C Major Seventh Cavaquinho Arpeggio
Cavaquinho arpeggio — fretboard diagram
C Major Seventh Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: C, E, G, B
Intervals: 1P, 3M, 5P, 7M
Formula: 2W-WH-2W
Number of notes: 4
Also known as: maj7, Δ, ma7, M7, Maj7, ^7
The C Major Seventh arpeggio contains 4 notes (C, E, G, B). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this arpeggio on Cavaquinho with different tunings and fret ranges.
When to Use the C Major Seventh Arpeggio
Play the C Major Seventh arpeggio whenever a C Major Seventh 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 C Major Seventh arpeggio uses 4 notes (C, E, 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 C Major Seventh Arpeggio on Cavaquinho
Locate C on your instrument and play through the 4 notes of the Major Seventh arpeggio (C, E, G, B) slowly, ensuring each tone rings clearly before connecting them at speed.
The C Major Seventh arpeggio outlines a C major chord and works perfectly over C, Cmaj7, C6 harmonies. It is a foundational arpeggio for soloing over major-key progressions and emphasizes the bright, resolved character of the major triad.
Practice Routine
Play the C Major Seventh arpeggio as whole notes over a backing track or drone on C. Focus on intonation and tone quality for each of the 4 notes (C, E, G, B). After a few passes, begin improvising short melodic phrases built from these arpeggio tones, connecting them with passing notes.
Cavaquinho Tips
Practice the C Major Seventh arpeggio on your instrument at a slow, comfortable tempo, focusing on clean articulation of each of the 4 tones before gradually increasing speed.