A Major Thirteenth Cavaquinho Arpeggio
Cavaquinho arpeggio — fretboard diagram
A Major Thirteenth Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: A, C#, E, G#, B, F#
Intervals: 1P, 3M, 5P, 7M, 9M, 13M
Formula: 2W-WH-2W-WH-7
Number of notes: 6
Also known as: maj13, Maj13, ^13
The A Major Thirteenth arpeggio contains 6 notes (A, C#, E, G#, B, F#). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this arpeggio on Cavaquinho with different tunings and fret ranges.
When to Use the A Major Thirteenth Arpeggio
Play the A Major Thirteenth arpeggio whenever a A Major Thirteenth 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 Major Thirteenth arpeggio uses 6 notes (A, C#, E, G#, B, F#) 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 Major Thirteenth Arpeggio on Cavaquinho
Locate A on your instrument and play through the 6 notes of the Major Thirteenth arpeggio (A, C#, E, G#, B, F#) slowly, ensuring each tone rings clearly before connecting them at speed.
The A Major Thirteenth arpeggio outlines a A major chord and works perfectly over A, Amaj7, A6 harmonies. It is a foundational arpeggio for soloing over major-key progressions and emphasizes the bright, resolved character of the major triad.
Practice Routine
Start by playing the A Major Thirteenth arpeggio ascending and descending at 60 BPM, one note per beat, using a metronome. Once even and confident, play it in eighth notes, then triplets, keeping each note articulate. Spend at least 5 minutes daily on this before moving to musical application.
Cavaquinho Tips
Practice the A Major Thirteenth arpeggio on your instrument at a slow, comfortable tempo, focusing on clean articulation of each of the 6 tones before gradually increasing speed.