E Minor Sixth Banjo (5-String) Arpeggio
Banjo (5-String) arpeggio — fretboard diagram
E Minor Sixth Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: E, G, B, C#
Intervals: 1P, 3m, 5P, 6M
Formula: WH-2W-W
Number of notes: 4
Also known as: m6, -6
The E Minor Sixth arpeggio contains 4 notes (E, G, B, C#). Use the interactive fretboard diagram above to explore each arpeggio shape and pattern on Banjo (5-String). Practice ascending and descending from the root note across all strings to learn the sound of this arpeggio.
When to Use the E Minor Sixth Arpeggio
Play the E Minor Sixth arpeggio whenever a E Minor Sixth chord appears in a progression. Unlike scales (which include passing tones), arpeggios guarantee every note you play IS a chord tone, making your solo sound harmonically precise and intentional.
Arpeggio vs. Scale
The E Minor Sixth arpeggio uses 4 notes (E, G, B, C#) while the full scale uses 7. The arpeggio is a subset — think of it as the skeleton of the scale. Practice alternating between the arpeggio and the full scale to develop a melodic vocabulary that mixes chord tones with passing tones.
How to Play E Minor Sixth Arpeggio on Banjo (5-String)
Locate E on your instrument and play through the 4 notes of the Minor Sixth arpeggio (E, G, B, C#) slowly, ensuring each tone rings clearly before connecting them at speed.
The E Minor Sixth arpeggio outlines a E minor chord and fits naturally over Em, Em7, Em6 voicings. Use it to bring out the darker, expressive quality of minor harmony in your solos and melodies.
Practice Routine — Exercises for Playing
Practice the E Minor Sixth arpeggio in different octaves, starting low and working up. Then try displacing the octaves — play the root low, the G an octave higher, and continue leaping. This trains your ear to hear the intervals (1P, 3m, 5P, 6M) in any register.
Banjo (5-String) Tips
Practice the E Minor Sixth arpeggio on your instrument at a slow, comfortable tempo, focusing on clean articulation of each of the 4 tones before gradually increasing speed.