E Dominant Ninth Guitar Arpeggio
Guitar arpeggio — fretboard diagram
E Dominant Ninth Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: E, G#, B, D, F#
Intervals: 1P, 3M, 5P, 7m, 9M
Formula: 2W-WH-WH-2W
Number of notes: 5
Also known as: 9
The E Dominant 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 Ninth Arpeggio
Play the E Dominant Ninth arpeggio whenever a E Dominant 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 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 Ninth Arpeggio on Guitar
Start the E Dominant 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 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
Practice the E Dominant Ninth arpeggio in different octaves, starting low and working up. Then try displacing the octaves — play the root low, the G# 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 E Dominant 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 E Dominant Ninth in Other Tunings
- E Dominant Ninth in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- E Dominant Ninth in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- E Dominant Ninth in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- E Dominant Ninth in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- E Dominant Ninth in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- E Dominant Ninth in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- E Dominant Ninth in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- E Dominant Ninth in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- E Dominant Ninth in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- E Dominant Ninth in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- E Dominant Ninth in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- E Dominant Ninth in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- E Dominant Ninth in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- E Dominant Ninth in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)