A Eleventh Cavaquinho Arpeggio
Cavaquinho arpeggio — fretboard diagram
A Eleventh Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: A, E, G, B, D
Intervals: 1P, 5P, 7m, 9M, 11P
Formula: 7-WH-2W-WH
Number of notes: 5
Also known as: 11
The A Eleventh arpeggio contains 5 notes (A, E, G, B, D). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this arpeggio on Cavaquinho with different tunings and fret ranges.
When to Use the A Eleventh Arpeggio
Play the A Eleventh arpeggio whenever a A Eleventh 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 A Eleventh arpeggio uses 5 notes (A, E, G, B, D) 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 A Eleventh Arpeggio on Cavaquinho
Locate A on your instrument and play through the 5 notes of the Eleventh arpeggio (A, E, G, B, D) slowly, ensuring each tone rings clearly before connecting them at speed.
The A Eleventh arpeggio contains extended tones beyond the basic triad, adding harmonic color and sophistication. Use it over A9, A11, A13 chords to outline richer voicings in jazz, fusion, and neo-soul contexts.
Practice Routine
Play the A Eleventh arpeggio as whole notes over a backing track or drone on A. Focus on intonation and tone quality for each of the 5 notes (A, E, G, B, D). After a few passes, begin improvising short melodic phrases built from these arpeggio tones, connecting them with passing notes.
Cavaquinho Tips
Practice the A Eleventh arpeggio on your instrument at a slow, comfortable tempo, focusing on clean articulation of each of the 5 tones before gradually increasing speed.