D Minor Ninth Guitar Arpeggio
Guitar arpeggio — fretboard diagram
D Minor Ninth Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: D, F, A, C, E
Intervals: 1P, 3m, 5P, 7m, 9M
Formula: WH-2W-WH-2W
Number of notes: 5
Also known as: m9, -9
The D Minor Ninth arpeggio contains 5 notes (D, 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 D Minor Ninth Arpeggio
Play the D Minor Ninth arpeggio whenever a D Minor 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 D Minor Ninth arpeggio uses 5 notes (D, 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 D Minor Ninth Arpeggio on Guitar
Root your D Minor Ninth arpeggio at fret 10 on the 6th (low E), or alternatively at 5th fret on the A string. This 5-note arpeggio (D, 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 D Minor Ninth arpeggio outlines a D minor chord and fits naturally over Dm, Dm7, Dm6 voicings. Use it to bring out the darker, expressive quality of minor harmony in your solos and melodies.
Practice Routine
Practice the D Minor Ninth 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, 5P, 7m, 9M) in any register.
Guitar Tips
On guitar, practice the D Minor 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 D Minor Ninth in Other Tunings
- D Minor Ninth in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- D Minor Ninth in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- D Minor Ninth in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- D Minor Ninth in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- D Minor Ninth in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- D Minor Ninth in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- D Minor Ninth in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- D Minor Ninth in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- D Minor Ninth in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- D Minor Ninth in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- D Minor Ninth in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- D Minor Ninth in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- D Minor Ninth in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- D Minor Ninth in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)