C# Minor Eleventh Guitar Arpeggio
Guitar arpeggio — fretboard diagram
C# Minor Eleventh Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: C#, E, G#, B, D#, F#
Intervals: 1P, 3m, 5P, 7m, 9M, 11P
Formula: WH-2W-WH-2W-WH
Number of notes: 6
Also known as: m11, -11
The C# Minor Eleventh arpeggio contains 6 notes (C#, E, G#, B, D#, F#). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this arpeggio on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.
When to Use the C# Minor Eleventh Arpeggio
Play the C# Minor Eleventh arpeggio whenever a C# 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 C# Minor Eleventh arpeggio uses 6 notes (C#, E, G#, B, D#, F#) 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# Minor Eleventh Arpeggio on Guitar
Root your C# Minor Eleventh arpeggio at fret 9 on the 6th (low E), or alternatively at 4th fret on the 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 C# Minor Eleventh arpeggio outlines a C# minor chord and fits naturally over C#m, C#m7, C#m6 voicings. Use it to bring out the darker, expressive quality of minor harmony in your solos and melodies.
Practice Routine
Play the C# Minor Eleventh arpeggio as whole notes over a backing track or drone on C#. Focus on intonation and tone quality for each of the 6 notes (C#, E, G#, B, D#, F#). 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 C# Minor Eleventh 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 C# Minor Eleventh in Other Tunings
- C# Minor Eleventh in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- C# Minor Eleventh in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- C# Minor Eleventh in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- C# Minor Eleventh in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- C# Minor Eleventh in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- C# Minor Eleventh in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- C# Minor Eleventh in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- C# Minor Eleventh in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- C# Minor Eleventh in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- C# Minor Eleventh in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- C# Minor Eleventh in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- C# Minor Eleventh in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- C# Minor Eleventh in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- C# Minor Eleventh in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)