← All arpeggios

Guitar Arpeggio

E♭ Suspended 2nd

An arpeggio is a chord played one note at a time. E♭ Suspended 2nd is the E♭sus2 chord spread across the neck — the third is replaced by the second, so the chord is neither major nor minor. Open and weightless.

E♭
1
F
2
B♭
5

Every position on the neck

eBGDAE135791215251212551251251251252512

Dark green is the root. Tap any note to hear it — the highlighted box is a playable position starting at fret 10.

The chord it comes from

Every arpeggio is a chord in disguise. Learn the grip and the notes are already under your fingers.

How to actually use it

  • 1Play it over its own chord. When E♭sus2 goes by, every note of this arpeggio is a safe landing — that is what makes arpeggios sound "inside" where scales can sound aimless.
  • 2Target the chord tones on the strong beats. Land on the root or the third when the chord changes, and fill the gaps with scale notes in between.
  • 3Learn one position cold before spreading out. The five-fret box highlighted above is enough to solo with; the rest of the neck is the same shape repeating.
  • 4Say the degree as you play it. Knowing you are on the ♭7 rather than "some note" is the difference between running a pattern and making a line.

Take it further

Suspended 2nd arpeggios in every key

Other qualities on E♭