arpeggiated

Chord played sequentially

Arpeggiated describes notes played in sequence rather than simultaneously—the notes of a chord sounded one after another, typically from lowest to highest.

The technique appears across instruments: an arpeggiated guitar riff, arpeggiated synth patterns.

In electronic music production, an arpeggiator automatically generates these cascading note sequences from held chords.

technique

broken

Damaged beyond function

  • chordNotes sounded simultaneously
  • patternRecurring arrangement or template
  • sequenceOrdered succession of elements

fingerpicking · sweeping · picking · fingerstyle · ostinato · rolled · spread · ascending · descending · staccato

harmony

chord

Notes sounded simultaneously

tonic · dominant · subdominant · cadence · consonance · dissonance · interval · scale · modulation · counterpoint

instruments

piano

Keyed percussion instrument

  • guitarFretted stringed instrument
  • harpsichordPlucked-string keyboard instrument
  • lutePear-bodied fretted strings

banjo · mandolin · ukulele · zither · dulcimer · kora · synthesizer · keyboard · bassist · classical

composition

melody

Pleasing sequence of notes

  • motifRecurring thematic element
  • riffRepeated musical phrase
  • lickPass tongue over

phrase · passage · improvisation · baroque · figuration · ornamentation · embellishment · intro · outro · bridge

Categories
Opposites
chord voicing/execution

arpeggiatedblocked

Passage prevented or impeded

simultaneous · solid · chordal · stacked · vertical

Family

harp, arpeggios, arpeggio

Familiarity
Top 1,000,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Rated G