C Dominant Flat Ninth Guitar Arpeggio
Guitar arpeggio — fretboard diagram
C Dominant Flat Ninth Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: C, E, G, Bb, Db
Intervals: 1P, 3M, 5P, 7m, 9m
Formula: 2W-WH-WH-WH
Number of notes: 5
Also known as: 7b9
The C Dominant Flat Ninth arpeggio contains 5 notes (C, E, G, Bb, Db). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this arpeggio on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.
When to Use the C Dominant Flat Ninth Arpeggio
Play the C Dominant Flat Ninth arpeggio whenever a C Dominant Flat 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 C Dominant Flat Ninth arpeggio uses 5 notes (C, E, G, Bb, Db) 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 C Dominant Flat Ninth Arpeggio on Guitar
Root your C Dominant Flat Ninth arpeggio at fret 8 on the 6th (low E), or alternatively at 3rd fret on the A string. This 5-note arpeggio (C, E, G, Bb, Db) benefits from economy picking, combining sweep and alternate picking motions. Practice isolating two-string pairs to build coordination before linking the full shape.
The C Dominant Flat Ninth arpeggio outlines a dominant seventh chord, creating the tension that wants to resolve. Use it over C7, C9, C13 chords, especially in blues, funk, and jazz where dominant harmony drives the groove.
Practice Routine
Practice the C Dominant Flat Ninth arpeggio in different octaves, starting low and working up. Then try displacing the octaves — play the root low, the E 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 C Dominant Flat 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 C Dominant Flat Ninth in Other Tunings
- C Dominant Flat Ninth in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- C Dominant Flat Ninth in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- C Dominant Flat Ninth in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- C Dominant Flat Ninth in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- C Dominant Flat Ninth in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- C Dominant Flat Ninth in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- C Dominant Flat Ninth in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- C Dominant Flat Ninth in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- C Dominant Flat Ninth in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- C Dominant Flat Ninth in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- C Dominant Flat Ninth in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- C Dominant Flat Ninth in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- C Dominant Flat Ninth in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- C Dominant Flat Ninth in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)