p-i-m-a arpeggios

An arpeggio plays the notes of a chord one by one. In fingerstyle, each right-hand finger owns a string: p for the bass (strings 4, 5 or 6), i for string 3, m for string 2, a for string 1. The fretting hand holds the whole chord and lets everything ring.

Setting up the right hand

• The thumb sits ahead of the fingers, almost perpendicular to the strings; it plucks downwards.
• The fingers pluck towards the palm, moving from the knuckle, without the hand bouncing.
• Rest p, i, m and a on their strings before starting (“planting”): the hand finds its place.

M:4/4
L:1/8
Q:1/4=66
K:C clef=treble-8
"C"C G c e C G c e | "Am"A, A c e A, A c e | "G"G, G B g G, G B g | "Em"E, G B e E, G B e |]

Variations

Once p-i-m-a is settled, try p-i-m-a-m-i (a rising and falling wave), p-a-m-i (descending), or p-i-m-i. Each one prepares a style: waltz, ballad, classical music.

M:3/4
L:1/8
Q:1/4=80
K:Em clef=treble-8
"Em"E, G B e B G | "Am"A, A c e c A | "D"D A d ^f d A | "B7"B, A B ^f B A |]