D Augmented Guitar Arpeggio
Guitar arpeggio — fretboard diagram
D Augmented Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: D, F#, A#
Intervals: 1P, 3M, 5A
Formula: 2W-2W
Number of notes: 3
Also known as: aug, +, +5, ^#5
The D Augmented arpeggio contains 3 notes (D, F#, A#). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this arpeggio on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.
When to Use the D Augmented Arpeggio
Play the D Augmented arpeggio whenever a D Augmented 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 D Augmented arpeggio uses 3 notes (D, F#, A#) 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 D Augmented Arpeggio on Guitar
Root your D Augmented arpeggio at fret 10 on the 6th (low E), or alternatively at 5th fret on the A string. With only 3 notes (D, F#, A#), 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 D Augmented arpeggio has a symmetrical, ethereal quality built from major thirds. It fits over Daug, D+, Dmaj7#5 chords and is useful for creating a sense of upward motion and harmonic ambiguity.
Practice Routine
Practice the D Augmented 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, 3M, 5A) in any register.
Guitar Tips
On guitar, practice the D Augmented 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 D Augmented in Other Tunings
- D Augmented in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- D Augmented in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- D Augmented in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- D Augmented in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- D Augmented in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- D Augmented in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- D Augmented in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- D Augmented in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- D Augmented in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- D Augmented in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- D Augmented in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- D Augmented in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- D Augmented in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- D Augmented in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)