E Dominant Ninth Mandolin Arpeggio
Mandolin arpeggio — fretboard diagram
E Dominant Ninth Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: E, G#, B, D, F#
Intervals: 1P, 3M, 5P, 7m, 9M
Formula: 2W-WH-WH-2W
Number of notes: 5
Also known as: 9
The E Dominant Ninth arpeggio contains 5 notes (E, G#, B, D, F#). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this arpeggio on Mandolin with different tunings and fret ranges.
When to Use the E Dominant Ninth Arpeggio
Play the E Dominant Ninth arpeggio whenever a E Dominant Ninth 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 E Dominant Ninth arpeggio uses 5 notes (E, G#, B, D, 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 E Dominant Ninth Arpeggio on Mandolin
Locate E on your instrument and play through the 5 notes of the Dominant Ninth arpeggio (E, G#, B, D, F#) slowly, ensuring each tone rings clearly before connecting them at speed.
The E Dominant Ninth arpeggio outlines a dominant seventh chord, creating the tension that wants to resolve. Use it over E7, E9, E13 chords, especially in blues, funk, and jazz where dominant harmony drives the groove.
Practice Routine
Play the E Dominant Ninth arpeggio as whole notes over a backing track or drone on E. Focus on intonation and tone quality for each of the 5 notes (E, G#, B, D, F#). After a few passes, begin improvising short melodic phrases built from these arpeggio tones, connecting them with passing notes.
Mandolin Tips
Practice the E Dominant Ninth arpeggio on your instrument at a slow, comfortable tempo, focusing on clean articulation of each of the 5 tones before gradually increasing speed.