B Eleventh Guitar Arpeggio
Guitar arpeggio — fretboard diagram
B Eleventh Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: B, F#, A, C#, E
Intervals: 1P, 5P, 7m, 9M, 11P
Formula: 7-WH-2W-WH
Number of notes: 5
Also known as: 11
The B Eleventh arpeggio contains 5 notes (B, F#, A, C#, E). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this arpeggio on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.
When to Use the B Eleventh Arpeggio
Play the B Eleventh arpeggio whenever a B 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 B Eleventh arpeggio uses 5 notes (B, F#, 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 B Eleventh Arpeggio on Guitar
Root your B Eleventh arpeggio at fret 7 on the 6th (low E), or alternatively at 2nd fret on the A string. This 5-note arpeggio (B, F#, A, C#, E) benefits from economy picking, combining sweep and alternate picking motions. Practice isolating two-string pairs to build coordination before linking the full shape.
The B Eleventh arpeggio contains extended tones beyond the basic triad, adding harmonic color and sophistication. Use it over B9, B11, B13 chords to outline richer voicings in jazz, fusion, and neo-soul contexts.
Practice Routine
Practice the B Eleventh arpeggio in different octaves, starting low and working up. Then try displacing the octaves — play the root low, the F# an octave higher, and continue leaping. This trains your ear to hear the intervals (1P, 5P, 7m, 9M, 11P) in any register.
Guitar Tips
On guitar, practice the B 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 B Eleventh in Other Tunings
- B Eleventh in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- B Eleventh in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- B Eleventh in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- B Eleventh in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- B Eleventh in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- B Eleventh in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- B Eleventh in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- B Eleventh in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- B Eleventh in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- B Eleventh in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- B Eleventh in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- B Eleventh in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- B Eleventh in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- B Eleventh in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)