Hey Friend,

Okay, I lied. Maybe it’s not your first. 

In fact, if you’ve been around for a little while, I’ve given you exercises that included an arpeggio or two. 

Don’t hate me...

Today’s lesson is a short one, and won’t take but a couple minutes for you to do. In fact, you don’t even need a tab from me!

What I want you to do is pick up your guitar and finger your favorite chord. My default is usually open D.

Give it a strum. Do it again.

Listen to the chord as you strum and let your ears get filled with the sound of those individual notes melting together, yet still discernible.

Now I want you to play the chord one note at a time. 

Start with the lowest pitched note (maybe it’s an open string, or in my case, the fourth string D) and pluck each successive string until you reach the highest pitched note.

Congratulations! You have just successfully played an arpeggio.

Now play it backwards, moving from the highest pitched note down to the lowest pitched.

Whether you ascend or descend in pitch, you are playing an arpeggio.

Hear how the chord sounds all broken apart? 

Now think about when you strummed the chord. Did you hear these notes?

Strum it again.

Can you pick out the individual notes?

Cool, huh?

Now to clarify a bit, I think I mentioned yesterday that you don’t have to play the notes in successive order, but I was wrong. I know, GASP!

Technically, the arpeggio IS notes in successive order, versus fingerstyle, which allows you to change the picking pattern up.

Oops, sorry. We’re going to play with both, regardless.

Crap. Look at the time. Gotta roll, Peeps. See you tomorrow!

Peace~

Dave