A Minor Guitar Arpeggio
Guitar arpeggio — fretboard diagram
A Minor Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: A, C, E
Intervals: 1P, 3m, 5P
Formula: WH-2W
Number of notes: 3
Also known as: m, min, -
The A Minor arpeggio contains 3 notes (A, C, E). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this arpeggio on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.
When to Use the A Minor Arpeggio
Play the A Minor arpeggio whenever a A Minor 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 arpeggio uses 3 notes (A, C, 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 Minor Arpeggio on Guitar
Root your A Minor arpeggio at fret 5 on the 6th (low E), or alternatively at open position using open A string. With only 3 notes (A, C, 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 Minor 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
Play the A Minor arpeggio as whole notes over a backing track or drone on A. Focus on intonation and tone quality for each of the 3 notes (A, C, 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 Minor 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 Minor in Other Tunings
- A Minor in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- A Minor in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- A Minor in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- A Minor in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- A Minor in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- A Minor in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- A Minor in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- A Minor in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- A Minor in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- A Minor in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- A Minor in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- A Minor in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- A Minor in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- A Minor in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)