How to Master Arpeggios on Guitar

Want to Finally Break Free from the Guitar Plateau?

If you’re new here, I’m John (aka JayFelay). I help guitarists escape “intermediate limbo” by becoming musicians—not just guitar players.

After years of watching people get stuck despite practicing endlessly, I discovered the real reason: focusing on more guitar tricks instead of building the core musician skills that apply to any instrument.
A Quick Timeline

18–21: Graduated Cornell University. Explored broad interests.
21–22: Law School. Fell into deep depression when my musical dreams slipped away.
22–24: Dropped out of Law School. Went to Berklee College of Music—graduated magna cum laude in 2024.
24–34: Toured nationally and internationally for a decade, playing festivals, studio sessions, and learning from world-class musicians.
34–35: Shifted to creating short-form content, determined to be the mentor I wish I’d had back in Law School.

The Real Problem

Most guitar teachers give you quick wins—tabs, licks, chord shapes—but never teach you how music actually works. That’s why so many guitarists plateau. They stay “guitar players” instead of becoming musicians who play guitar.
The 5 Axiom System

I developed a framework to give you all the foundational skills you really need:

1. Ear (Understand What You Hear)

What: The ability to identify intervals and melodies by ear.
Why: Frees you from tabs so you can figure out songs and jam spontaneously.

2. Harmony (The Grammar of Music)

What: Understanding chord relationships, keys, and progressions.
Why: Lets you compose, improvise, and play confidently in any style or key.

3. Rhythm (Time & Feel)

What: Mastering pulse, groove, and subdivisions.
Why: Keeps your playing pro-sounding and locked in with any band or style.

4. Fretboard Mapping (Spatial Awareness)

What: A mental map of every note and interval on the neck.
Why: Prevents “wandering,” so you can move anywhere confidently and never feel lost.

5. Technique (Physical Execution)

What: Clean, efficient, and expressive playing.
Why: Translates your musical ideas into reality without sloppy execution.

When these five are in place, you become a musician who can improvise, compose, and learn songs by ear. That’s the freedom most guitarists chase for years but never reach.
What to Do Next

Check Out My Videos: See how each axiom applies in real lessons, so you know exactly what you need help with.
Change Your Identity: You’re a musician first, not just a guitar player—and that’s the key to smashing past the plateau.

To every guitarist who feels stuck or overwhelmed: it’s not about more guitar stuff. It’s about filling in the missing musician skills. I did it, and so can you. Let’s make that shift together.

Keep learning. Keep creating. Never quit.
– John

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DISCLOSURE

All information here is for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary—your journey is unique. This is not a guarantee of specific results. Always check your personal goals and strategy when applying these concepts.

Copyright © 2025. All rights reserved.

[jayfelay]

Step 1: Choose Your Arpeggio

Start by selecting a 4-note arpeggio to learn. For beginners, the C major 7 (C-E-G-B) arpeggio is a great starting point.

Step 2: Find the Notes on the Low E String

Locate each note of your chosen arpeggio on the low E string. These are your starting points for the exercise.

Step 3: Initial Positioning

Begin with the first note of the arpeggio on the low E string. Position your hand so that your index finger is ready to play this note.

Step 4: Play the Arpeggio with Each Finger

Play through the entire arpeggio starting with your index finger.
Then, reposition your hand to start the arpeggio with your middle finger, followed by your ring finger, and finally your pinky. Each finger should serve as the starting point once.
Ensure you adjust your hand positioning to find comfortable fingerings for each attempt. Stay as close to the initial note's fret as possible.

Step 5: Repeat with Remaining Notes

Move to the next note in the arpeggio on the low E string and repeat Step 4. Continue this process until you have used all the arpeggio's notes as starting points.

[Belikewaterbud]

Guitar content is literally thee only reason I use You Tube these days well and truck repairs.

[GeicoGuy]

Wow... It amazes me that this video has now only 6 comments and 100 something views, this is an amazing lesson not overly complicated diving into music theory, this is really good for beginners