| Perhaps you have heard the word arpeggio being | | | | the movement. Be careful to maintain a relaxed |
| tossed around by other musicians, but have | | | | "cupped" hand in order to avoid tension and fatigue.1 |
| absolutely no clue what they were talking about. | | | | ---------------a----------- |
| Simply defined, an arpeggio refers to playing the | | | | 2 ----------m------m------- |
| notes within a chord in rapid succession. On the | | | | 3 -------i---------------i---- |
| guitar, this can be done by either using a pick or your | | | | 4 --------------------------- |
| fingers.Incorporating arpeggios into your guitar playing | | | | 5 ----p---------------------- |
| can be a very simple matter, or a very complicated | | | | 6 ---------------------------Notice that your thumb (p) is |
| one, depending on your approach to the subject. | | | | playing an open A on the bass string which is also the |
| Because I am a guitar teacher, I generally try to find | | | | name of the chord.The pattern uses eighth notes in |
| ways to introduce my students to new techniques | | | | 3/4 time and is counted:p i m a m i |
| that are easy to understand and relatively easy to | | | | 1 & 2 & 3 &One complete sequence of the pattern |
| do. So let's see if I can help you learn how to play an | | | | is equal to one measure of music.Now try playing the |
| arpeggio today.If you want to use a fingerpicking | | | | same pattern using a D major chord and then an E |
| style to play an arpeggio, then you need to know | | | | major chord. Move your thumb to play the open bass |
| how the right hand fingers are identified. There are | | | | string which identifies the name of the chord you are |
| four letters, p-i-m-a, which stand for the Spanish | | | | on. The other fingers (i-m-a) will play the same strings |
| words: pulgar, indicio, medio, and anular. These four | | | | on all three chords.Once you are comfortable playing |
| letters represent each finger as follows:p = thumbi = | | | | an arpeggio with the chords: A major, D major, and E |
| index fingerm = middle fingera = ring fingerWhen you | | | | major, try playing the same chord progression as it is |
| are trying an arpeggio for the first time, then I | | | | used in the Christmas song Silent Night. Here is the |
| suggest you start with a chord, or chord progression, | | | | link:Silent NightHave fun!FREE Reprint Rights - You |
| that you can play fairly well. For our purpose today, | | | | may publish this article in your e-zine or on your web |
| we will start with the chord A major and then | | | | site as long as you include the following |
| progress to a chord progression in the key of | | | | information:Kathy Unruh is a singer/songwriter and |
| A.While holding an A major chord, play each string | | | | webmaster of ABC Learn Guitar. She has been |
| that is identified in the pattern below with the | | | | writing songs and providing guitar lessons to students |
| corresponding fingers of your right hand. Practice it | | | | of all ages for over 20 years. |
| several times until your fingers get accustomed to | | | | |