F Augmented Seventh Mandolin Arpeggio
Mandolin arpeggio — fretboard diagram
F Augmented Seventh Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: F, A, C#, E
Intervals: 1P, 3M, 5A, 7M
Formula: 2W-2W-WH
Number of notes: 4
Also known as: maj7#5, maj7+5, +maj7, ^7#5
The F Augmented Seventh arpeggio contains 4 notes (F, A, C#, E). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this arpeggio on Mandolin with different tunings and fret ranges.
When to Use the F Augmented Seventh Arpeggio
Play the F Augmented Seventh arpeggio whenever a F Augmented Seventh 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 Augmented Seventh arpeggio uses 4 notes (F, A, C#, E) 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 Augmented Seventh Arpeggio on Mandolin
Locate F on your instrument and play through the 4 notes of the Augmented Seventh arpeggio (F, A, C#, E) slowly, ensuring each tone rings clearly before connecting them at speed.
The F Augmented Seventh arpeggio has a symmetrical, ethereal quality built from major thirds. It fits over Faug, F+, Fmaj7#5 chords and is useful for creating a sense of upward motion and harmonic ambiguity.
Practice Routine
Start by playing the F Augmented Seventh 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 F Augmented Seventh arpeggio on your instrument at a slow, comfortable tempo, focusing on clean articulation of each of the 4 tones before gradually increasing speed.