G# Major Ninth Guitar Arpeggio
Guitar arpeggio — fretboard diagram
G# Major Ninth Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: G#, C, D#, G, A#
Intervals: 1P, 3M, 5P, 7M, 9M
Formula: 2W-WH-2W-WH
Number of notes: 5
Also known as: maj9, Δ9, ^9
The G# Major Ninth arpeggio contains 5 notes (G#, C, D#, G, A#). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this arpeggio on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.
When to Use the G# Major Ninth Arpeggio
Play the G# Major Ninth arpeggio whenever a G# 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 G# Major Ninth arpeggio uses 5 notes (G#, C, D#, G, A#) 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 G# Major Ninth Arpeggio on Guitar
Root your G# Major Ninth arpeggio at fret 4 on the 6th (low E), or alternatively at 11th fret on the A string. This 5-note arpeggio (G#, C, D#, G, A#) benefits from economy picking, combining sweep and alternate picking motions. Practice isolating two-string pairs to build coordination before linking the full shape.
The G# Major Ninth arpeggio outlines a G# major chord and works perfectly over G#, G#maj7, G#6 harmonies. It is a foundational arpeggio for soloing over major-key progressions and emphasizes the bright, resolved character of the major triad.
Practice Routine
Practice the G# Major Ninth arpeggio in different octaves, starting low and working up. Then try displacing the octaves — play the root low, the C 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 G# 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 G# Major Ninth in Other Tunings
- G# Major Ninth in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- G# Major Ninth in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- G# Major Ninth in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- G# Major Ninth in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- G# Major Ninth in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- G# Major Ninth in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- G# Major Ninth in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- G# Major Ninth in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- G# Major Ninth in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- G# Major Ninth in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- G# Major Ninth in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- G# Major Ninth in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- G# Major Ninth in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- G# Major Ninth in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)