D# Minor/major Seventh Guitar Arpeggio
Guitar arpeggio — fretboard diagram
D# Minor/major Seventh Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: D#, F#, A#, D
Intervals: 1P, 3m, 5P, 7M
Formula: WH-2W-2W
Number of notes: 4
Also known as: m/ma7, m/maj7, mM7, mMaj7, m/M7, -Δ7, mΔ, -^7, -maj7
The D# Minor/major Seventh arpeggio contains 4 notes (D#, F#, A#, D). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this arpeggio on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.
When to Use the D# Minor/major Seventh Arpeggio
Play the D# Minor/major Seventh arpeggio whenever a D# Minor/major Seventh 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/major Seventh arpeggio uses 4 notes (D#, F#, A#, D) 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/major Seventh Arpeggio on Guitar
Root your D# Minor/major Seventh arpeggio at fret 11 on the 6th (low E), or alternatively at 6th fret on the A string. This 4-note arpeggio (D#, F#, A#, D) 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/major Seventh arpeggio outlines a D# minor chord and fits naturally over D#m, D#m7, D#m6 voicings. Use it to bring out the darker, expressive quality of minor harmony in your solos and melodies.
Practice Routine
Play the D# Minor/major Seventh arpeggio as whole notes over a backing track or drone on D#. Focus on intonation and tone quality for each of the 4 notes (D#, F#, A#, D). 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 D# Minor/major Seventh 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 D# Minor/major Seventh in Other Tunings
- D# Minor/major Seventh in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- D# Minor/major Seventh in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- D# Minor/major Seventh in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- D# Minor/major Seventh in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- D# Minor/major Seventh in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- D# Minor/major Seventh in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- D# Minor/major Seventh in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- D# Minor/major Seventh in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- D# Minor/major Seventh in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- D# Minor/major Seventh in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- D# Minor/major Seventh in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- D# Minor/major Seventh in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- D# Minor/major Seventh in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- D# Minor/major Seventh in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)