C Major Thirteenth Cavaquinho Arpeggio
Cavaquinho arpeggio — fretboard diagram
C Major Thirteenth Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: C, E, G, B, D, A
Intervals: 1P, 3M, 5P, 7M, 9M, 13M
Formula: 2W-WH-2W-WH-7
Number of notes: 6
Also known as: maj13, Maj13, ^13
The C Major Thirteenth arpeggio contains 6 notes (C, E, G, B, D, A). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this arpeggio on Cavaquinho with different tunings and fret ranges.
When to Use the C Major Thirteenth Arpeggio
Play the C Major Thirteenth arpeggio whenever a C 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 C Major Thirteenth arpeggio uses 6 notes (C, E, G, B, D, A) 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 Thirteenth Arpeggio on Cavaquinho
Locate C on your instrument and play through the 6 notes of the Major Thirteenth arpeggio (C, E, G, B, D, A) slowly, ensuring each tone rings clearly before connecting them at speed.
The C Major Thirteenth 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
Start by playing the C 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 C 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.