The III Zone Arpeggio

Previously, we've looked at the Center Zone Arpeggio and the VII Zone Arpeggio. Now we'll look at the III zone.

In the Key of C, this zone is the first pattern on the fretboard anchored in the open strings. Of course, like all the other zone patterns, it can be shifted up the fretboard for each key. The shape of the pattern is the same no matter what fret position it's played. You only need to adjust your fingering from the open position to the moveable version.

Notice that there are two arpeggios shown in the diagram, one delineated in green, one in the background in grey (the "shadow arpeggio"). Play them both all the way through, then use the notation below to play each as a "coil" — three notes at a time, returning to the 2nd note of the previous 3 note sequence, etc. There are sound files below the diagram for reference.

The green pattern begins on the 3rd scale degree (E in the key of C Major) and finishes on the 5th scale degree (G in C Major). The grey pattern begins and ends on F, the 4th scale degree of C Major. 

(The fingering shown is for the open position. Since this pattern has a 4-fret-span, when playing it anywhere but the open position, just use one-finger-per-fret alignment and don't shift your hand within the pattern.)

(III Zone Arpeggio - ascending and descending)

(III Zone Shadow Arpeggio - ascending and descending)

(III Zone Arpeggio Coil - ascending and descending)

(III Zone Shadow Arpeggio Coil  - ascending and descending)

Center SuperZone Arpeggio

This big pattern straddles the center of the fretboard and is the primary arpeggio form of a major key in the Fretography method. It is rooted in the Dominant degree; the V of the key, and ends on the VII.

It is shown here in the key of C, but as with all the Fretography patterns, is the same geometry for any key.  

The shadow arpeggio (running from A on the 6th string to A on the 1st string in the background) is shown for reference. As an exercise, try playing the primary (green) arpeggio form ascending and the shadow descending, then reverse the sequence. 

The note sequence is:

Ascending:  G B D F A C E G B   ... Descending:  A F D B G E C A 

Then:

Ascending:  A C E G B D F A    ... Descending:  B G E C A F D B G 

This pattern requires several hand shifts and so it is difficult to play fast, but that makes it a great exercise to develop your control and precision.  Follow the indicated fingering (black numbers for the primary shape, white numbers apply to the shadow).

Here's how it sounds:

(Ascending Center Arpeggio)

(Descending Shadow Arpeggio)

(Ascending Shadow Arpeggio)

(Descending Center Arpeggio)

And here's a related arpeggio pattern in an earlier post: "The VII Zone Arpeggio"

5ths and 3rds in the 3rd Rail

Here's an exercise which will give you some useful raw material for riffing. The pattern is a sequence of 5ths and 3rds played sequentially on the 3rds and 2nd strings, otherwise known as the "3rd rail."

The diagram below shows the Perfect-5ths in blue, Diminished-5th in purple, Minor-3rds in orange, and, Major-3rds in green ...

Below you see the notation for the pattern with corresponding fingering ...

And here is how it sounds ...

(5ths and 3rds in the 3rd rail)
... and played note by note, each of the 5ths are played high note first, each 3rd is played low to high ...


(Arpeggiated 5ths and 3rds in the 3rd rail)

Here's a phrase based on the pattern in the key of D minor ...


(Key of D minor: 5ths and 3rds in the 3rd rail)