What does arpeggiation mean?
Arpeggiation is the musical practice of playing the notes of a chord successively rather than sounding them together. It creates a rolling or broken-chord effect, as in piano accompaniment or the sweep of an arpeggiated guitar passage. The term is most often used by musicians, composers, critics, and listeners discussing harmony, texture, and technique. In performance, arpeggiation can be deliberate and expressive, turning a static harmony into a moving line. In analysis, it can also distinguish a chordal texture from melodic movement, although listeners may use the less technical phrase “broken chord.” Because it describes an ordered succession of pitches rather than their simultaneous harmony, arpeggiation occupies a space between harmony and melody. It is therefore useful not only for musicians but also for anyone interested in how musical texture shapes attention and movement.
nounThe playing of the notes of a chord successively rather than simultaneously, producing a broken or rolling effect.
- In music, the playing of a chord's notes one after another rather than simultaneously, especially in a broken or rolling pattern.
"The pianist's delicate arpeggiation gave the accompaniment a shimmering quality."
"A subtle change in arpeggiation brought a new lightness to the accompaniment."
"The composition's driving arpeggiation creates momentum beneath the melody."
The plural is uncommon and is used when referring to multiple instances of the technique or pattern.
"The arpeggiations in the prelude echoed the shape of the preceding melody."
Arpeggiation transforms a single chord into a staircase of sound.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of arpeggiation
English borrowed the word in the nineteenth century from Italian arpeggiare, meaning “to play the arpeggio.” Italian arpeggio derives from arpa, meaning “harp,” ultimately from Latin arpa, a word of Celtic origin. Related forms include the English arpeggio, arpeggiate, and arpeggiated, as well as French arpège.
Related word forms
How arpeggiation is actually used
This is chiefly specialist musical vocabulary used in discussion of performance, harmony, and texture. In general speech, “broken chords” is often more accessible.
Easily confused with arpeggiation
Arpeggiation is the technique of playing chord notes successively, whereas an arpeggio is the resulting sequence of notes or its pattern.