Tuning-specific arpeggio diagram

D Major 9 Arpeggio in Open A Tuning

D Major 9 Arpeggio in Open A Tuning shows the same d major 9 arpeggio chord tones across 6 strings tuned E A E A C# E. The tuning changes where the same chord tones sit across the fretboard.

Chord tones
D, F#, A, C#, E
Formula
1 3 5 7 9
Semitones
0 4 7 11 14
Chord symbols
Dmaj9, DM9
Tuning
E A E A C# E
Strings
6
Open pitch range
E2 to E4
24-fret range
E2 to E6

Open strings and root positions

6 of the 6 open strings belong to D Major 9 Arpeggio: string 6 E (9), string 5 A (5), string 4 E (9), string 3 A (5), string 2 C# (7), and string 1 E (9). None of those open-string tones is the D root, so the root must be fretted on every string.

String 6E9
String 5A5
String 4E9
String 3A5
String 2C#7
String 1E9

First root on each string

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

Low-string pattern

On the lowest E string, the first-octave arpeggio pattern falls at frets 0, 2, 5, 9, and 10, with the D root at fret 10. On the highest E string, the first D is at fret 10.

OpenE9
Fret 2F#3
Fret 5A5
Fret 9C#7
Fret 10D1

Practice this tuning-specific layout

  1. Play D Major 9 Arpeggio on the low E string at frets 0, 2, 5, 9, and 10, saying each note name and degree aloud.
  2. Build a phrase that lets E on open string 6 ring, then connect it to the nearest D root and two other arpeggio tones.
  3. Connect the D root positions on strings 6 through 1 at frets 10, 5, 10, 5, 1, and 10, adding the nearest arpeggio tone between each pair of roots.

Fretboard diagram

D Major 9 Arpeggio in Open A Tuning fretboard diagram
D Major 9 Arpeggio in Open A Tuning guitar fretboard diagram showing E A E A C# E.

Open this diagram in the fretboard tool

Start with D Major 9 Arpeggio and open a tuningloaded, then adjust labels, colors, fret count, and orientation.

Open in interactive fretboard

Reference pages

Same arpeggio in other tunings