D# Suspended Fourth Flat Ninth Guitar Arpeggio
Guitar arpeggio — fretboard diagram
D# Suspended Fourth Flat Ninth Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: D#, G#, A#, C#, E
Intervals: 1P, 4P, 5P, 7m, 9m
Formula: 5-W-WH-WH
Number of notes: 5
Also known as: b9sus, phryg, 7b9sus, 7b9sus4
The D# Suspended Fourth Flat Ninth arpeggio contains 5 notes (D#, G#, 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# Suspended Fourth Flat Ninth Arpeggio
Play the D# Suspended Fourth Flat Ninth arpeggio whenever a D# Suspended Fourth 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 D# Suspended Fourth Flat Ninth arpeggio uses 5 notes (D#, G#, 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# Suspended Fourth Flat Ninth Arpeggio on Guitar
Root your D# Suspended Fourth Flat Ninth arpeggio at fret 11 on the 6th (low E), or alternatively at 6th fret on the A string. This 5-note arpeggio (D#, G#, 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# Suspended Fourth Flat Ninth arpeggio avoids the third, creating an open, unresolved sound. It works over D#sus4, D#sus2, D#7sus4 voicings and is perfect for creating a modern, ambiguous harmonic feel that neither commits to major nor minor.
Practice Routine
Start by playing the D# Suspended Fourth Flat Ninth arpeggio ascending and descending at 60 BPM, one note per beat, using a metronome. Once even and confident, play it in eighth notes, then triplets, keeping each note articulate. Spend at least 5 minutes daily on this before moving to musical application.
Guitar Tips
Try playing the D# Suspended Fourth Flat Ninth arpeggio on guitar by superimposing it over the corresponding D# major barre chord shape. This visual connection between chord and arpeggio helps you find arpeggio tones instantly during improvisation.
Related Resources
Explore D# Suspended Fourth Flat Ninth in Other Tunings
- D# Suspended Fourth Flat Ninth in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- D# Suspended Fourth Flat Ninth in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- D# Suspended Fourth Flat Ninth in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- D# Suspended Fourth Flat Ninth in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- D# Suspended Fourth Flat Ninth in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- D# Suspended Fourth Flat Ninth in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- D# Suspended Fourth Flat Ninth in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- D# Suspended Fourth Flat Ninth in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- D# Suspended Fourth Flat Ninth in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- D# Suspended Fourth Flat Ninth in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- D# Suspended Fourth Flat Ninth in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- D# Suspended Fourth Flat Ninth in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- D# Suspended Fourth Flat Ninth in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- D# Suspended Fourth Flat Ninth in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)