Tuning-specific arpeggio diagram

Ab Major 7 Arpeggio in Drop C Tuning

Ab Major 7 Arpeggio in Drop C Tuning shows the same ab major 7 arpeggio chord tones across 6 strings tuned C G C F A D. The tuning changes where the same chord tones sit across the fretboard.

Chord tones
Ab, C, Eb, G
Formula
1 3 5 7
Semitones
0 4 7 11
Chord symbols
Abmaj7, AbM7
Tuning
C G C F A D
Strings
6
Open pitch range
C2 to D4
24-fret range
C2 to D6

Open strings and root positions

3 of the 6 open strings belong to Ab Major 7 Arpeggio: string 6 C (3), string 5 G (7), and string 4 C (3). None of those open-string tones is the Ab root, so the root must be fretted on every string.

String 6C3
String 5G7
String 4C3

First root on each string

String 6Fret 8
String 5Fret 1
String 4Fret 8
String 3Fret 3
String 2Fret 11
String 1Fret 6

Low-string pattern

On the lowest C string, the first-octave arpeggio pattern falls at frets 0, 3, 7, and 8, with the Ab root at fret 8. On the highest D string, the first Ab is at fret 6.

OpenC3
Fret 3Eb5
Fret 7G7
Fret 8Ab1

Practice this tuning-specific layout

  1. Play Ab Major 7 Arpeggio on the low C string at frets 0, 3, 7, and 8, saying each note name and degree aloud.
  2. Build a phrase that lets C on open string 6 ring, then connect it to the nearest Ab root and two other arpeggio tones.
  3. Connect the Ab root positions on strings 6 through 1 at frets 8, 1, 8, 3, 11, and 6, adding the nearest arpeggio tone between each pair of roots.

Fretboard diagram

Ab Major 7 Arpeggio in Drop C Tuning fretboard diagram
Ab Major 7 Arpeggio in Drop C Tuning guitar fretboard diagram showing C G C F A D.

Open this diagram in the fretboard tool

Start with Ab Major 7 Arpeggio and drop c tuningloaded, then adjust labels, colors, fret count, and orientation.

Open in interactive fretboard

Reference pages

Same arpeggio in other tunings