F# Dominant Ninth Guitar Arpeggio
Guitar arpeggio — fretboard diagram
F# Dominant Ninth Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: F#, A#, C#, E, G#
Intervals: 1P, 3M, 5P, 7m, 9M
Formula: 2W-WH-WH-2W
Number of notes: 5
Also known as: 9
The F# Dominant Ninth arpeggio contains 5 notes (F#, A#, C#, E, G#). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this arpeggio on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.
When to Use the F# Dominant Ninth Arpeggio
Play the F# Dominant Ninth arpeggio whenever a F# 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 F# Dominant Ninth arpeggio uses 5 notes (F#, A#, C#, E, G#) 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# Dominant Ninth Arpeggio on Guitar
Root your F# Dominant Ninth arpeggio at fret 2 on the 6th (low E), or alternatively at 9th fret on the A string. This 5-note arpeggio (F#, A#, C#, E, G#) 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# Dominant Ninth arpeggio outlines a dominant seventh chord, creating the tension that wants to resolve. Use it over F#7, F#9, F#13 chords, especially in blues, funk, and jazz where dominant harmony drives the groove.
Practice Routine
Play the F# Dominant Ninth arpeggio as whole notes over a backing track or drone on F#. Focus on intonation and tone quality for each of the 5 notes (F#, A#, C#, E, G#). 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# Dominant 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 F# Dominant Ninth in Other Tunings
- F# Dominant Ninth in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- F# Dominant Ninth in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- F# Dominant Ninth in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- F# Dominant Ninth in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- F# Dominant Ninth in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- F# Dominant Ninth in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- F# Dominant Ninth in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- F# Dominant Ninth in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- F# Dominant Ninth in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- F# Dominant Ninth in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- F# Dominant Ninth in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- F# Dominant Ninth in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- F# Dominant Ninth in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- F# Dominant Ninth in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)