Why Most Arpeggios Sound Like Trash (And How to Fix It)

If you’re anything like me, you want your arpeggios to sound musical – not like random scale drills or internet shredding clichés. Yet most arpeggios online? They sound like dog poo. And no, I’m not saying arpeggios are bad – I’m saying *how* we use them is everything.

In this video I show you how to make your arpeggios actually sound cool – in context, with purpose, and with feel. That opening lick? It used arpeggios, but not in the usual sweepy-for-the-sake-of-it way. It’s all about *phrasing* and *placement*.

The core mistake I see all the time is using arpeggios as if they’re the main meal, when really, they’re more like a spice. If you spend all your time practicing exercises, you’ll end up sounding like you’re playing exercises. But if you *practice musically*, you’ll naturally use those same arpeggios as musical statements – not technical showcases.

In the example I walk through, I start with a lyrical melody. That’s key. The melody creates a vibe, a direction. It uses expressive tools like slides, rakes, and pinch harmonics to sound vocal and connected. Then – and only then – I throw in a fast arpeggio to raise the tension, before resolving to a strong landing note. The result? The arpeggio means something. It serves the story of the lick, rather than hijacking it.

And no, I didn’t sweep the arpeggio. I used hammer-ons from nowhere and descending legato – not because sweeping is wrong, but because I prefer this approach for smoother phrasing. If sweeping is your thing, you can absolutely do that too – the concept stays the same.

Don’t worry if you’re not a sweeping wizard yet – you can use any fast idea you know in place of the arpeggio. Even a simple lick like 15-14-12 with pull-offs will do the trick. The secret is to sandwich it between strong melodic statements so it actually *feels* musical.

So the next time you're tempted to rip through your favorite arpeggio shape just to show off – pause. Ask yourself: where's the melody? Where's the build-up? Where's the resolution? That’s what separates a great phrase from a technical demo.

Thanks for sticking around! You've been fantastic, and I've been Kristofer. See you in the next one – hopefully with fewer poop metaphors.