arpeggio

[ahr-pej-ee-oh, -pej-oh]

noun

Music.

plural

arpeggios 

1. the sounding of the notes of a chord in rapid succession instead of simultaneously.

2. a chord thus sounded.

arpeggio

/ ɑːˈpɛdʒɪəʊ /

noun

1. a chord whose notes are played in rapid succession rather than simultaneously

2. an ascending and descending figuration used in practising the piano, voice, etc

Other Word Forms

• arpeggiated adjective
• arpeggioed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of arpeggio¹

1735–45; < Italian: literally, a harping, noun derivative of arpeggi ( are ) to play on the harp (< Germanic; compare Old English hearpi ( g ) an to harp)

Word History and Origins

Origin of arpeggio¹

C18: from Italian, from arpeggiare to perform on the harp, from arpa _harp

Example Sentences

Legend: I have this song called “Safe,” and there’s this one moment when I do this run and Sufjan has this arpeggio going the opposite direction.

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When Berry implored the band to rock out again, the group switched gears and made 1994’s “Monster,” in which Buck ditches his arpeggios for power chords run through a distortion pedal.

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Her voice sails over choppy piano chords as she announces her “big feelings,” and when she sings, “Yes, I have problems, problems,” she turns “problems” into a six-syllable arpeggio.

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The strings’ opening melody in the Rachmaninoff had Romantic grandeur and beguiling translucence, blanketing but not muffling the piano’s arpeggios with gauzy tone.

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Quasi-Baroque keyboard arpeggios pace a track that holds back, recognizes that “Time doesn’t stop for a sad little girl” and surges as she decides, “This time I think I’m found.”

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