so not using any part of the arduino yet, i used a couple different types of transistors, with confusing results. first i tried an npn (p2222a) in your configuration and it didn't work. then i tried a 2SK2962 which is a "MOSFET Small Signal N-ch 100V 1A 0.7 ohm" with the same setup and it worked. then with the same setup used a 2n4403 "pnp" and it worked.
so in conclusion, npn didn't work, n chan mosfet worked, pnp worked. i dont understand these results, shouldnt the npn work and pnp not work?
i'd like to understand these results as id like to find another transistor that would work and find it in a smt package. the two transistors stated as working above do not exist in a smt package
thanks