Major 9th Arpeggios - Lesson with Guitar Diagrams

What is a Major 9th Arpeggio?

Major 9th arpeggios are a nice alternative to major 7th arpeggios when you want to add a little bit of color to your jazz lines. A major 9th arpeggio contains 5 notes.

As its name implies there is a major ninth (9) added to the major 7th arpeggio, thus giving tonic/root (R/1), major third (3), perfect fifth (5), major seventh (7) and ninth (9). Major 9th arpeggios have the same notes as the chords they are derived from. 

What's a Major Ninth?

A major ninth (9) is a compound interval made up of an octave plus a second (14 semitones). It is an octave larger than a second. It brings specific color considered as dissonant. It should not be confused with the minor ninth (b9) which is spanning 13 semitones (a minor second plus an octave).

What's the Difference Between Major add 9 and Major 9 Arpeggio?

As shown in the chart below, there is a significant difference between maj9 and major add9. Major 9 arpeggios (and chords) are seventh chords (tetrads) with an added ninth (9) whereas major add9 arpeggios are triads with an added ninth.

 Basic Shapes

Here are four guitar shapes to play major 9th arpeggios. 

What Are Superimposed Arpeggios?

You may notice that a major 9th arpeggio contains a minor 7th arpeggio starting on the third. The min7 arpeggio is superimposed with the maj7 arpeggio.

The example below shows the Em7 arpeggio (E-G-B-D) into the Cmaj9 arpeggio (C-E-G-B-D). Playing an Em7 arpeggio over Cmaj7 chord makes it sound like a Cmaj9.

How to Use Arpeggios Over II V I Chord Progressions?

The most common chord progression in jazz music is the II-V-I. The next two easy examples show you how to apply arpeggios over a C major II-V-I sequence. You will simply play a D minor 7 arpeggio (or a D minor triad) over Dm7, a G dominant 7 arpeggio over G7 and an Em7 arpeggio over Cmaj7.

In this second example you will play a F major triad arpeggio over Dm7 and a Em7 arpeggio over Cmaj7.

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