C Minor Sixth Mandolin Arpeggio
Mandolin arpeggio — fretboard diagram
C Minor Sixth Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: C, Eb, G, A
Intervals: 1P, 3m, 5P, 6M
Formula: WH-2W-W
Number of notes: 4
Also known as: m6, -6
The C Minor Sixth arpeggio contains 4 notes (C, Eb, G, A). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this arpeggio on Mandolin with different tunings and fret ranges.
When to Use the C Minor Sixth Arpeggio
Play the C Minor Sixth arpeggio whenever a C Minor Sixth 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 Minor Sixth arpeggio uses 4 notes (C, Eb, G, 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 Minor Sixth Arpeggio on Mandolin
Locate C on your instrument and play through the 4 notes of the Minor Sixth arpeggio (C, Eb, G, A) slowly, ensuring each tone rings clearly before connecting them at speed.
The C Minor Sixth arpeggio outlines a C minor chord and fits naturally over Cm, Cm7, Cm6 voicings. Use it to bring out the darker, expressive quality of minor harmony in your solos and melodies.
Practice Routine
Start by playing the C Minor Sixth 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.
Mandolin Tips
Practice the C Minor Sixth arpeggio on your instrument at a slow, comfortable tempo, focusing on clean articulation of each of the 4 tones before gradually increasing speed.