Arpeggio Study in D Major

Arpeggio Study in D Major does not have a proper title because it didn't develop as a song. It started as a deliberate exercise to write an arpeggio sequence containing a chromatically descending melody (if you can call that a melody). The result didn't sound offensive, despite spanning the eight semitones between D and F♯ on the first string. So I added two variations on a simple melody, one in ⁶/₈ and the other in ⁹/₈ to round it out and make it sound complete. The resulting structure of the piece is ABBCCA, ending how it starts.

What should the beginning guitarist learn from playing this study? A variety of chord inversions are evident in the initial descending sequence. Precision and fluidity of left hand movements are required to make the descending arpeggios sound uninterrupted. The two melody variations exercise the fourth finger a little bit, requiring an extension. The fifth position barred A major chord is also practiced as a concluding arpeggio to the melody variations, requiring the thumb to play a short melodic bass line. Changing meter from ⁹/₈ to ⁶/₈ and back is also a point of practice (remember, this is the same as going from ³/₄ to ²/₄ and back).