Arpeggios and Root Notes

When changing chords, and playing arpeggios in the right hand, it is important to start the arpeggio from the root note of each chord, and continue the pattern on the root note string for each chord in the progression.

In the example below, there is an arpeggio pattern over a C major, D major, A minor, and G major chord. Note that each chord in the sequence starts the arpeggio on the tow root note of each chord, starting on the 5th string of the C chord, the 4th string of the D chord, and the 6th string of the G chord. It is very important to establish the root of the rest of the arpeggio harmonic context of each chord when playing arpeggios.

Here is the arpeggio exercise using the alternate picking technique.

Here is the same exercise using the directional picking technique.