B Suspended Second Mandolin Arpeggio
Mandolin arpeggio — fretboard diagram
B Suspended Second Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: B, C#, F#
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 5P
Formula: W-5
Number of notes: 3
Also known as: sus2
The B Suspended Second arpeggio contains 3 notes (B, C#, F#). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this arpeggio on Mandolin with different tunings and fret ranges.
When to Use the B Suspended Second Arpeggio
Play the B Suspended Second arpeggio whenever a B Suspended Second 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 Second arpeggio uses 3 notes (B, C#, F#) 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 Second Arpeggio on Mandolin
Locate B on your instrument and play through the 3 notes of the Suspended Second arpeggio (B, C#, F#) slowly, ensuring each tone rings clearly before connecting them at speed.
The B Suspended Second 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
Practice the B Suspended Second arpeggio in different octaves, starting low and working up. Then try displacing the octaves — play the root low, the C# an octave higher, and continue leaping. This trains your ear to hear the intervals (1P, 2M, 5P) in any register.
Mandolin Tips
Practice the B Suspended Second arpeggio on your instrument at a slow, comfortable tempo, focusing on clean articulation of each of the 3 tones before gradually increasing speed.