B Suspended Fourth Flat Ninth Cavaquinho Arpeggio
Cavaquinho arpeggio — fretboard diagram
B Suspended Fourth Flat Ninth Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: B, E, F#, A, C
Intervals: 1P, 4P, 5P, 7m, 9m
Formula: 5-W-WH-WH
Number of notes: 5
Also known as: b9sus, phryg, 7b9sus, 7b9sus4
The B Suspended Fourth Flat Ninth arpeggio contains 5 notes (B, E, F#, A, C). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this arpeggio on Cavaquinho with different tunings and fret ranges.
When to Use the B Suspended Fourth Flat Ninth Arpeggio
Play the B Suspended Fourth Flat Ninth arpeggio whenever a B Suspended Fourth Flat Ninth 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 B Suspended Fourth Flat Ninth arpeggio uses 5 notes (B, E, F#, A, 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 B Suspended Fourth Flat Ninth Arpeggio on Cavaquinho
Locate B on your instrument and play through the 5 notes of the Suspended Fourth Flat Ninth arpeggio (B, E, F#, A, C) slowly, ensuring each tone rings clearly before connecting them at speed.
The B Suspended Fourth Flat Ninth arpeggio avoids the third, creating an open, unresolved sound. It works over Bsus4, Bsus2, B7sus4 voicings and is perfect for creating a modern, ambiguous harmonic feel that neither commits to major nor minor.
Practice Routine
Play the B Suspended Fourth Flat Ninth arpeggio as whole notes over a backing track or drone on B. Focus on intonation and tone quality for each of the 5 notes (B, E, F#, A, C). After a few passes, begin improvising short melodic phrases built from these arpeggio tones, connecting them with passing notes.
Cavaquinho Tips
Practice the B Suspended Fourth Flat Ninth arpeggio on your instrument at a slow, comfortable tempo, focusing on clean articulation of each of the 5 tones before gradually increasing speed.