arpeggio

American  

[ahr-pej-ee-oh, -pej-oh] / ɑrˈpɛdʒ iˌoʊ, -ˈpɛdʒ oʊ /

noun

Music.

• arpeggios
  plural

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

2. a chord thus sounded.

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arpeggio British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• arpeggiated
  adjective
• arpeggioed
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• arpeggios
  plural

Etymology

Origin of arpeggio

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)

Explanation

An arpeggio is a series of increasing or decreasing notes played one after another, rather than all together as a chord. When musicians are first learning an instrument, they often practice arpeggios. String instruments commonly play arpeggios, especially violins and violas. You can also play an arpeggio on a banjo, bass guitar, or a keyboard instrument like a piano. It's also possible to sing an arpeggio, emphasizing each individual note. The word is Italian, from arpeggiare, "to play upon the harp," and ultimately from arpa, or "harp."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

arpeggio arpeggios

Like the Beatles’ “Eight Days a Week” and Yes’s “Roundabout,” the track begins with a fade-in, featuring Mr. Scholz playing a descending acoustic-guitar arpeggio.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026

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.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 16, 2024

Each word is accompanied, almost musically illustrated, by a variant of a five-note arpeggio figure that uncannily embodies each concept.

From New York Times ● Nov. 28, 2021

Co-orchestrator Todd Sickafoose responded to that flourish with one of his own, embellishing Mitchell’s score with a propulsive violin arpeggio in tune with the scene’s growing grandeur.

From Washington Post ● Oct. 12, 2021

They conduct the genome, thereby playing out its music—activating the viola at the fourteenth minute, a crash of cymbals during the arpeggio, a roll of drums at the crescendo.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

The fourth becomes a sophisticated lesson in arpeggios and the last, a fanciful passacaglia.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 3, 2026

Ma’s greatest challenge, which he meets with wonderful musicianship, is to make Negrón’s engaging melodies, grand swaths of arpeggios, and simple patterns alluring.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 3, 2026

“Dancing on the Ceiling” does the opposite, starting with very verbose Art Tatum-style arpeggios in the verse but then mellowing out in the chorus, and quoting “All This and Heaven Too.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 29, 2026

It’s synthpop swells and arpeggios feel like a pure-white LCD sunrise over a William Gibson landscape.

From Salon ● Nov. 7, 2025

That learning about the Pythagorean theorem and arpeggios and dissecting worms is the only thing that could keep her mind off it.

From "P.S. I Miss You" by Jen Petro-Roy