E Minor/major Ninth Guitar Arpeggio
Guitar arpeggio — fretboard diagram
E Minor/major Ninth Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: E, G, B, D#, F#
Intervals: 1P, 3m, 5P, 7M, 9M
Formula: WH-2W-2W-WH
Number of notes: 5
Also known as: mM9, mMaj9, -^9
The E Minor/major 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 Minor/major Ninth Arpeggio
Play the E Minor/major Ninth arpeggio whenever a E Minor/major 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 Minor/major 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 Minor/major Ninth Arpeggio on Guitar
Start the E Minor/major 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 Minor/major Ninth arpeggio outlines a E minor chord and fits naturally over Em, Em7, Em6 voicings. Use it to bring out the darker, expressive quality of minor harmony in your solos and melodies.
Practice Routine
Practice the E Minor/major 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 Minor/major 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 Minor/major Ninth in Other Tunings
- E Minor/major Ninth in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- E Minor/major Ninth in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- E Minor/major Ninth in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- E Minor/major Ninth in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- E Minor/major Ninth in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- E Minor/major Ninth in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- E Minor/major Ninth in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- E Minor/major Ninth in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- E Minor/major Ninth in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- E Minor/major Ninth in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- E Minor/major Ninth in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- E Minor/major Ninth in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- E Minor/major Ninth in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- E Minor/major Ninth in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)