleventh arpeggio outlines a A minor chord and fits naturally over Am, Am7, Am6 voicings. Use it to bring out the darker, expressive quality of minor harmony in your solos and melodies.
Practice Routine
Practice the A Minor 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, 9M, 11P) in any register.
Guitar Tips
On guitar, practice the A Minor 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 Minor Eleventh in Other Tunings
- A Minor Eleventh in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- A Minor Eleventh in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- A Minor Eleventh in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- A Minor Eleventh in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- A Minor Eleventh in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- A Minor Eleventh in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- A Minor Eleventh in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- A Minor Eleventh in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- A Minor Eleventh in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- A Minor Eleventh in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- A Minor Eleventh in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- A Minor Eleventh in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- A Minor Eleventh in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- A Minor Eleventh in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)