A# Minor/major Ninth Guitar Arpeggio
Guitar arpeggio — fretboard diagram
A# Minor/major Ninth Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: A#, C#, F, A, C
Intervals: 1P, 3m, 5P, 7M, 9M
Formula: WH-2W-2W-WH
Number of notes: 5
Also known as: mM9, mMaj9, -^9
The A# Minor/major Ninth arpeggio contains 5 notes (A#, C#, F, A, C). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this arpeggio on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.
When to Use the A# Minor/major Ninth Arpeggio
Play the A# Minor/major Ninth arpeggio whenever a A# Minor/major Ninth 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/major Ninth arpeggio uses 5 notes (A#, C#, F, A, C) 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/major Ninth Arpeggio on Guitar
Root your A# Minor/major Ninth arpeggio at fret 6 on the 6th (low E), or alternatively at 1st fret on the A string. This 5-note arpeggio (A#, C#, F, A, C) 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# Minor/major Ninth arpeggio outlines a A# minor chord and fits naturally over A#m, A#m7, A#m6 voicings. Use it to bring out the darker, expressive quality of minor harmony in your solos and melodies.
Practice Routine
Practice the A# Minor/major Ninth 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) in any register.
Guitar Tips
On guitar, practice the A# Minor/major Ninth 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/major Ninth in Other Tunings
- A# Minor/major Ninth in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- A# Minor/major Ninth in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- A# Minor/major Ninth in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- A# Minor/major Ninth in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- A# Minor/major Ninth in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- A# Minor/major Ninth in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- A# Minor/major Ninth in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- A# Minor/major Ninth in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- A# Minor/major Ninth in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- A# Minor/major Ninth in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- A# Minor/major Ninth in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- A# Minor/major Ninth in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- A# Minor/major Ninth in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- A# Minor/major Ninth in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)