How well do you know your arpeggios? If you’re like most guitarists (myself included, let’s be honest), you probably have a few under your fingers; the “important” ones that you know you can throw into any line to increase the WOW! factor of your solo. But if that’s all you’re using arpeggios for, or if your knowledge of arpeggios stops at the basic major, minor, and 7th chord types, you are really missing out on an opportunity to reshape the way you approach the guitar. Though many books, videos, and blog posts have been released for public consumption, there is one that I believe to be the definitive arpeggio resource, and one that I think sets the standard for all others to follow. I’m talking about The Guitar Arpeggio Compendium by Scott McGill.

Now that the lawyer speak is done with, let’s dig in!

Progressive guitarist Scott McGill studied privately for many years with legendary teacher Dennis Sandole (one of John Coltrane’s teachers). His first book – The Guitar Arpeggio Compendium (available from his website) is a 75-page tour-de-force manual for learning how to play arpeggios on the guitar. Compiled over many years of research, practice, and in performance applications, the Compendium will most certainly provide you with at least a few (if not more) ideas that you had never thought of before.

The Arpeggio Material

There are a lot of sections in McGill’s book, progressing from the seemingly easy two- and three-octave arpeggios to polytonal and quartal arps. Here is the Table of Contents:

• Two- and three-octave arpeggios
• Scales Derived From Arpeggios
• Arpeggios on Scales (Permutations)
• Two-Notes-Per-String Arpeggios
• Position Studies
• Open-String Arpeggios, Arpeggios With Harmonics
• Triad Inversion Arpeggios
• Exotic and Synthetic Scales
• Polytonal Arpeggios
• Quartal Arpeggios

Click to see a page sample.

Full arpeggios up to the 13th with alterations are presented in notation with fingering,  string, and picking recommendations. These arpeggios start off innocently enough, but by the time you get to the three-octave 13th arps with alterations you are really getting a good mental challenge!

The Scale/Arpeggio Connection

Although the general concept of the connection between scales and arpeggios is certainly not a new revelation by any stretch, McGill makes some great suggestions with string shifting and displacing octaves to extend the range of the arpeggio in more confined position studies.

The Compendium also offers a small but nicely varied list of scales you can use in your studies, ranging from simple modes and basic alterations to more complex raga and ethnic scales.

Attention to Detail

Click to see a page sample.

Nothing small or seemingly insignificant is left out. Even comments on articulation are included in McGill’s book. My favorite section would have to be the polytonal arpeggios — arpeggios constructed from two, three, or four distinct triads (at least as far as the book is concerned). Work through the Gdim/Eaug/B arp for a while and you’ll see what I mean!

12-tone, chromatic, quartal harmony, and polychordal arpeggios are also discussed, leaving virtually no musical stone unturned.

The thing I like the most about the book — save for the material itself — is that every possible permutation and example is not written out, encouraging us to explore on our own and make the musical connections in our own way. Far too many books and DVDs give away the farm, so to speak, and at that point we’re just learning by rote. McGill purposely tries to push you along (at your own pace, mind you) to work things out for yourself.

Start Learning Your Arpeggios Today!

The Guitar Arpeggio Compendium by Scott McGill is absolutely packed with information that will keep you practicing for many years to come. I use it in my personal practice sessions and it has my endorsement as an essential learning tool for guitarists of any genre or discipline. It’s not a “jazz” book, it’s a GUITAR book!