Tuning-specific arpeggio diagram

A Major Arpeggio in Drop D Tuning

A Major Arpeggio in Drop D Tuning shows the same a major arpeggio chord tones across 6 strings tuned D A D G B E. The tuning changes where the same chord tones sit across the fretboard.

Chord tones
A, C#, E
Formula
1 3 5
Semitones
0 4 7
Chord symbols
Amaj, AM
Tuning
D A D G B E
Strings
6
Open pitch range
D2 to E4
24-fret range
D2 to E6

Open strings and root positions

2 of the 6 open strings belong to A Major Arpeggio: string 5 A (1) and string 1 E (5). A roots occur on open string 5.

String 5A1
String 1E5

First root on each string

String 6Fret 7
String 5Open
String 4Fret 7
String 3Fret 2
String 2Fret 10
String 1Fret 5

Low-string pattern

On the lowest D string, the first-octave arpeggio pattern falls at frets 2, 7, and 11, with the A root at fret 7. On the highest E string, the first A is at fret 5.

Fret 2E5
Fret 7A1
Fret 11C#3

Practice this tuning-specific layout

  1. Play A Major Arpeggio on the low D string at frets 2, 7, and 11, saying each note name and degree aloud.
  2. Build a phrase that lets A on open string 5 ring, then connect it to the nearest A root and two other arpeggio tones.
  3. Connect the A root positions on strings 6 through 1 at frets 7, 0, 7, 2, 10, and 5, adding the nearest arpeggio tone between each pair of roots.

Fretboard diagram

A Major Arpeggio in Drop D Tuning fretboard diagram
A Major Arpeggio in Drop D Tuning guitar fretboard diagram showing D A D G B E.

Open this diagram in the fretboard tool

Start with A Major Arpeggio and drop d tuningloaded, then adjust labels, colors, fret count, and orientation.

Open in interactive fretboard

Reference pages

Same arpeggio in other tunings