Chromatic approach to 3-note chord arpeggios

The headline of this section seems complex at first glance. However, it is at the same time a fairly simple topic and an inexhaustible well of licks in Manouche guitar. For instance, the first notes of Mozart's Turkish March belong to this register. Is it any clearer now ? Chromatic may not be the most appropriate word but I couldn't find any better for now!

This kind of approach can be applied to majer, minor and dominant 7th chords, be they altered or not.

The CAGED system

Before getting any further in this section, it may be useful to briefly talk about the CAGED system. In short, this system is a mnemotechnic way to remember the 5 positions of a unique major chord over the board. We start with the following 5 basic chord shapes : E (in yellow), D (in purple), C (in blue), A (in white), G (in red). This five shapes are superimposed on several notes as can be seen on the following example in E.

For major chords (E major here):


For minor chords (E minor here):

How to use the following diagrams ?

This diagrams decribe the notes of the underlying chord arpeggio, together with the "chromatic" notes that are fretted around each of these notes. The root is in red, the third in blue, the fifth in green. There are four main ways to play those chromatisms and all are in 16ths, which is an advantage as it can then be played in straight alternate picking, and therefore it makes it easier to play at all speeds (most of the times, it is played very fast) :

1. Starting from above (the most common approach): note above, arpeggio note, note under, arpeggio note.
2. Starting from under: note under, arpeggio note, note above, arpeggio note.
3. Starting from the arpeggio note and above: arpeggio note, note above, note under, arpeggio note.
4. Starting from the arpeggio note and under: arpeggio note, note under, note above, arpeggio note.

Of course, there are variants to this. You will find a few lick examples at the end of this section.

For each of these exercises, you can play the four ways. One video of each is given for the first diagram of each chord, with tablature. As far as fingerings are concerned, it is quite free. I use my four fingers, but most of the times, people play with three. The Rosenbergs and Django play(ed) that with two with glissandos between the arpeggio note and the note under.

Over a major chord

For each of the major chords depicted on the first CAGED diagram, we look at the arpeggio (in yellow), then we add each one of the arpeggio notes with chromatismes (in red over the root, in blue over the third, in green over the fifth) as follows:

E-type CAGED chord (in A)


Way 1
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Way 2
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Way 3
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Way 4
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We do the same thing for the remainder of the arpeggios.

D-type CAGED chord (in G)


C-type CAGED chord (in E)


A-type CAGED chord (in E)


G-type CAGED chord (in B)

Over a minor chord

Same process with minor arpeggios.

E-type CAGED chord (in Am)


The tablatures are not shown. Please take a look at the previous part about major chords to see how the notes played refer to the notes on the diagrams.

Way 1
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Way 2
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Way 3
(570 KB)

Way 4
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D-type CAGED chord (in Gm)


C-type CAGED chord (in Em)


A-type CAGED chord (in Em)


G-type CAGED chord (in Bm)

Over a dominant 7th major chord

Same as previoulsy. This is where the word "chromatic" takes its best meaning since the notes played above and under are merely a half-tone away from each major chord's arpeggio note.

E-type CAGED chord (in A7)


The tablatures are not shown. Please take a look at the previous part about major chords to see how the notes played refer to the notes on the diagrams.

Way 1
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Way 2
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Way 3
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Way 4
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D-type CAGED chord (in G7)


C-type CAGED chord (in E7)


A-type CAGED chord (in E7)


G-type CAGED chord (in B7)

Variants

Such chromatisms can be played in other ways. Here are a few examples:

Stochelo Rosenberg's way:
One of the few cas of downstrokes on a string change. This is because the upstroke is on a downbeat and because the pace is really fast.
(1.010 KB)


Angelo Debarre's way over a Bb:
(1.010 KB)


Biréli Lagrène's way over a D:
This variation cuts the chromatism in two with a string change every two notes. (920 KB)