E Minor/major Seventh Guitar Arpeggio
Guitar arpeggio — fretboard diagram
E Minor/major Seventh Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: E, G, B, 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 E Minor/major Seventh arpeggio contains 4 notes (E, G, B, D#). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this arpeggio on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.
When to Use the E Minor/major Seventh Arpeggio
Play the E Minor/major Seventh arpeggio whenever a E 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 E Minor/major Seventh arpeggio uses 4 notes (E, G, B, 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 E Minor/major Seventh Arpeggio on Guitar
Start the E Minor/major Seventh arpeggio in open position, using the open E string as your root. This 4-note arpeggio (E, G, B, 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 E Minor/major Seventh 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 Seventh 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) in any register.
Guitar Tips
On guitar, practice the E Minor/major Seventh 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 Seventh in Other Tunings
- E Minor/major Seventh in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- E Minor/major Seventh in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- E Minor/major Seventh in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- E Minor/major Seventh in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- E Minor/major Seventh in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- E Minor/major Seventh in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- E Minor/major Seventh in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- E Minor/major Seventh in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- E Minor/major Seventh in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- E Minor/major Seventh in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- E Minor/major Seventh in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- E Minor/major Seventh in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- E Minor/major Seventh in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- E Minor/major Seventh in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)