The Guitar Player's Resource
Struggling to find an interesting new lick for your next guitar solo? Then perhaps Arpeggio Superimposition is just what you need to get those creative wheels turning.
What is Arpeggio Superimposition? It is an easy-to-use technique when you are improvising a lead. The short of it is playing various arpeggios in succession to make one melodic line.
When you choose these arpeggios correctly, the notes will either come out consonant or dissonant when played against the current chord. If you choose your pattern of consonance and dissonance right, it will produce a really interesting sound.
Nothing will help you understand this technique quite like actually hearing it being played for yourself. So check out the following video where I do just that.
You will hear me play through a very simple version of this technique, playing over an Em7 chord. But keep in mind it can be made as complicated as you want. I am going to use arpeggios that have all come from the E Dorian mode (Em7, F#m7, and Dmaj7).
Remember that this is only one example. Feel free to build on it by choosing other arpeggios from the E dorian mode or even changing the chords/modes and the arpeggios you use from those modes.
Enjoy!
Tommaso Zillio is a professional prog rock/metal guitarist and composer based in Edmonton, AB, Canada.
Tommaso is currently working on an instrumental CD, and an instructional series on fretboard visualization and exotic scales. He is your go-to guy for any and all music theory-related questions.
