Guest Columnists

Arpeggiated Progressions

Tips for playing arpeggiated chord progressions using string skipping.

by John Kiefer October-November 1996 · Guitar Technique · Guest Columnists

There are several ways to play a series of chords. One way is to use arpeggios. An arpeggio is simply a chord played one note at a time. On guitar, there are many techniques for playing arpeggios. One interesting way involves the use of string skipping. The string skipping technique allows for wider leaps between notes.

First play this chord progression:

Arpeggios 1

Now, try using arpeggios to outline the chords. Master the phrases eight notes at a time, until you are ready to move on.

Arpeggios 1

Apply this idea to any chord progression.

The writer

John Kiefer

John Kiefer is a 1989 graduate from the Guitar Institute of Technology in Hollywood and is the composer of "5 Animations for Guitar Solo".

His music appeared in Guitar Nine premier Undiscovered column (August, 1996).

His latest project is Spiral Suite, a CD for Dingo Digital Records scheduled for release in 1996.

More by John Kiefer