F# Minor Thirteenth Cavaquinho Arpeggio
Cavaquinho arpeggio — fretboard diagram
F# Minor Thirteenth Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: F#, A, C#, E, G#, D#
Intervals: 1P, 3m, 5P, 7m, 9M, 13M
Formula: WH-2W-WH-2W-7
Number of notes: 6
Also known as: m13, -13
The F# Minor Thirteenth arpeggio contains 6 notes (F#, A, C#, E, G#, D#). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this arpeggio on Cavaquinho with different tunings and fret ranges.
When to Use the F# Minor Thirteenth Arpeggio
Play the F# Minor Thirteenth arpeggio whenever a F# Minor 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 F# Minor Thirteenth arpeggio uses 6 notes (F#, A, C#, E, G#, D#) 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 F# Minor Thirteenth Arpeggio on Cavaquinho
Locate F# on your instrument and play through the 6 notes of the Minor Thirteenth arpeggio (F#, A, C#, E, G#, D#) slowly, ensuring each tone rings clearly before connecting them at speed.
The F# Minor Thirteenth arpeggio outlines a F# minor chord and fits naturally over F#m, F#m7, F#m6 voicings. Use it to bring out the darker, expressive quality of minor harmony in your solos and melodies.
Practice Routine
Practice the F# Minor Thirteenth arpeggio in different octaves, starting low and working up. Then try displacing the octaves — play the root low, the A an octave higher, and continue leaping. This trains your ear to hear the intervals (1P, 3m, 5P, 7m, 9M, 13M) in any register.
Cavaquinho Tips
Practice the F# Minor Thirteenth arpeggio on your instrument at a slow, comfortable tempo, focusing on clean articulation of each of the 6 tones before gradually increasing speed.