Arpeggio
noun /ɑːrˈpɛdʒ.i.oʊ/ — Notes of a chord played in rapid succession rather than simultaneously.
Definition
A musical technique in which the notes of a chord are played in rapid succession, ascending or descending, rather than simultaneously — creating a rippling, harp-like effect. The term literally means 'in the manner of the harp'.
Beyond the definition
Arpeggios have a flowing, cascading quality — think of moonlit water, of something slightly beyond reach but beautiful. They carry a gentle forward motion, a continuous becoming.
Origin & history
Italian: from 'arpeggiare' (to play the harp); from 'arpa' (harp). Central to keyboard and guitar composition in the Classical period.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata is built almost entirely on a slow, hypnotic arpeggio figure — three notes in endless succession.
The guitarist's left hand held the chord while the right played arpeggios that made the instrument sound like two players.
She learned arpeggios before scales; the teacher believed that flow preceded precision.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Arpeggio” when the meaning fits your context: A musical technique in which the notes of a chord are played in rapid succession, ascending or descending, rather than simultaneously — creating a rippling, harp-like effect. The term literally means 'in the manner of the harp'.
Synonyms
broken chord, chord roll, spread chord
Antonyms
block chord
Related words
Arpeggio vs block chord
An arpeggio spreads a chord's notes over time for an expressive effect. A block chord requires all notes to be struck simultaneously for a solid, percussive sound.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Pigments Swirling Into New Shades
An artist's palette holds swirling, multi-colored pigments that blend as a brush moves, creating a rippling, complex visual effect of changing color.
An arpeggio is a musical technique of playing chord notes in rapid succession, creating a rippling effect. The visual blending of pigments evokes this pattern, where individual color elements expand across the surface.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Arpeggio" mean?
Arpeggio is noun meaning: Notes of a chord played in rapid succession rather than simultaneously.. A musical technique in which the notes of a chord are played in rapid succession, ascending or descending, rather than simultaneously — creating a rippling, harp-like effect. The term literally means 'in the manner of the harp'.
Where does the word "Arpeggio" come from?
Italian: from 'arpeggiare' (to play the harp); from 'arpa' (harp). Central to keyboard and guitar composition in the Classical period.