E Dominant Flat Ninth Guitar Arpeggio
Guitar arpeggio — fretboard diagram
E Dominant Flat Ninth Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: E, G#, B, D, F
Intervals: 1P, 3M, 5P, 7m, 9m
Formula: 2W-WH-WH-WH
Number of notes: 5
Also known as: 7b9
The E Dominant Flat Ninth arpeggio contains 5 notes (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 E Dominant Flat Ninth Arpeggio
Play the E Dominant Flat Ninth arpeggio whenever a E Dominant 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 E Dominant Flat Ninth arpeggio uses 5 notes (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 E Dominant Flat Ninth Arpeggio on Guitar
Start the E Dominant Flat Ninth arpeggio in open position, using the open E string as your root. This 5-note arpeggio (E, G#, B, D, F) benefits from economy picking, combining sweep and alternate picking motions. Practice isolating two-string pairs to build coordination before linking the full shape.
The E Dominant Flat Ninth arpeggio outlines a dominant seventh chord, creating the tension that wants to resolve. Use it over E7, E9, E13 chords, especially in blues, funk, and jazz where dominant harmony drives the groove.
Practice Routine
Play the E Dominant Flat Ninth arpeggio as whole notes over a backing track or drone on E. Focus on intonation and tone quality for each of the 5 notes (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 E Dominant Flat Ninth 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 E Dominant Flat Ninth in Other Tunings
- E Dominant Flat Ninth in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- E Dominant Flat Ninth in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- E Dominant Flat Ninth in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- E Dominant Flat Ninth in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- E Dominant Flat Ninth in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- E Dominant Flat Ninth in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- E Dominant Flat Ninth in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- E Dominant Flat Ninth in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- E Dominant Flat Ninth in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- E Dominant Flat Ninth in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- E Dominant Flat Ninth in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- E Dominant Flat Ninth in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- E Dominant Flat Ninth in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- E Dominant Flat Ninth in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)