A# Altered Cavaquinho Arpeggio
Cavaquinho arpeggio — fretboard diagram
A# Altered Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: A#, D, G#, B
Intervals: 1P, 3M, 7m, 9m
Formula: 2W-6-WH
Number of notes: 4
Also known as: alt7
The A# Altered arpeggio contains 4 notes (A#, D, G#, B). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this arpeggio on Cavaquinho with different tunings and fret ranges.
When to Use the A# Altered Arpeggio
Play the A# Altered arpeggio whenever a A# Altered 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# Altered arpeggio uses 4 notes (A#, D, G#, B) 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# Altered Arpeggio on Cavaquinho
Locate A# on your instrument and play through the 4 notes of the Altered arpeggio (A#, D, G#, B) slowly, ensuring each tone rings clearly before connecting them at speed.
The A# Altered arpeggio outlines a A#Altered chord. Playing these 4 tones (A#, D, G#, B) over the matching harmony ensures your melodic lines clearly follow the chord changes.
Practice Routine
Start by playing the A# Altered 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# Altered arpeggio on your instrument at a slow, comfortable tempo, focusing on clean articulation of each of the 4 tones before gradually increasing speed.