F Minor Sixth Guitar Arpeggio
Guitar arpeggio — fretboard diagram
F Minor Sixth Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: F, Ab, C, D
Intervals: 1P, 3m, 5P, 6M
Formula: WH-2W-W
Number of notes: 4
Also known as: m6, -6
The F Minor Sixth arpeggio contains 4 notes (F, Ab, C, D). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this arpeggio on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.
When to Use the F Minor Sixth Arpeggio
Play the F Minor Sixth arpeggio whenever a F Minor Sixth 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 F Minor Sixth arpeggio uses 4 notes (F, Ab, C, 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 F Minor Sixth Arpeggio on Guitar
Root your F Minor Sixth arpeggio at fret 1 on the 6th (low E), or alternatively at 8th fret on the A string. This 4-note arpeggio (F, Ab, C, 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 F Minor Sixth arpeggio outlines a F minor chord and fits naturally over Fm, Fm7, Fm6 voicings. Use it to bring out the darker, expressive quality of minor harmony in your solos and melodies.
Practice Routine
Play the F Minor Sixth arpeggio as whole notes over a backing track or drone on F. Focus on intonation and tone quality for each of the 4 notes (F, Ab, C, D). 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 F Minor Sixth 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 F Minor Sixth in Other Tunings
- F Minor Sixth in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- F Minor Sixth in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- F Minor Sixth in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- F Minor Sixth in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- F Minor Sixth in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- F Minor Sixth in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- F Minor Sixth in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- F Minor Sixth in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- F Minor Sixth in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- F Minor Sixth in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- F Minor Sixth in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- F Minor Sixth in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- F Minor Sixth in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- F Minor Sixth in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)