Tuning-specific arpeggio diagram

Ab Major Add9 Arpeggio in 8-String Drop E Tuning

Ab Major Add9 Arpeggio in 8-String Drop E Tuning shows the same ab major add9 arpeggio chord tones across 8 strings tuned E B E A D G B E. The seventh and eighth strings extend the arpeggio into the lower register for wider-range chord tones and riff shapes.

Chord tones
Ab, C, Eb, Bb
Formula
1 3 5 9
Semitones
0 4 7 14
Chord symbols
Abadd9, Abadd2
Tuning
E B E A D G B E
Strings
8
Open pitch range
E1 to E4
24-fret range
E1 to E6

Open strings and root positions

None of the 8 open strings belongs to Ab Major Add9 Arpeggio. Every arpeggio tone must therefore be fretted, beginning with the first available tone on the low E string.

First root on each string

String 8Fret 4
String 7Fret 9
String 6Fret 4
String 5Fret 11
String 4Fret 6
String 3Fret 1
String 2Fret 9
String 1Fret 4

Low-string pattern

On the lowest E string, the first-octave arpeggio pattern falls at frets 4, 6, 8, and 11, with the Ab root at fret 4. On the highest E string, the first Ab is at fret 4.

Fret 4Ab1
Fret 6Bb9
Fret 8C3
Fret 11Eb5

Practice this tuning-specific layout

  1. Play Ab Major Add9 Arpeggio on the low E string at frets 4, 6, 8, and 11, saying each note name and degree aloud.
  2. Play the arpeggio without using an open string, then stop on the nearest Ab root each time the line changes strings.
  3. Connect the Ab root positions on strings 8 through 1 at frets 4, 9, 4, 11, 6, 1, 9, and 4, adding the nearest arpeggio tone between each pair of roots.

Fretboard diagram

Ab Major Add9 Arpeggio in 8-String Drop E Tuning fretboard diagram
Ab Major Add9 Arpeggio in 8-String Drop E Tuning guitar fretboard diagram showing E B E A D G B E.

Open this diagram in the fretboard tool

Start with Ab Major Add9 Arpeggio and 8-string drop e tuningloaded, then adjust labels, colors, fret count, and orientation.

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Reference pages

Same arpeggio in other tunings