Mandolin Lesson #002

Triad Arpeggios in all Keys

An arpeggio is the notes that make up a chord played consecutively rather than at
the same time. A triad chord (C major, A minor, G major) is made up of three notes.
Even though you may be playing all four strings you are only playing three different
notes. Four and five note chords (C major7, Eb7#9) can be played as arpeggios as well
but in this lesson well focus on major and minor triad arpeggios.
A C major triad chord in root position (with the C on the bottom and the next two
notes immediately above) looks like this.
EX.1

This chord makes a lot of sense on the piano but its actually impossible to play
this voicing on the mandolin, so we would be more likely to play it like this
EX.2


Or like this
EX.3


We CAN play EX. 1 as an arpeggio. Heres a C major arpeggio.
EX. 4

Now, play another octave on top and return to the root and you have a two octave
C major arpeggio.
EX. 5

Following are the two-octave arpeggios for every major and minor triad. I start
with a C major and then play its relative minor, A minor, then move up a fourth from C
to play an F major and then its relative minor, and so on around the circle of fourths with
all the relative minors. Unfortunately, Ill have to explain the circle of fourths in another
lesson.
Please contact me with any questions or comments through my website
www.mattraum.com
Good luck.






























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