Arpeggio

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ɑɹˈpɛ.d͡ʒi.oʊ/

Definitions

1. A compositional technique where the notes of a chord are played individually in succession rather than at the same time
2. A musical expression that involves sequentially sounding each note of a chord rather than performing them collectively
3. A method in music where the individual notes of a chord are played in a rapid succession instead of being struck together at once

Etymology: Arpeggio is Italian, and its root is a verb that tells you exactly what the musical technique is: "arpeggiare" means "to play a harp." The harp was the instrument where a chord is naturally sounded one note after another, so the Italian word for the harp's sweeping sound gave the name to the technique on any instrument. The noun was borrowed into English from Italian, keeping its original form and its meaning of a chord played note by note rather than all at once. Because the word came straight from Italian musical vocabulary, it retains the sense of the instrument that gave it its name, and English speakers using it in a piano or guitar lesson are still borrowing the harp's way of sounding a chord.

Synonyms: broken chord, chord progression